Kooksoondang Brewery said on the 10th it released the sweet potato distilled soju "Ryeo (驪) 2026 Byeongo Year Edition," created in collaboration with the agricultural corporation Kooksoondang Brewery Yeoju Myeongju.
Kooksoondang Brewery Yeoju Myeongju is a company jointly funded by Kooksoondang Brewery and sweet potato farmers in Yeoju. The sweet potato farmers supply the raw sweet potatoes, while Kooksoondang Brewery handles product development, marketing, and distribution.
Ryeo 2026 Byeongo Year Edition is a traditional distilled soju, rare in Korea, brewed with 100% sweet potato and aged for 1,000 days in traditional earthenware (onggi). It delivers the sweet yet deep and subtle flavor unique to sweet potatoes and, through 1,000 days of onggi aging, a smooth taste with a gentle, deep aroma.
The brand name Ryeo carries the meaning of a black horse. Timed to Byeongo Year, the year of the red horse, it visually expresses a striking red horse. The Ryeo 2026 Byeongo Year Edition will first come out at 40% alcohol by volume, with a 25% version to follow later.
It is sold online at Sul Market, Naver Smart Store, and the website of the agricultural corporation "Kooksoondang Brewery Yeoju Myeongju." It is also available offline through the traditional liquor subscription platform Suldamhwa, select locations of large supermarkets such as Hanaro Mart, Hyundai Department Store Judamteo, and Park Bongdam Bottle Shop.