The Korean hygiene products market surpassed 3 trillion won ($2.1 billion) for the first time last year, driven by growing demand for adult diapers as the country becomes a superaged society and the inclusion of oral care products such as toothbrushes and dental floss in hygiene product statistics.

The Ministry of Food and Drug Safety said the domestic hygiene products market reached 3.2 trillion won in 2025, up 9.7 percent from the previous year. The supply of adult diapers, including incontinence pads, surpassed that of children’s diapers for the second consecutive year, reaching 61,418 tons, up about 6 percent from 57,806 tons in 2024. The ministry expects demand to continue rising as the population ages.

The market’s growth was also partly attributable to the addition of oral care products and tattoo ink to hygiene product statistics last year. Oral care products recorded 80 billion won in production value, while tattoo inks accounted for 900 million won. Together, the two newly included categories represented 3.2 percent of total production value.


don@heraldcorp.com