Kim Young-su, CEO of ChosunBiz, said at the Korea Wine & Spirits Awards held on the 24th at the Westin Josun Hotel in Jung-gu, Seoul, that "the awards have established themselves as a unique indicator for reading the flow of the domestic liquor market and as a sturdy bridge connecting producers and consumers," adding, "Going forward, ChosunBiz will be a reliable partner to the liquor industry so that the best drinks can be widely promoted and Korea's liquor industry can shine in the global market."
The Korea Wine & Spirits Awards is an event that ChosunBiz has held annually since 2014 to discover good drinks, promote them widely, and support the formation of a sound drinking culture. For the 13th year, it has selected the best drinks each year and introduced them to consumers.
Kim said, "I extend my gratitude to all the distinguished guests who attended the 2026 Korea Wine & Spirits Awards and to the more than 100 judges who evaluated with fair standards so that the awards could become the most trusted ceremony in the industry," adding, "In particular, I also offer congratulations to this year's award recipients."
A total of 260 companies submitted 1,118 brands to this year's event. It is the largest among domestic evaluations that cover comprehensive alcoholic beverages. Of these, 449 brands received top prizes. Among the top prizewinners, 24 brands that earned the highest scores by category were selected for the highest honor, "Best of 2026."
Attendees included Michelle Winthrop, Ireland's ambassador to Korea; Dawn Elizabeth Bennett, New Zealand's ambassador to Korea; Dario Cesar Zelaya Alvarez, Argentina's ambassador to Korea; Matthias Franke, Chile's ambassador to Korea; Emilia Gatto, Italy's ambassador to Korea; and Suzana Vaz Patto, Portugal's ambassador to Korea.