"Do You Know Makgeolli Brewed Over 100 Years?" ... Opening Ceremony of the Oldest 'Yeongyang Brewery' Restoration

Kyochon Group Fermentation Workshop 1991 Produces Yeongyang Makgeolli 'Eunhasu'

The oldest Makgeolli brewery building in the country, 'Yeongyang Brewery'. [Image source=Yeongyang County Office]

[Asia Economy Yeongnam Reporting Headquarters Reporter Dongguk Lee] The 'Yeongyang Brewery,' the oldest brewery in the country with over 100 years of history, which had ceased production due to financial difficulties for more than five years, has been revitalized through the Urban Regeneration New Deal project. It has been reborn as a brewery that preserves the cultural heritage value of modern architecture while incorporating modern brewing technology. An opening ceremony was held at 11 a.m. on the 23rd, attended by over 50 people including the Yeongyang County Governor and Kyochon F&B Chairman Kwon Won-gang.

Yeongyang Brewery began in 1915 during the Japanese colonial period and brewed only Makgeolli for over 100 years through three generations, but it closed in 2018 due to financial difficulties.

The 'Yeongyang Brewery Creation Project' started in 2017 as part of Yeongyang County's Urban Regeneration New Deal project, beginning with the signing of an MOU with the Kyochon Group in 2019.

The brewery has been revitalized to produce the Makgeolli 'Eunhasu' by the agricultural corporation Fermentation Workshop 1991. In addition to exhibition and viewing spaces, unique spaces such as youth start-up areas have been created. It is expected to contribute to the revitalization of the local economy as a stay-type tourism resource linked with local tourist attractions, including the largest birch forest in the country located in Jukpari, Subi-myeon.

The opening ceremony included a water-mixing performance where 'Eunhasu' Makgeolli produced at the brewery was poured into a unity cup symbolizing cooperation, commitment, and coexistence, followed by a ribbon-cutting ceremony, a brewery tour, and a Makgeolli tasting event paired with traditional food from the Food Dimi Bang.

Governor Oh Do-chang said, “Facing Yeongyang Brewery, which has reopened through the Urban Regeneration New Deal project, brings fresh emotions. I expect that operating the brewery will preserve our region’s precious cultural heritage and contribute to job creation and revitalization of the local economy.”

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.