Lotte to re-introduce distilled soju after 3-year hiatus

A new distilled soju ‘Yeo-ul’

Lotte Chilsung Beverage said on Thursday that it will be unveiling a new distilled soju named ‘Yeo-ul,’ marking the return of the company to the distilled soju market after a three-year hiatus after discontinuing its previous offering, ‘Daejangbu,’ in 2021.

Daejangbu, launched in 2016, once competed with other popular soju brands including ‘Hwayo’ and ‘Ilpoom Jinro,’ to expand its market presence. But with a significant decline in sales amid the Covid-19 pandemic, the company decided to discontinue Daejangbu.

“With the recent surge in interest in distilled spirits such as whiskey, we have decided to re-enter the distilled soju market,” a company spokesperson said.

The new soju product will retail at around 10,000 won ($7.5) per bottle, aiming to provide a competitive option in terms of both quality and affordability.

Lotte Chilsung Beverage emphasized its commitment to using domestically sourced ingredients, including Korean rice, yeast, and malt in the production of Yeo-ul. The alcohol content is 25 percent, and it will be available in a 375ml bottle. The company said that a short-term two-stage fermentation process at temperatures ranging from 20 to 25 degrees Celsius was employed to create a subtle and aromatic flavor profile for Yeo-ul.