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Directory / South Korea

Distilleries and liquor manufacturers in South Korea

73 producers listed, including 8 bulk or neutral spirit.

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South Korea at a glance

Population
51.7 million (2025)
GDP
US$1.88 trillion (2025)
GDP per person
US$36,408 (2025)
Capital
Seoul
Currency
South Korean won (KRW)
Languages
Korean
Climate
Mostly humid continental with humid subtropical areas in the south, shaped by the East Asian monsoon. Summers are hot and humid (often above 30 C); Seoul winters run roughly -7 to 1 C. Rain is concentrated in the jangma season (late June-July) and June-September, with typhoons possible on the southern coast in late summer.
Alcohol status
legal
Legal drinking age
19 for purchase (counted by birth year, so people turning 19 in the calendar year qualify); no separate drinking age
Alcohol per adult
8.3 litres of pure alcohol a year (2022, WHO)
Spirits imports
US$336.3 million (2024); mainly from United Kingdom, USA, Japan, China
Spirits exports
US$208.5 million (2024); mainly to USA, Japan, China, Viet Nam
Import duty on spirits
Standard (MFN) rate 2023: whisky 30.0%; vodka 30.0%; rum 30.0%; gin 30.0%
Popular brands
Chamisul (Fresh/Original/Zero) (HiteJinro), Chum Churum / Saero (Lotte Chilsung Beverage)
Major producers
HiteJinro, Lotte Chilsung Beverage
State monopoly
none (wholesale licences are capped by regional quota; only a handful issued in recent years)
The market
Soju dominates by volume and is made almost entirely by two domestic companies, HiteJinro (about 60-70% of soju) and Lotte Chilsung (about 20%). Total alcohol volume was about 3.4 billion litres in 2024 and spirits about 1.2 billion litres. Imported whisky grew quickly in 2022 (whisky imports of over USD 218 million in January-October 2022, up 62%) before spirits imports fell 13% in 2025 to about EUR 269 million. Drinking is becoming more moderate, with growth in zero-sugar soju, highballs and low/no-alcohol. Seoul and its metro area account for most demand for imported and premium products.
Importing
Producers/exporters register with the Ministry of Food and Drug Safety; over 900 importers are active and the top 15 hold about 75% of alcohol imports. Imported spirits bear a 20% tariff on whisky (zero for EU-origin goods under the EU-Korea FTA), then 72% liquor tax, 30% education tax on the liquor tax and 10% VAT.
Advertising
Spirits above 17% ABV may not be advertised on TV; restrictions also cover buses, subway stations and outdoor screens (2021 amendment).
Sale restrictions
No closing-time limit for off-licence sales; online alcohol sales generally banned except traditional liquor; delivery only with food (alcohol max half of order value); click-and-collect used for age checks.

Regulators: MFDS (Ministry of Food and Drug Safety) - import registration, National Tax Service - liquor tax

Trade bodies and fairs: Seoul International Wines & Spirits Expo, Busan International Wines & Spirits Expo, Seoul Food & Hotel, Vinexpo Asia, Hong Kong

Compiled by Distillers Hub in October 2026 from the World Bank, WHO, UN Comtrade, the WITS tariff database and the sources below. Figures change: check with the regulator or a customs broker before you act.

Sources (20)

About South Korea

South Korea is located in East Asia on the southern half of the Korean Peninsula. Korean is the official and predominant language. The country’s economy is widely known for leading high-tech electronics, automobile manufacturing, and heavy industry.

The spirits market

Alcohol sales are legal for adults aged 19, requiring foreign suppliers to sell through locally licensed importers under a multi-tier distribution system. Standard spirit customs duty is 20%, but key FTAs offer 0% duty, though imports still face a 72% Liquor Tax, Education Tax, and 10% VAT. Local distilleries primarily produce distilled and diluted soju alongside general distilled liquors. Growing demand for premium single malt Scotch, American bourbon, craft gin, and aged spirits presents strong opportunities for exporters.

Licences, import duty and labelling rules in South Korea

Spirits importers and distributors in South Korea

Duty-free and travel-retail shops in South Korea

Who makes liquor in South Korea? This list covers 73 liquor manufacturers and distilleries — 8romi Co., Ltd. (농업회사법인 팔로미 주식회사), HiteJinro Co., Ltd., Bae Sang Myun Brewery Co., Ltd., Won Spirits Co., Ltd. and more: whisky, rum, gin, vodka, brandy, neutral spirit (ENA) and local spirits producers, with their towns, products and websites. See also how to import or export liquor to South Korea and the licences needed to make it there.

Listings are compiled from public sources. Companies marked Verified have confirmed their details. If this is your company, claim the profile free to correct it, or ask us to remove it. Not listed? Add your company free.

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