"Just Going to Tsushima to Buy Whiskey for a Moment"...The Trending 'Quick Turn Travel' These Days [Youth Report]

'Quick Turn' Returning Immediately After Flight
Taking a Day Trip to Buy Whiskey

Recently, a 'Quick-Turn' craze has been sweeping among whiskey enthusiasts. Quick-Turn is a term frequently used by airline crew members, referring to a schedule where they return immediately after a flight. In other words, it means taking a same-day overseas trip to purchase whiskey. They believe that by taking advantage of duty-free benefits, the costs such as round-trip airfare or ferry fares can be covered.

Thanks to Highball Popularity... Whiskey Market Size Expected to Grow Further

[Image source=Pixabay]

The whiskey craze continues domestically. According to customs trade statistics, the import volume of whiskey types such as Scotch, Bourbon, and Rye last year was 30,586 tons, a 13.1% increase from the previous year. This is the first time whiskey imports have exceeded 30,000 tons. Whiskey imports decreased from about 20,000 tons in 2019 to 15,923 tons in 2020 and 15,662 tons in 2021, then surged to 27,038 tons in 2022, surpassing 30,000 tons last year.

The sharp increase in whiskey imports is believed to be due to the sensational popularity of 'Highball,' a drink made by mixing whiskey with carbonated water or tonic water. Originally, whiskey was considered a so-called 'middle-aged man's drink' due to its high alcohol content, but as Highball gained popularity among younger generations, its appeal broadened.

As consumers continue to seek whiskey, the domestic whiskey market size is expected to grow further. Market research firm Euromonitor reported that the domestic whiskey market size grew at an average annual rate of 36%, from 2.6796 trillion KRW in 2020 to 3.2051 trillion KRW in 2021, and 4.9461 trillion KRW in 2022. It is estimated to reach the high 5 trillion KRW range this year.

"I'm Considering a Quick-Turn to Buy Whiskey"

[Image source=Naver screen]

Given this situation, many consumers are looking to purchase whiskey more affordably. They sometimes take short trips to buy whiskey at reasonable prices. The favorite destination for whiskey enthusiasts is nearby Japan. Due to the ongoing weak yen and different liquor tax applications compared to Korea, purchasing high-priced whiskey in Japan effectively results in a discount.

On travel-related online communities, 'Quick-Turn' certification photos continue to appear. One netizen, who revealed they live in Busan, said, "I chose a Quick-Turn to Tsushima Island, the easiest place to visit a duty-free shop from Busan," adding, "As soon as I arrived at Tsushima, I picked up whiskey at the duty-free goods delivery counter. It seems most people came to pick up duty-free goods."

Another netizen said, "I bought 'Johnnie Walker Blue Label' duty-free in Fukuoka for 18,000 yen (about 158,000 KRW)," adding, "I was worried the price might have increased, but fortunately, it was the same as when I bought it in Japan before." In Korea, Johnnie Walker Blue Label can be purchased in the 300,000 KRW range, but with the yen's low value, it can be bought in Japan for less than half the domestic price.

Why Is Whiskey More Expensive in Korea? ... Because of Liquor Tax Law

On the morning of the 5th, the departure hall of Terminal 1 at Incheon International Airport was bustling with travelers and others. [Image source=Yonhap News]

The reason whiskey enthusiasts go on whiskey shopping expeditions lies in the current liquor tax law. Korea applies an 'ad valorem tax' on whiskey. Ad valorem tax means that the higher the retail price, the more tax is levied. Currently, Korean whiskey is subject to liquor tax of 72%, education tax of 30%, and value-added tax of 10% on the retail price. In other words, a whiskey priced at 100,000 KRW has over 110,000 KRW in taxes added. For imported whiskey, an additional 20% import duty is included.

On the other hand, Japan adopts a 'specific tax' system, where taxes are levied based on the quantity or alcohol content of the liquor. In Korea, the higher the price of alcohol, the higher the tax, but in Japan, the liquor tax is determined by volume regardless of price for the same type of liquor. Currently, more than 30 of the 37 OECD countries, including Japan, have adopted the specific tax system. Accordingly, some argue that Korea should change its whiskey tax system from ad valorem to specific tax.

Meanwhile, an analysis suggests that the rapid increase in whiskey consumption in Korea is largely due to changing drinking cultures. Sunny Moon, Research Manager at Euromonitor International, said, "MZ generation (Millennials + Generation Z) consumers tend to reject drinking cultures centered on excessive drinking at late-night gatherings and seek new ways to enjoy alcohol."