LOTTE Chilsung Beverage’s “Searo” and KHEE Korea’s “Khee Soju 22%” received the “Best of 2025″ award in the soju institutional sector at the 2025 Korea Wine & Spirits Awards EXPO on the 9th.
Searo, which was first introduced by LOTTE Chilsung Beverage in mid-September 2022, is a zero-sugar soju that does not use fructose, unlike existing soju products. To preserve the unique flavor of soju, distilled soju was added, and nutritional labeling for alcoholic beverages was proactively implemented.
Thanks to consumer word-of-mouth, Searo achieved cumulative sales of 50 million bottles within four months of its launch and surpassed 100 million bottles in seven months. About two years after its launch, in October last year, it surpassed cumulative sales of 500 million bottles, establishing itself as one of the representative soju brands in Korea.
Khee Soju 22% is a premium distilled soju created by Korean-American influencer Eva Chow in collaboration with Hwayo. It is a traditional soju that features a subtle floral and pleasant yeast aroma with a smooth texture. Made from 100% rice, it has the unique sweetness and aroma of rice and leaves a refined and clean aftertaste that feels long and subtle.
This year’s event featured 236 companies showcasing a total of 1,008 brands. It is the largest scale among domestic evaluations dealing with general alcoholic beverages. Of these, 431 brands were awarded. Among the award-winning liquors, the 25 brands that received the highest scores by category were selected as “Best of Best 2025,” which is the highest award.