National Tax Museum Special Exhibition 'Sul, Brewing Abundance' Opens

Comprehensive Guidebook "Capturing Our Alcohol in Books" Published

Kim Dae-ji, Commissioner of the National Tax Service, is viewing the special exhibition "Alcohol, Brewing Prosperity" on the first floor of the National Tax Museum at the Sejong National Tax Service building on the 28th.

[Asia Economy Reporter Kwangho Lee] The National Tax Service is holding an exhibition themed "The Story of Taxes Alongside the History of Alcohol." Visitors can directly examine artifacts and old documents related to alcohol, explore famous local liquors from across the country, verify the authenticity of alcoholic beverages, and participate in hands-on experiences such as making a jureonggu (a traditional drinking game dice).

On the 28th, the National Tax Service announced that it held the opening ceremony for the special exhibition "Alcohol, Brewing Prosperity" on the first floor of the National Tax Museum in Sejong City and will run the exhibition until April 30 of next year.

Since 2008, the National Tax Museum has annually held special exhibitions on the story of taxes in history with unique themes. This year, it expressed the story of taxes alongside the history of alcohol through various artifacts and content.

The exhibition space is divided into seven sub-themes: the origin and types of alcohol, manufacturing methods, alcohol and taxes, the evolution of liquor tax laws and administration, famous local liquors, alcohol around the world, and the ancestors' healthy drinking culture. Notably, ceramic works by the renowned potter Lee Taeksu are installed at the entrance to engage visitors' interest.

Key exhibited artifacts include traditional tools used in making traditional liquor such as nuruk molds, water containers, and sojutgori (traditional liquor carriers), as well as old documents containing records about traditional liquor like Joseon Common Sense Q&A, Donguibogam, and Haseojip. Items offering a glimpse into past liquor tax administration, such as tax payment stamps, liquor tax seals, liquor tax ledgers, private liquor manufacturing licenses, container capacity inspection certificates, leaflets preventing illicit brewing, and notices of liquor tax law violations, are also on display.

For visitor enjoyment, a liquor authenticity verifier that detects counterfeit alcohol, an unmanned kiosk to locate famous local liquors on a map, and panels showcasing alcoholic beverages from around the world are installed.

To provide insight into the ancestors' healthy drinking culture, the principle of the gyeongyeongbae (a cup that warns against excess?if filled beyond 70%, all the liquor spills out) is shown through video, and visitors can make a jureonggu (a 14-faced dice with entertaining drinking penalties inscribed on each face) from the Silla period.

The National Tax Service has published "Our Liquor, Captured in Books" as part of measures to support the healthy development of the liquor industry and to raise awareness of Korean traditional liquors.

This book collects information on the types, release dates, raw materials, and characteristics of liquors produced by over 650 domestic manufacturers, organized by region. The published book will be distributed to civil service offices at tax offices nationwide, media outlets, and related associations, and will also be produced as an e-book to be posted online for anyone interested in alcohol to access.