Seoul Store Change Rates by Industry, Q1 2026
Period: 2026년 1분기 · Translated from the Korean original.
Of the 12 industries counted, 2 increased and 10 declined. Skin care salons had the highest rate of change over 8 quarters, at 22.2%, while beer bars and pubs had the lowest, at -12.3%.
Key findings
- Korean restaurants had the most stores in Seoul, with 58,744.
- Skin care salons had the highest 8-quarter rate of change among the 12 industries, at 22.2%.
- Beer bars and pubs had the lowest 8-quarter rate of change, at -12.3%.
- Hair salons increased by 1.1%; the only other industry to increase was skin care salons, at 22.2%.
- Cafes were down 4.6%, convenience stores were down 7.8%, and Japanese restaurants were down 10.7%.
Analysis
Two industries grew
The two industries that grew among the 12 were skin care salons and hair salons. Skin care salons were up 22.2%, and hair salons were up 1.1%.
Industries with the steepest declines
Beer bars and pubs recorded the lowest rate of change, at -12.3%. Japanese restaurants were down 10.7%, and chicken restaurants were down 8.4%.
Industries with the most stores
Korean restaurants had 58,744 stores in Seoul, the most of any industry shown in the table. Their rate of change was -0.1%.
District figures vary by industry
For each industry, the table lists the district with the largest increase and the district with the largest decrease. For example, cafes are listed at +1.2% in Yeongdeungpo-gu and -12.4% in Dobong-gu.
Seoul Store Counts by Industry, 8-Quarter Change Rates, and District Figures
| Industry | Seoul stores | Change rate (8 quarters) | District with the largest increase | District with the largest decrease |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 한식음식점 | 58,744 | -0.1% | 중구 +3.4% | 은평구 -4.7% |
| 카페 | 27,333 | -4.6% | 영등포구 +1.2% | 도봉구 -12.4% |
| 보습학원 | 25,910 | -0.3% | 중구 +6.9% | 강북구 -7.9% |
| 미용실 | 21,987 | 1.1% | 성동구 +7.5% | 종로구 -4.3% |
| 호프·주점 | 15,595 | -12.3% | 금천구 -6.9% | 은평구 -20% |
| 분식집 | 11,797 | -5.7% | 서초구 -0.2% | 양천구 -11.4% |
| 피부관리실 | 10,381 | 22.2% | 금천구 +34% | 노원구 9.2% |
| 편의점 | 8,886 | -7.8% | 종로구 -1.3% | 송파구 -12.3% |
| 양식음식점 | 8,606 | -5.1% | 용산구 +3.4% | 금천구 -19.4% |
| 빵집 | 7,190 | -2.3% | 강동구 +6.8% | 강북구 -11.5% |
| 일식음식점 | 6,626 | -10.7% | 서대문구 -2.8% | 중랑구 -18.4% |
| 치킨집 | 5,783 | -8.4% | 서대문구 -0.5% | 강북구 -13.1% |
Read with care
- The rates of change shown in the chart and table are based on 8 quarters and should not be interpreted as the change for Q1 2026 alone.
- For some districts, the table’s labels for ‘districts with increases’ and ‘districts with decreases’ do not match the signs of the figures. For example, skin care salons are listed at -6.9% for Geumcheon-gu and 9.2% for Nowon-gu, making it difficult to determine the direction of change by district.
- The comparison covers the 12 industries shown in the data. These figures alone cannot explain the reasons for the increases or decreases.
Method & sources
Figures were aggregated by code from the source data; the commentary was written by AI using only these figures.