Whalecity Co. said on the 9th that the premium traditional liquor brand "Gojoo Cheongju" won the top prize in the cheongju category at the 2026 Korea Wine & Spirits Awards.
The Korea Wine & Spirits Awards is Korea's leading alcoholic beverage competition, now in its 13th year. With the goal of "discovering and widely promoting good domestic liquors and supporting the formation of a sound drinking culture," ChosunBiz has hosted it annually since 2014.
This year's event drew 260 companies, which submitted a total of 1,118 brands. It is the largest among domestic competitions that cover a full range of alcoholic beverages. Of these, 449 brands won the top prize.
Gojoo Cheongju was planned as a product that aims to be a brand conveying the depth and dignity of Korean cheongju, going beyond a simple alcoholic beverage. Based on the identity of Korean traditional liquor, it also features a refined image and brand story.
Whalecity is presenting traditional liquor not merely as a regional specialty or a limited commemorative drink but as a premium beverage that can be enjoyed in daily life. To that end, it added that it operates the brand so that product quality, story, design, and consumer experience are organically connected.
Whalecity is also working to promote the value of Korean liquor in ways that resonate with younger generations and global consumers, grounded in the historicity and authenticity of traditional liquor. The company said Gojoo Cheongju is a representative product that embodies this brand philosophy.
A Whalecity official said, "This award is a result of external recognition for the brand direction and product philosophy that Gojoo Cheongju has pursued," adding, "We will continue our efforts to widely promote the appeal of Korean cheongju in domestic and overseas markets."