Copycats plague soju market: How to tell if it’s the real drink
As K-pop and K-drama gained immense global popularity, so has soju, the iconic beverage often considered South Korea’s national drink.
But as the clear spirit continues to win over palates around the world, imitation products have become a problem in the market, an industry official said.
“In recent times, imitation products have been manufactured to closely resemble Jinro products, making it challenging for consumers to differentiate between them,” said Hwang Jung-ho, managing director for overseas business at HiteJinro, referring to the soju brand that his company produces.
So how can consumers distinguish between authentic soju from copycat beverages? The answer, at least in the case of Jinro, lies in the “quality” of the drink’s taste and bottle label.
“Jinro distinguishes itself by using rice, barley, tapioca, and natural additives, and by subjecting the soju to four rounds of filtration with bamboo charcoal, making the quality difference clear,” Hwang told select Filipino journalists who recently visited HiteJinro’s distillery in Icheon City as part of a company-sponsored trip.