Naewoe Distillery said on the 21st that its distilled soju product "Naewoe39" won the top prize in the premium soju (31% ABV and above) category at the 2026 Korea Wine & Spirits Awards.
The Korea Wine & Spirits Awards is Korea's leading liquor competition, now in its 13th year. ChosunBiz has hosted it annually since 2014 with the aim of "discovering and widely promoting quality domestic liquor, and supporting the formation of a sound drinking culture."
This year's event drew 1,118 brands from a total of 260 companies. It is the largest among domestic competitions that cover comprehensive liquor. Of these, 449 brands won the top prize.
"Naewoe39" is part of Naewoe Distillery's first product lineup, released alongside "Naewoe21." Based on brewing techniques handed down through a 100-year family business, it is a distilled soju made with a traditional fermentation method. The distillation process uses a whisky-style pot copper still to bring out the original aroma of the ingredients.
Made solely with rice and water, this product contains no additives. Despite the high alcohol content, it is characterized by a smooth swallow and deep flavor. On the palate, its strengths are cited as dense grain notes, a subtle fruit aroma, and a long finish.
Naewoe Distillery proved its product competitiveness by following last year's "Naewoe21" with this year's "Naewoe39" as back-to-back winners at the Korea Wine & Spirits Awards. The company said it is broadening its touchpoints with younger consumers through a sophisticated design that breaks away from preconceptions about traditional liquor.
Chief Executive Choi Young-ung of Naewoe Distillery said, "This award for Naewoe39 is the result of continuous research on quality combined with traditional techniques," adding, "We will continue to set a new standard for Korean distilled spirits and grow into a brand recognized by consumers at home and abroad."