Using data to learn about the dining habits of Koreans.
What do Koreans eat at the table as seen through big data?
Based on big data regarding the food choices eaten by consumers, the food trends of Korea have been analyzed, and it was found that consumers eat 2.2 meals a day on average (regular meals like breakfast, lunch and dinner) and 0.8 snacks, totaling 3 meals a day.Also, as age increases, the number of meals and menu items increases. Plus, the percentage of consumers cooking their own meals, rather than having food delivered, is increasing. People showed differences in eating habits depending on life stage.
Analysis of the average number of
meals per day and the number of menu items
The average number of meals per day is 3, and the number of food selections per meal is 3, but as people get older, the number of menu items increases. That is, rather than 1- or 2-person households and unmarried kangaroo households (households in which singles live with their parents), households with children, e.g., households with preschoolers, elementary school students and middle and high school students, have a greater number of menu items. However, there is one thing we should pay close attention to. As age increases, the number of meals and menu items increase, but in the senior households (including households in which the couple lives alone after they married off their children and their children gained independence, or 3-person households in which a person lives with his/her elderly parents), the number decreases. In other words, the senior households with children that live separately show meal patterns similar to those of people in the younger life stage, e.g., 1-2-person households.
The average number of meals per day and the number of menu items for different age brackets
| All | 1~2person | Unmarried Kagaroos | Preschool Children | Children in elementary school | Children in diddle and high school | Adult children | Senior | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average number of meals/ menu per day | Number of meals | 3.0 | 3.0 | 3.0 | 3.3 | 3.2 | 3.2 | 3.3 | 3.1 |
| Number of menu items | 3.0 | 2.7 | 2.7 | 3.0 | 3.1 | 3.2 | 3.4 | 3.2 | |
| Intake proportions by meal TPO | Formal dinner | 67% | 65% | 64% | 67% | 68% | 68% | 69% | 68% |
| Between meals | 16% | 18% | 19% | 15% | 14% | 14% | 14% | 14% | |
| Beverages | 17% | 17% | 17% | 18% | 18% | 18% | 17% | 17% | |
Source: Menu big data (records of food and beverage intake by consumers in Korea)
Component ratio of each menu preparation method
The meal preparation methods most preferred by Korean consumers are "home cooking," "eating-out," "HMR" and "delivery/takeout" in that order. Most consumers prepare their food selections through home cooking, but factors such as the inconvenience of food ingredient preparation and cooking seem to shift demands to HMR. Actually, domestic HMR sales are growing: KRW 2 trillion, KRW 2.4 trillion and KRW 2.9 trillion in 2016, 2017 and 2018 respectively.
Component ratio of each menu preparation method in each life stage
| All | 1~2 person | Unmarried Kngaroos | Preschool Children | Children in elementary school | Children in middle and high school | Adult | Senior | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Main recipes | 100% Direct Cooking | 43% | 27% | 36% | 39% | 44% | 46% | 50% | 45% |
| HMR | 18% | 24% | 22% | 21% | 19% | 18% | 17% | 21% | |
| Delivery/ TakeOut | 17% | 22% | 20% | 19% | 15% | 15% | 14% | 14% | |
| Eating out | 22% | 27% | 23% | 21% | 22% | 21% | 19% | 20% | |
Source: Menu big data (records of food and beverage intake by consumers in Korea)
Estimated domestic HMR sales amount
- 2016year
- KRW 2.1 trillion
- 2017year
- KRW 2.6 trillion
- 2018year
- KRW 3.1 trillion
Source: Nielsen Data (home meal replacements (HMR) excluding instant noodles)
Until now, we have examined the number of meals of Korean consumers and how they prepare their food choices through big data.
That leaves us more curious about how our eating habits will change and what choices will become more popular, and the changes in the food consumption of Koreans as seen through big data.