Korea Bioindustry

  • Korea Bioindustry
  • Overview

Overview

Based on the bioindustry classification code [KS J 1009], which has been established and revised as the standard for the scope and definition of the domestic bioindustry, an annual complete enumeration survey is planned to be conducted among companies that do research and development or produce products and services based on biotechnology.
General Information
  • As of 2024, there are 1,251 bio companies in South Korea; as for bio-related sites (in order of factories > research centers > headquarters), 413 sites are located in Gyeonggi-do and 308 in Seoul, indicating that the majority of them are distributed in the Seoul/Gyeonggi area.
Distribution of companies by region
(Unit: number)
Gyeonggi-do 413 Jeollanam-do 37 Busan 10
Seoul 308 Jeollabuk-do 36 Ulsan 12
Daejeon 95 Daegu 25 Gwangju 9
Chungcheongbuk-do 92 Gyeongsangnam-do 32 Jeju 10
Gangwon-do 50 Gyeongsangbuk-do 31 Sejong 6
Chungcheongnam-do 42 Incheon 43 - -
Workforce Status
  • As of 2024, the number of employees working in 1,251 domestic bio companies is 65,818, which represents an increase of 947 compared to that in 2023.
    • Bioindustry manpower consists of 19,788 (30.1%) research personnel, 22,151(33.7%), production personnel and 23,879 (36.3%) other personnel, who are involved in sales and management.
(Unit: person)
(Unit: person)
(Unit: %)
Investment Status
  • In 2024, the total investment cost of bioindustry companies for one year was KRW 15,799 billion, and the total investment cost in the bioindustry sector was KRW 4,821 billion (34.7% of the total investment cost).
  • The R&D cost was KRW 2,702 billion and the facility investment cost was KRW 2,780 billion.
(Unit: KRW billion)
Supply and Demand Status
  • As of 2024, Bioindustry sales volume was KRW 22,922 billion, of which domestic sales accounted for KRW 9,211 billion (40.2%) and exports for KRW 13,711 billion (59.8%).
  • The domestic market size was KRW 14,193 billion, of which imports accounted for KRW 3,692 billion (28.6%), excluding domestic sales of KRW 9,211 billion (71.4%)
(Unit: KRW billion)
(Unit: KRW billion)