Chungju’s Cheongmyeongju and Gamuchi Soju Win Awards at Korea’s Our Alcohol Competition
Creatrip Team
22 days ago
Chungju in North Chungcheong Province announced that two local liquors — Cheongmyeongju and Gamuchi Soju 43° — each won excellence awards at the 2026 Korea Our Alcohol Competition. Cheongmyeongju, produced by Jungwondang, was recognized in the medicinal/clear rice wine (cheongju) category; it is a traditional local brew (hyangtoju) made from glutinous and non-glutinous rice and supports local farmers. Cheongmyeongju also appeared as a celebratory drink in Netflix’s Squid Game Season 3 (2025). Gamuchi Soju 43°, made by Danong Bio using Chungju’s clean water and carefully selected local ingredients, won in the distilled spirits category for its rich flavor, subtle natural sweetness, and long finish. Danong Bio uses 100% locally produced agricultural ingredients. The city of Chungju supported producers with 1.2 billion KRW from 2024–2025 for facilities, new product development, and promotion at liquor fairs.
