"Matched the Taste of Heavy Drinker Kishida"... Gyeongju Traditional Liquor Highlighted by Japanese Media

Focus on the Reason Cheongju Was Served Instead of Soju
Reexamining the Story of the Drinker Kishida

Gyeongju Beopju, served at the Korea-Japan summit dinner, is attracting attention from Japanese media. Contrary to expectations that the representative Korean liquor soju, well-known in Japan, would be served, cheongju was chosen as the dinner drink. Japanese media noted that the selection of the dinner drink was carefully made considering the taste of Prime Minister Fumio Kishida, nicknamed the "leading drinker in Japanese politics."

On the 8th, the Mainichi Shimbun published an article titled "Did they match the taste of heavy drinker Prime Minister Kishida? President Yoon serves Korean cheongju." Mainichi introduced Gyeongju Beopju as "a brewed liquor made from rice, which is a minority in Korea where distilled liquor soju has a high market share," and described it as "the finest cheongju among Korean rice wines close to sake, which Kishida likes."

[Image source=Yonhap News]

The Nihon Keizai Shimbun (Nikkei) also reported, "President Yoon stated that since soju and beer were served in Japan, this time he would prepare the liquor that Kishida enjoys," indicating that the dinner drink choice considered Prime Minister Kishida's preference.

In addition, Japanese media such as the Asahi Shimbun added the Blue House's introduction of Gyeongju Beopju, describing it as "a liquor made by polishing the rice surface up to 79%, resulting in a clean and smooth taste," and "a renowned liquor of the thousand-year-old capital, known for its clear and soft flavor among Korean cheongju."

With growing interest in "alcohol" at the Korea-Japan summit, Prime Minister Kishida's drinking anecdotes are also being revisited. Kishida is known as the top drinker in Japanese politics. During his time as Foreign Minister, he emphasized that drinking well was part of diplomacy, highlighting the importance of "nominication"?a blend of the Japanese word for "drink" (?む) and "communication"?as a crucial diplomatic tool. One famous story from his Foreign Minister days involves a drinking contest with the Russian Foreign Minister over vodka.

[Image source=Yonhap News]

In a media interview, Prime Minister Kishida said, "In my 30s and 40s, I drank until I blacked out once a year. I often called the people I drank with the next day to piece together my memories."

This helped counter his reputation for being "boring" and "just listening." He took on the role of a so-called "black knight," drinking on behalf of those who could not drink. Early in his political career, during a drinking session with Taiwanese politicians, when toasts continued, he recalled taking the weak Japanese attendees' glasses in one hand and drinking for them. He is also famous for drinking on behalf of former Prime Minister Shinzo Abe, who could not drink alcohol.

Earlier, President Yoon and Prime Minister Kishida drank a "somaek" bomb cocktail at a dinner during President Yoon's visit to Japan in March. At that dinner, Sapporo and Yebisu beers were served, mixed with Korean soju to celebrate harmony.