Won Spirits to enter American market this year

Industry

Published: 02 Feb. 2023, 18:42

Won Spirits to enter American market this year

American rapper Jay Park makes an appearance at a pop-up store to promote his liquor at The Hyundai Seoul in Yeongdeungpo District, western Seoul, on Feb. 25. Park is the CEO of his liquor company Won Spirits. [YONHAP]

American rapper Jay Park's liquor company Won Spirits will enter the American market this year, the company announced Thursday.

This is the first time for Won Spirits to enter a foreign market, one year since the launch of its first drink, Won Soju, last February.

Won Spirits earned approval from the U.S. market to export three of its products — Won Soju, Won Soju Spirit and Won Soju Classic. The drinks will be available in the U.S. starting with New York by the first half of this year.

Won Soju products are distilled soju and are classified as traditional liquor as they only use domestically produced rice without any additives.

The company plans to actively pursue overseas markets and says it’s in talks to start exporting its liquors to other countries such as China, Japan, Mongolia, Vietnam, Singapore and Hong Kong.

It has completed trademark registration in the United Kingdom, Hong Kong, New Zealand and the European Union.

“We are planning to launch Won Soju drinks, adequately adapted to each country’s local culture, through distribution channels where we can actively interact with our target consumers,” Park said in a statement. “We’ll do our best to spread the appeal of Korean traditional liquor worldwide.”

BY LEE JAE-LIM [lee.jaelim@joongang.co.kr]