Recently, search queries for 'Osaka desserts' have surged in Korea, drawing attention to interesting shifts in the domestic dessert market. This indicates that various brands are stepping up their game to capture consumers' new tastes with innovative offerings.
Unique Dessert Trends Are Spreading
As of August 20, 2026, Google Trends data shows that search queries for 'Osaka desserts,' a derivative of the 'dessert' keyword, surged by over 40% in the past 7 days, emerging as a major rising trend. This suggests a growing interest among Korean consumers in products featuring local characteristics, such as the famous cheesecakes from Japan's Osaka region.
At the same time, the Korean dessert market is seeing fresh attempts to break the mold of existing products, including movie theater popcorn, traditional tteok (떡, rice cakes), and ice cream.
Yogurt ice cream specialty store Yoajeong (요아정) has unveiled 'Yoajeong Popcorn,' a new merchandise product designed for enjoying a movie theater atmosphere at home. (Newsis) Additionally, a pop-up store for the popular dessert brand HORIZON 16 (호라이즌 식스틴) opened on August 19 at the Shinsegae Department Store Gangnam branch, drawing in consumers. (News1)
https://www.google.com/goto?url=CAESawHuR6pNJk1wMNt1l9cl-mLouU5Dc4LrC6L7a7BFi3yMWHL-YhtfoBaJCVydt2D_q0qGhkfC669CF2pfZ7qe9RiNMWaX2qN3iX95xnTB0Xg84gsNf9JSWK-c0fUKoXDwJIANB6TujOmiLiPu, https://www.google.com/goto?url=CAESWwHuR6pNtYWs2Ovuct2u9mUPJYLm1Ep26P79uuvvUqgTBm2AkukD8aHLY7xWdgI48FDaACCqNXX_0ssu-j4jfFcbQrVW0NZokpj_kIgEU29GQNFZO34YjjyDQ9M=Desserts Targeting the Summer Market
In the traditional dessert sector, tteok (떡, rice cake) desserts, following the trend of 'Ddujjonku,' are gaining traction, emerging as new power players in department stores, shopping malls, and large supermarkets, with interest spanning from traditional tteok to unique variations incorporating fruits or cream. (Food360) Furthermore, with the prolonged heatwave this summer, the dairy industry is accelerating its market strategy, including launching new ice cream products, as demand for summer desserts like ice cream and bingsu (빙수, shaved ice) has increased. (Weekly Hankook)
https://www.google.com/goto?url=CAESYwHuR6pNw10gV2tWduDYGOVcjaa1VfO4kMxu7MshfPl5UeKbfARCzQ6KzFJPbBMKSvBoFyQYviOEnKkmF3FFFMbXuuUyAE0lIa1IjUsumHlZARc79u1NrskHc-Kj5gdZpn-TBw==, https://www.google.com/goto?url=CAESdwHuR6pN0v86yUaeWTk-Nj4t3nc-VQ-nPDlkvGCuF8tNMVZxQwI6LjZrvYv7Wf6j79uqNA2O0jiE8BSYGxBXyrhG3n0obAtc1rG_plu3dOJ318e4zrHoiIFxE7w8CUghH4lXgL5Q4skzhCPVxlXkqszzk3CF792nAs increased interest in famous international desserts converges with the creative new product launches by domestic brands, the competition in the dessert market is expected to become even more intense.
