Shinpyeong Brewery, located in Dangjin, Chungcheongnam-do, is a traditional makgeolli (cloudy rice wine) brewery that has kept its tradition and culture through three generations for over 80 years. Kim Yong-se, president of the Baengnyeon Brewery Culture Center, brings the quality of traditional Korean drinking culture to another level with the development Baengnyeon Makgeolli (white lotus makgeolli) made by adding the flavor of white lotus to makgeolli. His passion as well as dedication to makgeolli can be found on the paths he has taken throughout his life.

Baengnyeon Makgeolli, Rice Wine Made by a Reputable Brewery

It is said that liquor and people become more “fragrant” when they mature. A great example can be found at Shinpyeong Brewery. Located in Geumcheon-ri known for an abundance of wide plains, sea breeze and water, Shinpyeong Brewery is popular among thirsty souls with its more than 80 years of history and the great liquor quality the brewery produces. “My father (Kim Sun-sik) opened the brewery in 1933, and at the time it was called Shinpyeong Makgeolli. Now it is one of the oldest breweries in Korea.” During Shinpyeong Brewery’s 80-year history, Kim led the brewery for 50 of those years. Even though he studied and received a master’s degree in public administration, he decided to work for his father’s brewery and take over the family business. Even though makgeolli is loved by many people, there were times when makgeolli fell behind other liquors in popularity. Kim came up with a solution to increase its popularity by making Baengnyeon Makgeolli, which combined traditional makgeolli with white lotus leaves. Once the product was released on the market, it received an enthusiastic response. Baengnyeon Makgeolli was chosen as the drink-of-choice for a dinner at Cheongwadae in 2009 and for Samsung Group’s New Year’s party. The makgeolli also won several awards at world-renowned liquor shows.

A brewery Striving for Perfection

“I have brewed makgeolli so many times that I can immediately notice whether the temperature is too high or low when I see bubbles on the surface of makgeolli. You need to take care of makgeolli just like a baby.” Kim sticks to traditional methods, from A to Z, including the building that houses the brewery and the crock pots used to store makgeolli. To him, makgeolli is a traditional culture that requires the art of creating flavors with unique techniques. The brewery is one of five major makgeolli breweries in the country chosen by “Il-bak-i-il (A 1-night 2-day Trip),” a famous Korean TV program. In 2013, the brewery was designated by the Ministry of Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs as a recommended brewery to visit. In 2015, Kim opened the Baengnyeon Brewery Culture Center, a place to experience traditional Korean liquor culture. Foreign tourists as well as local tourists are showing keen interests in this culture recently. They actively join activity programs run by the center, including the brewing and tasting of their own makgeolli. “I always try to keep to the basics in everything we do. My goal is to make makgeolli loved by people from across the world. I hope my son will further develop Shinpyeong Brewery into a world-renowned brewery.” Kim Yong-se succeeded his father in running the brewery, and his son Daniel Kim, CEO of Shinpyeong Brewing Co., is following in his path. With further developments generation by generation, Shinpyeong Brewery is reaching a higher state of perfection, through endless efforts.

I assume developing Baengnyeon Makgeolli was not easy.

In the beginning, I put ground lotus leaves into makgeolli. The color and taste were good, but lotus leaf powder floated on the surface of the makgeolli. Then the NTS Liquor Technology Research Institute (currently the NTS Liquor License Support Center; an organization that grants liquor licenses), recommended that I alter the ingredients because consumers might not buy a product that has floating matters on the surface no matter how great the quality is. So, I developed and tried several methods, and finally found a solution: I put chopped and roasted lotus leaves in the makgeolli before brewing so that only the white lotus’ gentle flavor and beneficial ingredients remain. This white lotus makgeolli had a cleaner taste compared to other products. It took about a year to find the optimum ingredient ratio and the ideal flavor. Baengnyeon Makgeolli is popular especially among ladies and foreigners since it tastes clean and has a gentle lotus flavor.

I know preserving tradition is important, of course, but isn’t it necessary to
change tradition as times change?

Shinpyeong Brewery has kept its tradition for over 80 years, and the history is the foundation for us to create the future. Tradition is not about staying the same, but about inspiring people and communicating with them. I have preserved the traditional method of brewing makgeolli, whereas my son is making various attempts to appeal to younger generations. We replaced the existing plastic bottles with glass bottles to add a more luxurious image to makgeolli; and we changed the package design to reflect the tastes of younger generations. We also opened a directly-run makgeolli café, Chez Maak, in Seoul to communicate with the public. Based on these attempts, we want to share the past, present and future of our traditional liquor with our customers and become a company loved by consumers for more than 100 years.

김용세2

What do you think is the value of Shinpyeong Makgeolli as a cultural tour content?

Makgeolli is a traditional Korean liquor, and Shinpyeong Brewery represents traditional culture that has existed for a long time. Nowadays, wining and dining has become a popular theme in tourism, and makgeolli is a wonderful tour content that corresponds to the current trend since tourists can drink and join in other activity programs at a brewery. We are not simply selling makgeolli, we are developing it into a cultural product. Above all, the brewery’s over 80 years of history and legacy are precious cultural assets that cannot be found elsewhere. Once you visit Shinpyeong Brewery, you can also enjoy various historic sites in Dangjin and wonderful ocean views nearby. Furthermore, Shinpyeong Brewery is contributing to the local community by promoting Dangjin rice. We only purchase rice produced in Dangjin, up to 70 tons a year. Once we construct a new building for activity programs, we will be able to run programs suitable for group and individual tourists alike. We want more people to come and have fun at our brewery.

PROGRAMS

Honorary Makgeolli Sommelier Class

If you like makgeolli, try a makgeolli sommelier class. You can learn how to mix makgeolli with different flavors to make your own makgeolli cocktail. After attending the class, you will earn an honorary makgeolli sommelier certificate issued by the Korean Makgeolli Association.

  • Time:
    • 2 hours
  • Admission:
    • 25,000 won
Making Nuruk Pancake and Cookies

Activity programs for children are available as well. Participants can learn how to make nuruk pancake with rice nuruk, nuts and honey.

  • Time:
    • 1.5 hours
  • Admission:
    • 25,000 won
Baengnyeon Brewery Culture Center Tour

Previously a warehouse building remodeled into an exhibition hall, Baengnyeon Brewery Culture Center has an abundance of brewery items ranging from earthenware crocks used for storing liquor, to measuring containers, and wooden nuruk (fermentation starter) molds. Plus, you can learn about the history by seeing the exhibition of awards from the Japanese colonial era, licenses, tax records, medical examination records of the 60’s and so on. After touring the exhibition room, you can taste some makgeolli.

  • Time:
    • 10:00~16:00
  • Admission:
    • Free
Making Makgeolli (danyangju)

You can make your own makgeolli after attending a brief lecture. Add the rice, nuruk (starter culture), yeast and water to a glass jar and mix well by hand. Let the mixture mature at home for about a week, then strain the liquor and enjoy.

  • Time:
    • 2 hours
  • Admission:
    • 25,000 won

RECOMMENDED TOURIST ATTRACTIONS

Gijisi Juldarigi Museum

Established more than 500 years ago, Gijisi juldarigi (a local tug-of-war game) is designated as Important Intangible Cultural Heritage No. 75 and it is registered on the UNESCO Intangible Cultural Heritage list. Gijisi juldarigi involves two teams divided to the north and south of the village well, with each team tugging each end of a 200-m rope that weighs 40 tons. The Gijisi Juldarigi Museum, the only museum of its kind in Korea, preserves the juldarigi tradition and history. The museum owns various records and materials related to juldarigi as well as various experience facilities.

  • Address:
    • 11 Anteulmosi-gil Songak-eup, Dangjin-si, Chungcheongnam-do
  • Time:
    • 10:00-18:00 *Closed on Mondays
  • Tel.
    • 041-350-4929
Pilgyeongsa House

A well-known Korean novelist Shim Hoon, author of Sangnoksu (The Evergreen Tree), designed and built Pilgyeongsa House after he moved from Seoul to Dangjin in 1932. The word pilgyeong, meaning writing as if farming, originated from his own poem. He wrote his novel Sangnoksu in this house in 1935. Next to the house is Shim Hoon Memorial Museum where his handwritten manuscripts, photos and various records are exhibited.

  • Address:
    • 97 Sangnoksu-gil Songak-eup, Dangjin-si, Chungcheongnam-do
  • Tel.
    • 041-360-6883

PROGRAMS

Honorary Makgeolli Sommelier Class

If you like makgeolli, try a makgeolli sommelier class. You can learn how to mix makgeolli with different flavors to make your own makgeolli cocktail. After attending the class, you will earn an honorary makgeolli sommelier certificate issued by the Korean Makgeolli Association.

  • Time:
    • 2 hours
  • Admission:
    • 25,000 won
Making Nuruk Pancake and Cookies

Activity programs for children are available as well. Participants can learn how to make nuruk pancake with rice nuruk, nuts and honey.

  • Time:
    • 1.5 hours
  • Admission:
    • 25,000 won
Baengnyeon Brewery Culture Center Tour

Previously a warehouse building remodeled into an exhibition hall, Baengnyeon Brewery Culture Center has an abundance of brewery items ranging from earthenware crocks used for storing liquor, to measuring containers, and wooden nuruk (fermentation starter) molds. Plus, you can learn about the history by seeing the exhibition of awards from the Japanese colonial era, licenses, tax records, medical examination records of the 60’s and so on. After touring the exhibition room, you can taste some makgeolli.

  • Time:
    • 10:00~16:00
  • Admission:
    • Free
Making Makgeolli (danyangju)

You can make your own makgeolli after attending a brief lecture. Add the rice, nuruk (starter culture), yeast and water to a glass jar and mix well by hand. Let the mixture mature at home for about a week, then strain the liquor and enjoy.

  • Time:
    • 2 hours
  • Admission:
    • 25,000 won

RECOMMENDED TOURIST ATTRACTIONS

Gijisi Juldarigi Museum

Established more than 500 years ago, Gijisi juldarigi (a local tug-of-war game) is designated as Important Intangible Cultural Heritage No. 75 and it is registered on the UNESCO Intangible Cultural Heritage list. Gijisi juldarigi involves two teams divided to the north and south of the village well, with each team tugging each end of a 200-m rope that weighs 40 tons. The Gijisi Juldarigi Museum, the only museum of its kind in Korea, preserves the juldarigi tradition and history. The museum owns various records and materials related to juldarigi as well as various experience facilities.

  • Address:
    • 11 Anteulmosi-gil Songak-eup, Dangjin-si, Chungcheongnam-do
  • Time:
    • 10:00-18:00 *Closed on Mondays
  • Tel.
    • 041-350-4929
Pilgyeongsa House

A well-known Korean novelist Shim Hoon, author of Sangnoksu (The Evergreen Tree), designed and built Pilgyeongsa House after he moved from Seoul to Dangjin in 1932. The word pilgyeong, meaning writing as if farming, originated from his own poem. He wrote his novel Sangnoksu in this house in 1935. Next to the house is Shim Hoon Memorial Museum where his handwritten manuscripts, photos and various records are exhibited.

  • Address:
    • 97 Sangnoksu-gil Songak-eup, Dangjin-si, Chungcheongnam-do
  • Tel.
    • 041-360-6883
INFORMATION
Shinpyeong Brewery
  • Address:
    • 809 Sinpyeong-ro Sinpyeong-myeon, Dangjin-si, Chungcheongnam-do
  • Tel.
    • 041-362-6080
  • Website:
  • Time:
    • 10:00-16:00 on weekdays *For a group of 15 or more / Individual tourists or groups of less than 15 can join a Saturday class at 13:00
Writer by Song Ji-yoo | Photo by Nam Yoon-Jung(AZA Studio)
Client KTO | Production D.gram(Cultural Tours Alongside Local Celebrities) ⓒdgram.co.kr All Rights Reserved.
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