South Korea's rapid advancement in the life sciences and diagnostics sector has fueled the adoption of cutting-edge technologies in flow cytometry, an essential tool for cell analysis in research, clinical diagnostics, and drug development. Among the most prominent methodologies are bead-based flow cytometry and cell-based flow cytometry. While both share core technology principles, using light to analyze the physical and chemical characteristics of particles; they differ significantly in their applications, strengths, and limitations.
%201.jpg)
Fig 1: South Korea Flow Cytometry Market (By Method)
Bead-based flow cytometry is gaining traction in South Korea, especially in clinical laboratories and biopharmaceutical quality control. This method uses microspheres (beads) coated with specific antibodies or captures reagents to bind target molecules such as cytokines, proteins, or nucleic acids. A major advantage of bead-based assays is their multiplexing ability—measuring multiple analytes simultaneously in a single sample.
In the Korean diagnostics landscape, this method has been widely adopted for cytokine profiling, biomarker validation, and vaccine efficacy monitoring. Startups and companies like Seegene and Osang Healthcare are actively leveraging multiplexed immunoassays to enhance their diagnostic portfolios. Moreover, South Korea's growing emphasis on personalized medicine has made bead-based assays increasingly relevant, as they allow for the efficient detection of multiple biomarkers with minimal sample volume.
According to BIS research, the bead-based flow cytometry was valued at $12.90 million in 2023 and is estimated to reach $56.13 million by 2033, growing at a CAGR of 16.27%.
On the other hand, cell-based flow cytometry continues to be the gold standard for in-depth immunophenotyping, cell cycle analysis, and functional assays like apoptosis and proliferation. South Korean research institutions such as KAIST and Seoul National University Hospital frequently employ this method in translational research, immuno-oncology, and stem cell studies.
Cell-based flow cytometry provides real-time, single-cell analysis, allowing researchers to study the behavior, function, and phenotype of individual cells. This makes it indispensable for areas like CAR-T cell therapy monitoring, hematological malignancy diagnostics, and immune profiling in clinical trials. With South Korea’s booming biotech and cell therapy sectors, this method offers the granular cellular data necessary for therapeutic development.
According to BIS research, the cell-based flow cytometry was valued at $61.60 million in 2023 and is expected to reach $188.36 million by 2033, growing at a CAGR of 12.05%.
Get More Insights on Healthcare Industry
Rather than one method replacing the other, bead-based and cell-based flow cytometry serve complementary roles in South Korea’s evolving life sciences ecosystem. Bead-based flow cytometry is ideal for multiplex diagnostics and protein quantification, offering speed and scalability. In contrast, cell-based flow cytometry provides the granular cellular insights needed for cutting-edge research and clinical applications.
As South Korea continues investing in biopharma, diagnostics, and precision medicine, both methodologies will remain critical pillars of its flow cytometry infrastructure—driving innovation, clinical impact, and research breakthroughs.
BIS Research provides Custom Research specifically for the Healthcare industry, offering market intelligence solutions which delivers data-driven insights on emerging tech, business models, and competition to support strategic decisions.
