SEOUL, KOREA - Korea’s exports of makgeolli, once being popular as a well-being alcoholic drink riding high on the Korean Wave, continued on a downward trend for three straight years. In contrast, imported beers are gaining a larger share in the Korean market.
According to the Korea International Trade Association on September 25, the nation’s milky, sweet rice wine exports amounted to $10.44 million in the January-August period of this year, down 19.7 percent from a year ago.
After peaking at $52.74 million in 2011, up 176.2 percent year on year, the nation’s makgeolli exports continued to decline, falling to $36.89 million in 2012, down 30 percent year on year, and $18.86 million in 2013, down 48.9 percent year on year.
Korea’s soju exports also fell 8 percent to $64.24 million during the first eight months of this year, following last year’s annual decline of 15.2 percent to $107.51 million.
The decline in shipments of soju and makgeolli is blamed mainly on the sluggish demand from Japan, the largest export market for these items.
