The corn Makgeolli made by Oksujujo won the grand award in the Korean rice wine category at the 2025 Korea Wine & Spirits Awards.
The Korea Wine & Spirits Awards is this year marking its 12th edition as the representative liquor evaluation event of South Korea. ChosunBiz has been hosting the event annually since 2014 with the goal of "discovering and promoting good domestic liquors and supporting the formation of a healthy liquor culture."
This year, 236 companies submitted a total of 1,008 brands. It is the largest scale among domestic evaluations dealing with comprehensive liquors. Among them, 431 brands received the grand award.
The corn Makgeolli also received the grand award at the 2024 Korea Wine & Spirits Awards Expo, making it a winner for two consecutive times. The corn Makgeolli is made using 100% glutinous rice and corn without any sweeteners or flavorings. It is characterized by the harmonious blending of the natural sweetness of glutinous rice and the mild sweetness of corn, along with a pleasant acidity.
Oksujujo is currently showcasing nine other products in addition to the corn Makgeolli (Okju 9% ABV). An official from Oksujujo noted, “We aimed to present authentic-tasting Makgeolli through various experiments to maximize the natural flavors of the ingredients without artificial additives,” adding, “We plan to present more products that blend traditional liquors with a modern sensibility in the future.”