- Gochang and Gochang Agricultural, Fishery, and Livestock Products Newly Highlighted Thanks to the Popularity of "Clean Gochang Soju"
- "Nop-eul Gochang Mall" Opens, Where You Can Purchase Gochang Agricultural, Fishery, and Livestock Products All in One Place
The popularity of the local soju, “Cheongjeong Gochang Soju,” continues to grow.
Cheongjeong Gochang Soju has started selling in over 50 Emart stores and is so popular that it is sold out on online malls.
Gochang Soju, which was once only popular among some locals and outsiders for its clean taste and aroma, has been reborn as Cheongjeong Gochang Soju and gained nationwide popularity within just one month.
The Gochang Seohaean Bokbunjaju Agricultural Cooperative, which produces “Cheongjeong Gochang Soju,” is a local brewery that created “Seonun Bokbunjaju,” the official dinner wine for the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) in 2005. The newly produced “Cheongjeong Gochang Soju” is a distilled traditional liquor made from rice produced in Gochang, enhanced with the aroma of 20 edible certified flowers.
The main reason for the popularity of “Cheongjeong Gochang Soju” is the significant influence of Chung Yong-jin, Vice Chairman of Shinsegae.
As a member of a chaebol family and an influencer with 580,000 followers, Chung Yong-jin has created buzz by using his social participation activities to support local farmers, such as selling out Gangwon potatoes and Haenam sweet potatoes from Jeollanam-do at Emart.
The recent sensation of “Cheongjeong Gochang Soju” became widely known after Chairman Chung Yong-jin visited Sangha Farm in Gochang, purchased Gochang Soju, and posted a photo with the caption “The reason why Shinsegae soju is perfect for daytime drinking.”
Among netizens, interest in Gochang rice, the raw material for the soju, is also increasing along with the popularity of “Cheongjeong Gochang Soju.”
Gochang rice is currently sold under the “Nopeul Gochang Rice” brand at CJ Mall and department stores for 50,000 KRW per 10kg, and it is recognized by consumers for its excellent taste.
Nopeul Gochang Rice is cultivated using the “Sugwang” variety, the highest quality rice for cooking developed by the Rural Development Administration. The rice is eco-certified, stored in dedicated low-temperature warehouses, and milled within one week before shipment to maintain optimal freshness.
Gochang County is also famous as a production area for various agricultural, marine, and livestock products. Gochang watermelons have long been recognized as the best in the country, and Gochang melons surprised consumers last year by selling for 2.1 million KRW per pair at an online auction. Additionally, efforts are underway to develop seven major crops?including strawberries, sweet potatoes, chili peppers, and stake-cultivated seaweed?under the Nopeul Gochang brand.
The Nopeul Gochang brand directly expresses the first Chinese character of Gochang County’s name, “高” (Nopeul, meaning “high”), symbolizing the high status of the Korean Peninsula’s first capital, as well as high quality, high reliability, and high sweetness, representing a premium brand of high-quality food products.
Along with developing the Nopeul Gochang brand, Gochang County has established an integrated online shopping mall where customers can purchase excellent agricultural, marine, and livestock products from Gochang all in one place.
To respond to the COVID-19 contactless market, the newly launched Nopeul Gochang Mall offers outstanding agricultural, marine, and livestock products from Gochang.
Especially, at the opening ceremony on April 21, various promotions and events are planned. Until April 20, customers who purchase over 30,000 KRW will be eligible for a program called “Gochang County Will Support You,” which will send a Nopeul Gochang Mall set worth 100,000 KRW once a month throughout the year.
We hope that the popularity of “Cheongjeong Gochang Soju,” which started from the Chung Yong-jin syndrome, will become a good precedent for finding new opportunities for local agricultural specialties along with the Nopeul Gochang brand of Gochang County.
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