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Few drinks are as woven into Korean daily life as soju. This clear, low-proof spirit fuels after-work dinners, late-night chimaek runs, K-drama scenes, and shared moments between friends. Today soju is the best-selling spirit in the world, with brands like Jinro and Chamisul leading the way from Seoul to Los Angeles.
What Is Soju?
Soju is a clear, neutral-tasting Korean distilled spirit, traditionally made from rice and now most often produced from grains like barley, wheat, or sweet potato. Most green-bottle soju sold today is diluted soju, blended with water and additives to land between 14 and 20 percent ABV. The taste is clean and slightly sweet, designed to pair effortlessly with food.
A Brief History: From Andong to the World
Soju arrived on the Korean Peninsula during the Goryeo Dynasty in the 13th century, when Mongol forces brought distillation techniques from the Yuan Dynasty. They stationed troops in Andong, a city in North Gyeongsang Province, which became the cradle of Korea's traditional distilled liquor. Andong soju, dating back roughly 700 years, is still preserved as Intangible Cultural Heritage and remains the gold standard of premium Korean soju.
Distilled vs Diluted Soju
Traditional Korean soju is distilled from fermented grain using nuruk, a wild yeast starter, and finishes around 40 to 45 percent ABV with a rich, rice-forward flavor. Diluted soju, the green-bottle version Koreans drink every day, took over after 1965 when a wartime grain shortage banned rice-based liquor. It is cheaper, lighter, and easier to mass-produce, while distilled brands like Hwayo and Won Soju are reviving the premium tradition.
Top Modern Soju Brands: Jinro, Chamisul, Chum-Churum
HiteJinro's Jinro is the bestselling spirit on the planet, named No. 1 by Drinks International for 24 years straight, with 96.8 million 9-liter cases sold in 2024. Its sister brand Chamisul, filtered through bamboo charcoal, dominates Korea's domestic market. Lotte Chilsung's Chum-Churum, marketed for a softer taste and lighter hangover, ranks a close second. Regional favorites like Goodday, Hallasan, and Bohae round out the lineup.
How Koreans Drink Soju: Etiquette and Rituals
Drinking soju in Korea comes with its own choreography. You never pour your own glass: a younger person holds the bottle with both hands and pours for the elder, who receives the glass with two hands as well. The first shot is often shouted with a hearty geonbae (cheers), and many drinkers flick or shake the bottle for tradition. Soju is almost always shared, never sipped alone at the table.
Soju Cocktails: Somaek, Yogurt Soju, and Beyond
The most legendary soju cocktail is somaek, a punchy blend of soju and beer at roughly a 3 to 7 ratio. Beyond that, Koreans love fruit-flavored sojus like grapefruit, peach, and yogurt soju mixed with the Yakult drink. Newer bars in Seoul, New York, and Brooklyn are pushing soju into craft cocktails, swapping it for gin in tonics or shaking it with yuzu, perilla, and hallabong for a Korean twist.
Where to Buy Soju Outside Korea
Soju is more accessible abroad than ever. In the United States, you can find Jinro and Chamisul at H Mart, Korean grocers, Costco locations, and major liquor stores. Total Wine, BevMo, and online retailers like Drizly and ReserveBar ship soju across most states. In the UK, Tesco and Asian supermarkets carry it, and HiteJinro now exports to over 80 countries, so check local Asian markets near you.
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