A promotional poster listing regional breweries and distilleries for the government's 2026 Visit Our Brewery program / Courtesy of Ministry of Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs
Korea is expanding its effort to transform traditional liquor production into a cornerstone of rural tourism, designating five new facilities as part of a national network of breweries and distilleries to visit.
The Ministry of Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs, alongside the Korea Agro-Fisheries & Food Trade Corporation, announced the 2026 inductees on Wednesday, bringing the total number of recognized sites to 69. The Visit Our Brewery program, which began in 2013, selects breweries and distilleries that successfully blend historical significance with modern immersive programming to broaden the consumer base for traditional Korean spirits.
The new selections reflect a push toward diversifying the nation’s traditional spirits through both high-tech production and traditional mastery. Among the designated sites is Danong Bio in Chungju, North Chungcheong Province, which operates a "Spirit House" featuring large-scale distillation and specialized oak-aging techniques. The facility recently secured a grand prize for its distilled spirits at the 2025 Korea Wine Challenge.
In Jeongeup, North Jeolla Province, Han’s Fermentation Lab was recognized for its rigorous focus on nuruk, a traditional fermentation starter. Led by a designated national master, the laboratory utilizes a large-scale manufacturing infrastructure to offer educational tours focused on the fundamental science of traditional brewing.
The other newly designated sites emphasize the integration of local agriculture and hospitality.
Yangpyeong Clear Liquor, located just east of Seoul, offers on-site lodging and leverages its natural surroundings for seasonal outdoor tasting programs. In Sunchang county, North Jeolla Province, Jiranjigyo has gained recognition for collaborating with Michelin-starred chefs to develop sophisticated food pairings for its takju and yakju (rice wines). Meanwhile, Chakan Nongbu in Yecheon, North Gyeongsang Province, has been noted for its use of local specialty crops, including sweet sorghum and apples, in its distillation process.
Under the program, these distilleries and breweries will receive tailored consulting to improve their tasting rooms, develop new tourism products and refine their digital marketing systems. Starting this year, the government has also introduced a three-year validity period for the designation to ensure a consistent standard of quality across the network.
"We encourage the public to visit these sites and witness the exceptional craftsmanship behind the nation’s traditional liquors," said Jeong Kyeong-seok, a senior official at the ministry’s Food Industry Policy Bureau. He added that the government intends to further strengthen its support to ensure these sites become representative cultural hubs for their respective regions.
This article was published with the assistance of generative AI and edited by The Korea Times.
Source: Korea Times News
