KOOKSOONDANG
KOOKSOONDANG is a privately held South Korean traditional brewery (est. 1952) producing makgeolli, soju, and functional health beverages, distributing nationwide via regional wholesalers and own-brand retail sites.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded1952
- HeadquartersSeoul, South Korea
- Headcount251–500
- GTM typeB2C
- OfferingHardware or Manufacturing
What KOOKSOONDANG does
KOOKSOONDANG (주식회사 국순당 / Kooksoondang Brewery Co., Ltd.) is a South Korean traditional liquor producer founded in 1952 and headquartered in Hoengseong-gun, Gangwon-do. The company manufactures and sells Korean traditional alcoholic beverages including makgeolli (rice wine), soju, and other spirits, with a flagship multi-brand portfolio of Baeksego (백세고), Beopgochangsin (법고창신), Baekseju (백세주), Yedam (예담), and premium distilled soju (증류소주 려 40). Underlying production is based on traditional Korean brewing fermentation methods, with proprietary probiotic and prebiotic fermentation techniques used in functional products such as the 100 Billion Prebiotic Makgeolli (1000억 프리바이오틱스 막걸리) launched in 2020.
The company generates revenue primarily through wholesale distribution of alcoholic beverages via a nationwide network of regional 도매점 (wholesale distributors) covering all major South Korean provinces, supplemented by direct channels including own-brand retail sites (e.g., Baekseju Village), online gift-set and imported-wine sales, factory tour venues (주향로), and an emerging international channel via a global website (English, Chinese, Japanese). Its customer base consists of general Korean consumers for personal consumption and gifting, plus business partners (wholesalers, retailers), and it has recently extended into adjacent categories such as the Baeksego traditional health beverage and rice-based snack products. As a privately held corporation with 251–500 employees, ₩256.3 billion in total assets, and ₩234.2 billion in total equity as of FY2024, KOOKSOONDANG is a self-sustaining, mature traditional brewery investing in functional product innovation and incremental internationalization.
KOOKSOONDANG firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- KOOKSOONDANG
- Legal name
- 주식회사 국순당
- Website
- https://ksdb.co.kr
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 1952
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 251–500 employees
- Short description
- KOOKSOONDANG is a privately held South Korean traditional brewery (est. 1952) producing makgeolli, soju, and functional health beverages, distributing nationwide via regional wholesalers and own-brand retail sites.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
KOOKSOONDANG industry classification
Industry- Product category
- Traditional Korean Alcoholic Beverages
- NAICS
- Beverage Manufacturing (3121), Breweries (312120), Distilleries (31214)
- SIC
- Beverages (2080), Wholesale-Beer, Wine & Distilled Alcoholic Beverages (5180)
- akta.pro primary industry
- Sake, Soju & Other Asian Alcoholic Beverages Producers & Brands (CRADAIAF)
- akta.pro secondary industry
- Fermented Tea & Botanical Beverage Production (Jun, Kvass, etc.) (AFAFAHAD)
Keywords
Where KOOKSOONDANG is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- Seoul
- HQ country
- South Korea
- HQ region
- Asia
Offices2 records
Markets served
KOOKSOONDANG business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2C
- Offering type
- Hardware or Manufacturing
- Cost components
- Supply Chain, Operations
Revenue model
- Alcoholic Beverage Sales: Primary revenue from manufacturing and selling traditional Korean alcoholic beverages including makgeolli (rice wine), soju, and other spirits through domestic distribution network and retail channels.
- Wholesale Distribution: Revenue through nationwide network of regional wholesale distributors covering all provinces in South Korea.
- Retail and Online Sales: Direct sales of products through gift sets, imported wines, and subsidiary brand products.
Go-to-market motion1 record
Distribution channels4 records
Marketing channels5 records
KOOKSOONDANG product offering
Product offeringCore offering
KOOKSOONDANG (국순당) is a traditional Korean brewery founded in 1952 that manufactures and sells authentic Korean alcoholic beverages, including makgeolli (unrefined rice wine), distilled soju, and refined traditional liquors. The company offers a portfolio of flagship brands such as 백세고 (Baeksego), 백세주 (Baekseju), 법고창신 (Beopgochangsin), 예담 (Yedam), and various makgeolli variants including functional prebiotic and probiotic rice wines. It also retails imported liquors, gift sets, and rice-based snack products.
Product overview
Kooksoondang (국순당) is a leading Korean traditional liquor (우리술) brewery offering a portfolio of alcoholic beverages centered on traditional Korean rice wines (makgeolli, takju), refined wines, and distilled spirits. The core product lines include: 백세고 (Baeksego), 백세주 (Baekseju) with its own dedicated village/brand site, 법고창신, 막걸리 (Makgeolli) including variants such as 1000억 유산균 막걸리 (100 Billion Probiotic Makgeolli) and 1000억 프리바이오 막걸리 (100 Billion Prebiotic Makgeolli), and 예담. Additional offerings include imported liquors (수입주류), gift sets (선물세트), and snack products like 쌀죠리퐁당 (Rice Jjolipongdang). Kooksoondang also operates specialty brand sites for 백세주 and 예담, and a global internationalization site (global.ksdb.co.kr).
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Brands
- 백세고 (Beksego): Traditional Korean health beverage brand. 백세고 百歲膏 launched January 2022.
- 법고창신
- 백세주
- 예담
- 주향로 (Ju-hyangno)
- 백세주마을
- 우리술 아름터
- 국순당 글로벌프로젝트 (k-brandy)
Products and services
- 백세고 (Baeksego) One of Kooksoondang's flagship traditional Korean liquor brands, with 백세고 백세膏 launched in January 2022 as a traditional Korean health beverage product.
- 법고창신 (Beopgochangsin) A premium traditional Korean liquor brand under Kooksoondang, featured as a distinct product offering on the product introduction page.
Quantifiable outcome
- Won 3 category grand prizes at 2021 Korea Liquor Awards (대한민국주류대상)
- +2 more outcomes
Companies that use KOOKSOONDANG
Customer profileSegments2 records
Ideal customer profiles3 records
KOOKSOONDANG technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed No
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
Feature3 records
KOOKSOONDANG partnerships and signals
Strategic signalScale indicators2 records
Recent moves6 records
Expansion highlights5 records
KOOKSOONDANG competitors and assessment
Company assessmentBroad incumbents
- Lotte Chilsung Beverage: Producer of Chum Churum soju and a broad portfolio of non-alcoholic beverages. Comparable to Kooksoondang as a major Korean soju manufacturer and distributor with nationwide retail penetration, but with much larger scale and a diversified non-alcoholic beverage business.
- Takara Shuzo: Japanese producer of sake, shochu, and other fermented Asian spirits. Comparable to Kooksoondang's traditional fermented Asian liquor business, with an international footprint that Kooksoondang aspires to replicate.
- Suntory Holdings: Global Japanese spirits and beverage giant (whisky, beer, RTD). Aspirational comparable for Kooksoondang's K-brandy and international expansion ambitions, illustrating how an Asian traditional-liquor brand can scale globally through premiumization.
- Hite Jinro: Korea's largest soju manufacturer (Jinro, Chamisul) and a major brewer (Hite). Direct category competitor to Kooksoondang in soju and traditional Korean alcoholic beverages, but at materially larger scale and with broader beer/spirits portfolio.
- Gekkeikan Sake: One of Japan's oldest sake producers, also producing plum wines and other fermented Asian alcoholic beverages. Useful international peer for Kooksoondang's traditional fermented rice wine (makgeolli) line, particularly as a model for heritage-led premiumization and overseas expansion.
Regional players
- Halla San Soju (Jeju Soju): Jeju-based regional soju producer with heritage branding. Comparable to Kooksoondang as a heritage-anchored Korean traditional spirits maker, though primarily serving the Jeju tourism and regional market.
Direct peers
- Muhak Co., Ltd. Manufacturer of Chamisul soju and other Korean distilled spirits. Closely comparable to Kooksoondang as a mid-sized Korean soju producer competing in the same mass and premium soju categories.
- Charm Soju (Sunyang): Manufacturer of Charm Soju (참이슬 Fresh) and other Korean spirits. Direct competitor in the mainstream Korean soju category where Kooksoondang also competes.
- Doosan Baekje (Baekje Makgeolli): Korean traditional makgeolli and liquor producer under the Doosan group, with comparable heritage positioning and nationwide distribution. Most directly comparable peer to Kooksoondang's core makgeolli franchise.
- Daesun Distilling: Producer of premium traditional Korean distilled soju (Andong Soju, Jin-Soju). Comparable to Kooksoondang's premium distilled soju line (Ryeo 40) targeting the high-ABV craft segment of the Korean market.
Market position
Strengths5 records
Weaknesses5 records
Competitive moat4 records
Key risks6 records
Key highlights7 records
Customer concentration
KOOKSOONDANG social profiles
Digital presenceKOOKSOONDANG financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
KOOKSOONDANG leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Profiles1 record
KOOKSOONDANG subsidiaries and ownership
Company hierarchySubsidiaries1 record
KOOKSOONDANG funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds
Investors
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
KOOKSOONDANG M&A and investment
M&A and investmentM&A
Investments
M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Frequently asked questions about KOOKSOONDANG
What does KOOKSOONDANG do?
KOOKSOONDANG (국순당) is a traditional Korean brewery founded in 1952 that manufactures and sells authentic Korean alcoholic beverages, including makgeolli (unrefined rice wine), distilled soju, and refined traditional liquors. The company offers a portfolio of flagship brands such as 백세고 (Baeksego), 백세주 (Baekseju), 법고창신 (Beopgochangsin), 예담 (Yedam), and various makgeolli variants including functional prebiotic and probiotic rice wines. It also retails imported liquors, gift sets, and rice-based snack products.
Is KOOKSOONDANG a public or private company?
KOOKSOONDANG is a private company. It is classified as unknown and is currently operating.
When was KOOKSOONDANG founded?
KOOKSOONDANG was founded in 1952. It employs 251 to 500 people.
Where is KOOKSOONDANG based?
KOOKSOONDANG is headquartered in Seoul, South Korea, in the Asia region.
How does KOOKSOONDANG make money?
Three revenue lines are on record. Alcoholic Beverage Sales are the primary driver. The others are wholesale Distribution and retail and Online Sales.
Who are KOOKSOONDANG's main competitors?
Broad incumbents on record are Lotte Chilsung Beverage, Takara Shuzo, Suntory Holdings, Hite Jinro and Gekkeikan Sake. Halla San Soju (Jeju Soju) is listed as a regional player. Direct peers are Muhak Co., Ltd., Charm Soju (Sunyang), Doosan Baekje (Baekje Makgeolli) and Daesun Distilling.
Does KOOKSOONDANG have an API?
No public API is recorded for KOOKSOONDANG.
What industry is KOOKSOONDANG in?
KOOKSOONDANG's product category is Traditional Korean Alcoholic Beverages. Its primary akta.pro industry code is CRADAIAF, Sake, Soju & Other Asian Alcoholic Beverages Producers & Brands, with a secondary code of AFAFAHAD, Fermented Tea & Botanical Beverage Production (Jun, Kvass, etc.). Its NAICS code is 3121 and its SIC code is 2080.