Earlier this week the British Embassy in Seoul participated in the official launch in Korea of LG’s new home brewing appliance that takes the mess and faff out of making your own beer. A sleek, self contained unit takes two weeks to brew the beer, making around 5 litres, and sanitises itself afterwards to get … [Read More]
Tag: Alcohol consumption
Alcohol advert ban for young celebrities?
The BBC picked up on a story in the Chosun Ilbo that celebs under 25 could be banned from leading teenagers astray by advertising booze. A bill proposing the clamp-down was passed by the National Assembly’s committee on health and welfare on 23 April. Reportedly prompted by Kim Yu-na’s Hite advertisements in 2012 (when she … [Read More]
Chaebols muscle in on craft beer
There’s an interesting article in the Wall Street Journal’s Korean blog about the improvement in South Korea’s beer scene since the relaxation of rules which prohibited you from selling beer unless you were one of the big boys. But the small brewers are now facing competition from a craft beer pub set up by one … [Read More]
At this rate, by 2025 soju will be weaker than wine
The JoongAng Daily reports that your bog standard soju now has 18% alcohol content, down from 23% 15 years ago. You can even find some below 17%. If trends continue, with wines getting stronger (you can get extreme wines at around 15%) it won’t be long before your everyday soju is weaker than your everyday … [Read More]
South Korea’s boring beer and love of expensive whisky in the news again
It’s something of a paradox. Koreans are prepared to put up with some of the most tasteless, characterless beer in the world, but insist on top quality whisky. For an explanation of the former mystery, the Economist (Fiery Food, Boring Beer – a dull duopoly crushes microbrewers, 24 November 2012) expands on a theme discussed … [Read More]
PSY vs the generic K-pop girls
PSY has thrashed the lot of them when it comes to YouTube views. And now he’s up against KARA, SiSTAR and 4Minute in the Soju Wars. According to Koreabang, Jinro’s Chamiseul outsells Lotte’s Cheoeum Cheoreom by almost 3 to 1. PSY has now signed up to promote Jinro, while Hara, Hyolyn and HyunA have just … [Read More]
I have no reason to drink Cheoeum Cheoreom any more
The average soju you get in London Korean restaurants is all much of a muchness. You either take whatever is on the drinks list, or, if you have a choice, you choose the one advertised by your favourite soju girl. And now that Lotte has parted company with Lee Hyori after five years advertising Cheoeum … [Read More]
2012 Travel Diary #20: Rabbit Stew and Love Shots
Beopgyesa, Sancheong County, Gyeongsangnam-do, Friday 30 March 2012. The ice on the mountain trail the previous day had given me metaphorical cold feet about proceeding upwards beyond Beopgyesa to Jirisan’s summit. During the night, the wind and rain outside our comfortable cabin in the temple compound confirmed the decision that we would head downhill, rather … [Read More]
Seven shots of soju is “excessive”? It’s hardly even a warm-up
“The World Health Organization defines excessive drinking as the equivalent of seven shot-sized cups (1 fluid ounce per cup) of soju for men and five for women” says the Joongang Ilbo. If you define it like that, it’s hardly suprising if 42.5% of Korean men find themselves drinking “excessively” at least once a week. [Read More]
Daytime Drinking – the perfect hangover cure
Daytime Drinking is a gentle comedy which is the perfect antidote the view that Korean cinema has lost its way. And it’s a film which makes you feel connected to Korea much more than many of the horror and action films which come our way. From the soulless self-catering guesthouse (or “pension”) in the mountains … [Read More]
Groove Korea explains why Korean beer is so bad
Why is Korean beer so dreadful? Rob Titley of Groove Korea has the answer: An Answer to Korea’s Bad Beer http://t.co/p3eSg6nf. Part of the problem is high barriers to entry. [Read More]
A nice collection of soju ads
Gents, you know you like those soju ads but feel that you shouldn’t. Take a guilt-free look, courtesy of Suzy Chung at the official Korea Blog http://t.co/1pfEWqT4 [Read More]
The ideal boilermaker
The ideal somaek (soju-maekju) mix? Apparently 3 parts soju to 7 parts beer. Each to his own, but the fun part is experimenting. http://bit.ly/j5F4ML # [Read More]
Korea’s premium whisky market
Chivas Regal boss tracks the history of whisky in Korea "Korea is easily the No. 1 premium market in the world." Chivas Regal is part of Pernod Ricard, bitter rivals to Diageo. Source: Joongang Daily, 8 April 2011 #. [Read More]
FTA will be signed in October – scotch whisky to benefit
EU-ROK FTA to be signed on 6 October at a Brussels summit, says BBC. Scotch Whisky could be a big winner, with its current 20% import duty phased out over three years. http://bbc.in/9TRQOC # [Read More]
2010 Travel Diary #10: an evening with Yi Chuljin
Sunday 2 May 2010. I had secretly been hoping, before my schedule was finalised, that after the Jongmyo rituals I would be able to go to an authentic Buddhist dance performance by my friend Yi Chuljin. In a marathon exercise supported by the Jogye temple, he is in the middle of a 100-day run of … [Read More]