SevenBrau and Daehan Flour Mills Resolve "Gompyo Wheat Beer" Technology Dispute After Three Years

SevenBrau and Daehan Flour Mills, who sparked a craft beer boom with "Gompyo Beer," have resolved their dispute over alleged technology misappropriation. The two companies reached an agreement through the mediation of the SME Technology Dispute Mediation Committee, and Daehan Flour Mills has decided to contribute to a mutual growth cooperation fund.

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On April 16, the Ministry of SMEs and Startups announced that the dispute between SevenBrau and Daehan Flour Mills had been resolved through mediation by the SME Technology Dispute Mediation and Arbitration Committee. On the same day, a ceremony was held at the National Assembly Members’ Office Building to commemorate the agreement and the contribution to the mutual growth cooperation fund.

The Ministry of SMEs and Startups determined that if the dispute became prolonged, it could negatively impact the operations of both companies and the business ecosystem, and therefore actively promoted mediation. The parties reached a final agreement three years after the dispute began and six months after the mediation process started.

SevenBrau and Daehan Flour Mills collaborated in 2020 to launch “Gompyo Wheat Beer,” which achieved significant popularity, selling approximately 60 million cans. However, during the process of terminating their trademark contract in 2023, disagreements arose between the two parties, leading to conflict. Daehan Flour Mills selected Jeju Beer as the new manufacturer and signed a licensing agreement, while SevenBrau raised suspicions of technology misappropriation and filed for an injunction to ban sales.

In June 2023, SevenBrau filed a complaint with the Fair Trade Commission, alleging that Daehan Flour Mills had interfered with its business activities. Daehan Flour Mills, insisting that damages claims were not related to them, filed a lawsuit seeking confirmation of non-existence of debt. The issue of alleged technology misappropriation was also addressed during the National Assembly’s parliamentary audit. As the dispute dragged on, SevenBrau experienced financial difficulties and filed for corporate rehabilitation (court receivership) in May 2025. Subsequently, in June 2025, SevenBrau also filed a damages lawsuit against Daehan Flour Mills. The dispute was ultimately settled through mediation efforts by the Ministry of SMEs and Startups and the Democratic Party’s Euljiro Committee.

As a result of this mediation, both sides have agreed to withdraw all complaints and lawsuits filed against each other, and Daehan Flour Mills has pledged to support mutual growth with SevenBrau through its contribution to the cooperation fund. The fund provided by Daehan Flour Mills will be used to enhance SevenBrau’s business stability, technology development, and market expansion, thereby strengthening its competitiveness. The mutual growth cooperation fund is designated for specific uses and projects, including technology cooperation between large and small companies, narrowing wage gaps, job creation, and supporting startups and venture companies.

Minister of SMEs and Startups Han Seongsook stated, “This agreement is a meaningful case that demonstrates how long-standing legal disputes can be fully resolved through mutual understanding and respect. We will continue to discover and widely share such excellent cases, and actively cooperate with the courts to promote mediation and arbitration, as well as improve systems by introducing ex officio mediation and single-person mediation.”

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