Jay Park to accompany Yoon to Vietnam as part of business delegation

Jay Park holds his distilled soju Won Soju [YONHAP]

Singer and rapper Jay Park will be joining President Yoon Suk Yeol's state visit to Vietnam next week as the CEO of a popular Korean soju brewery.

Park has been selected as one of Yoon's 205-member business delegation to Vietnam as the founder and CEO of Won Spirits, maker of the traditionally distilled soju Won Soju, according to the JoongAng Ilbo on Thursday.

He will be the only celebrity to join the upcoming state visit as a business delegation member.

"We've managed to enter the U.S. market only a year after the launch [of Won Soju]. We are glad to have been chosen as a part of the business delegation," Wonspirits told the JoongAng Ilbo.

Wonspirits plans to meet local Vietnamese distributors and sign agreements with local companies to enter the Vietnamese and the South East Asian market.

Wonspirits launched Won Soju in February last year, branding itself as premium distilled soju, aiming to globalize premium soju. The brand expanded into the United States, Thailand and Hong Kong in 2023 and is currently in discussions to launch the brand in Canada, New Zealand, the Netherlands, Germany, Japan and China.

Yoon's economic delegation to Vietnam includes Samsung Electronics Executive Chairman Lee Jae-yong, SK Chairman Chey Tae-won, Hyundai Motor Group Executive Chair Euisun Chung, LG Group Chairman Koo Kwang-mo, Lotte Group Chairman Shin Dong-bin and other top Korean business figures.

Park debuted in 2008 as the leader of boy band 2PM under JYP Entertainment. He left 2PM in 2009 and started fresh with his solo EP "Count On Me" the following year.

Park works actively also as a music producer, establishing multiple labels, including AOMG in 2013, H1ghr Music in 2017 and More Vision in 2021. Park currently only manages his newest label, More Vision, with both AOMG and H1gher Music currently operated by CJ ENM, CJ's entertainment division.

BY CHO YONG-JUN [cho.yongjun1@joongang.co.kr]