"Why Korea's Largest Wine Company Focused on Andong Soju to Preserve Traditional Alcohol Culture"

Governor Lee Cheol-woo, CEO Ma Seung-chul, and Mayor Kwon Ki-chang MOU
30 Billion KRW Investment Factory Construction
Production Line Completion in 2028... 100 Jobs Created

Gyeongbuk Province and Andong City signed a memorandum of understanding (MOU) for an investment worth 30 billion KRW at the Gyeongbuk Provincial Office on the 1st, attended by Lee Cheol-woo, Governor of Gyeongbuk Province, Kwon Ki-chang, Mayor of Andong, and Ma Seung-cheol, CEO of Nara Sella.

Nara Sella is a wine import company known as the exclusive importer of "Montes Alpha," a wine called the national wine. It exclusively supplies over 500 varieties of world-renowned wines from more than 120 brands domestically and is pursuing listing on KOSDAQ as the first domestic wine company.

Narasella Ma Seung-chul (center in photo), Lee Cheol-woo, Governor of Gyeongbuk Province (left in photo), and Kwon Ki-chang, Mayor of Andong, are holding up documents after signing a business agreement.

Nara Sella is preparing to establish an Andong soju production line in Andong, Gyeongbuk, with an investment of about 30 billion KRW by 2028, and upon completion of the investment, it is expected to create about 100 new jobs.

Andong, Gyeongbuk, is the birthplace of traditional distilled liquor where Andong soju has been produced since the 13th century. Andong soju is one of Korea's three famous liquors and is a pure distilled liquor made using rice from the Andong region. It is a representative traditional Korean liquor recognized by the U.S. TTB (Alcohol and Tobacco Tax and Trade Bureau) for exclusive trademark use along with Gyeongju Beopju.

Ma Seung-cheol, CEO of Nara Sella, said, "Andong is a place where Korea's traditional alcohol culture is well preserved, so we decided to invest here expecting various win-win effects. Through the Andong soju production line investment in Andong, we will contribute to the globalization of Andong soju and job creation, thereby supporting the local economy."

Lee Cheol-woo, Governor of Gyeongbuk Province, promised, "We will do our best to support the investment in the Andong soju production line so that there will be no regrets," and added, "Gyeongbuk Province, which has embarked on a great agricultural transformation, is seeking a globalization strategy for Andong soju through high value-added agriculture and export industrialization. We will carefully study the growth strategies of world-famous whiskeys and focus our capabilities on fostering exports and globalization of Andong soju."