JEONNAM-GWANGJU — The Jeonnam-Gwangju Integrated Special City is searching for the new face of the region's traditional liquors.
The city said on the 18th that it is accepting applications through Oct. 8 from companies wishing to take part in the 2026 Namdo Traditional Liquor Competition, an event aimed at raising the profile of the region's leading traditional liquors and expanding their sales channels.
With the launch of the integrated special city, this year's competition has widened its pool of participants from breweries in Jeonnam to those in Gwangju as well. Breweries from both Jeonnam and Gwangju will now compete together to represent the region.
Entries will be accepted in four categories: unrefined rice wine (takju, similar to makgeolli), distilled spirits, medicinal and refined rice wines, and other alcoholic beverages. Following a review, the city will select 12 winners: one grand prize, eight awards for top and excellence prizes across the categories, one "Saesulmaru Prize" for new products released within the past year, and two popularity awards chosen directly by a public tasting panel.
Eligibility is limited to companies with liquor production facilities in Jeonnam or Gwangju. Applicants must hold a liquor manufacturing license and currently produce products on the market.
Judging will proceed in stages. A document review in October will examine eligibility and the share of domestic agricultural products used. A main round of judging, involving experts and a public tasting panel, will follow in Gwangju on Nov. 6 to determine the final winners. Anyone aged 19 or older can apply for the public tasting panel, whose members will taste the entries and rate their flavor and appeal from a consumer's perspective.
Winners will receive awards from the mayor of the Jeonnam-Gwangju Integrated Special City. They will also receive support for expanding sales channels, including online promotional events on the Namdo Jangteo platform, participation in exhibitions and expos, and publicity and marketing assistance.
"The launch of the integrated special city has broadened participation to include breweries in Gwangju," said Park Sang-mi, head of the city's agri-food distribution division. "We hope this will serve as an opportunity to discover products with quality and appeal and to strengthen the competitiveness of Namdo's traditional liquors."
