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| Visitors can sample various traditional alcoholic drinks at the bar in the Sool Gallery in Insa-dong, Seoul. / Courtesy of Sool Gallery |
Visitors can experience drinking culture at Sool Gallery in Insa-dong
By Kim Rahn
You may have heard about soju and makgeolli. Then what about "igangju," "solsongju" or "munbaeju?"
There are dozens of, or maybe even hundreds of traditional alcoholic drinks in Korea, many of which even Koreans do not know. Each region, each brewery and each master produces their own liquor, and every master's alcohol is different according to the seasons and flavors.
In an effort to introduce such various traditional Korean alcohol products more widely, the Ministry of Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs and the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism jointly opened Sool Gallery. "Sool" is Korean for alcohol.
Located in Insa-dong, one of the most popular tourist destinations in Seoul where some 17 million domestic and foreign tourists visit, the gallery is comprised of two sections ― a bar where diverse traditional alcohol products are displayed and visitors can sample them; and a table which is used for sampling and lectures or consulting about traditional alcohol.
"We hope the gallery will provide information about traditional Korean alcohol, which foreigners and even Korean consumers cannot obtain easily," an official from the culture ministry said. "It will also become a window for exports of Korean alcohol."
About 20 different kinds of alcohol are on display, mainly those certified or awarded by related government or regional organizations.
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| Various types of traditional soju are displayed. |
"We'll introduce 20 different kinds every month," Myung Wook, deputy director of the gallery, said. "It's basically because our ancestors had different alcohol according to the seasons ― for example, people flavored alcohol with azalea in spring, with iris in May and with chrysanthemum in fall."
In addition to the seasonality, the gallery will present a theme each month: in February, traditional alcohol made by "food masters" designated by the agricultural ministry; in March, alcohol from breweries in regions famous for fermented food products; and in April, alcohol that matches spring breezes.
Along with alcohol, the gallery displays bottles and goblets that best suit the alcohol products, recommended by the Korea Craft and Design Foundation, in a way to introduce not only Korean alcohol but also its drinking culture.
A free sampling session is held every day at 1, 3 and 5 p.m. Those wanting to take part are required to make reservations through the Internet. Participants can try three to four kinds of alcohol.
Three staffers there are experts in traditional Korean alcohol and will provide information about it to visitors. "They speak English and Japanese, and we plan to have another staffer speaking Chinese soon," Myung said.
"Visitors can get basic information about traditional Korean alcohol, such as ingredients and the origin of its name, and sample some of them. We also let them know where they can buy the products," he said.
For those wanting to learn more deeply about Korean alcohol, the gallery offers lectures to foreigners, as well as those engaged in the restaurant business, such as hoteliers, restaurant owners and sommeliers. It also provides consulting to those wanting to run a traditional Korean alcohol business.
During the opening ceremony on Feb. 11, Culture Minister Kim Jong-deok and Agriculture Minister Lee Dong-phil drank a toast with other dignitaries who are experts in traditional alcohol or crafts.
In the toast, they drank "baengnyeon (white lotus) makgeolli," from Sinpyeong Brewery, which received the grand prize in the agriculture ministry's traditional alcohol contest in 2014. The makgeolli was poured into a "sorijan" (sound cup) that rings when shaken after drinking, which was made by ceramic ware-maker Kwangjuyo and certified by the culture ministry in 2014.
Lee said it is meaningful to have a venue in the center of Seoul to promote traditional Korean alcohol regularly.
"Korea has many kinds of traditional alcohol, but it has not been easy for customers to know about them," he said during the ceremony. "We hope this gallery will be the base for traditional alcohol's advancement to the world."
The gallery opens from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. every day except for Monday. Those wanting sampling, lecture or consulting are required to make reservations through http://blog.naver.com/soolgallery, www.facebook.com/thesoolgallery, or soolgallery@naver.com.
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