South Korean alcohol exports to Singapore reached US$6.1 million in 2024, establishing it as a key global market. The demand is expanding beyond soju to include craft brews, rice wines, and new-generation spirits, influenced by K-dramas and evolving drinking culture. Importers and consumers are exploring a wider, more nuanced range of Korean beverages, with craft makgeolli leading the charge.
South Korean alcohol exports to Singapore reached US$6.1 million in 2024, making it the eighth-largest global market for South Korean spirits by value.New: You can now listen to articles. Add CNA as a trusted source to help Google better understand and surface our content in search results.
SINGAPORE: South Korean alcohol in Singapore is moving beyond soju, as a broader drinking culture – shaped by everything from K-dramas to cocktail bars – fuels interest in craft brews, rice wines and new-generation spirits.
But that is starting to change, as importers, bartenders and consumers explore a wider and more nuanced range of Korean drinks.
At a bar in lifestyle enclave New Bahru, Singaporean importer Dominic Tan is among those leading that shift – starting with craft makgeolli, a fermented rice drink.
At a bar in lifestyle enclave New Bahru, Singaporean importer Dominic Tan is among those leading that shift – starting with craft makgeolli, a fermented rice drink. “I was always interested in makgeolli, because all we got in Singapore was commercially-made makgeolli bottles,” said Mr Tan, founder and CEO of craft makgeolli bar and restaurant Odem.
The experience reshaped both his palate and his perspective. Back home, he realised how limited the local market was. Three to four years ago, most makgeolli available in Singapore was limited to supermarket versions, often in banana or strawberry flavours, said Mr Tan, with few options for craft varieties – which he describes as small-batch, hand-brewed. Traditionally seen in South Korea as a simple, everyday drink, makgeolli is being presented differently here – curated, premium and part of a wider evolution in how Korean alcohol is consumed.
“It’s quite flavourful,” said one patron. “It’s quite a unique taste and it doesn't feel like I’m drinking alcohol.”
“South Korean dramas show a lot of drinking culture, not just as a transaction but as a social ritual,” said Dr Dayoung Kim, a senior lecturer in marketing at the National University of Singapore . “So, specific brands and people drinking, it gets all exposed through those dramas and Singaporeans, Southeast Asians love watching those dramas. It gives legitimate access to that Korean drinking culture.” The shift is also reflected in trade data. After dropping to a pandemic low of US$270 million in 2020, South Korea's liquor exports rebounded to about US$326 million in 2023.
Singapore is playing a role in that recovery. South Korean alcohol exports to the country hit US$6.1 million in 2024, making it the eighth-largest global destination for South Korean spirits by value.
“Singapore is well known as a great testbed,” said Ms Bona Kim, managing partner at The Sool Company, which aims to promote South Korean traditional alcohol on the global stage. “Once you get good recognition in Singapore, it’s easier to move to countries close to it like Malaysia, Indonesia or Vietnam – or even to Europe.”
“Their pallets are multicultural. Foundationally, Singaporean consumers grow up navigating Chinese, Malay, Indian, Western food and drinks all simultaneously,” she said. “It’s also a travel hub, so a lot of people come and go. That builds a lower barrier to try new things.” Uno Jang, a South Korean-born bartender based in Singapore, is using cocktails, pairings and ritual to introduce a broader Korean drinking culture – one that goes beyond soju bombs.
The growth is not just happening through imports, but also behind the bar. Uno Jang, a South Korean-born bartender based in Singapore, is using cocktails, pairings and ritual to introduce a broader Korean drinking culture – one that goes beyond soju bombs. “I don’t believe that by just using Korean ingredients, it becomes a Korean bar,” said the co-owner and creative director at the Jigger & Pony Group. “The ingredients have to be very intentional.” For him, that also means recreating the rituals of drinking in South Korea – how alcohol is paired with food and shared socially. “My experience as a South Korean drinking and eating with pairing, I want to express that moment and memory with our customers,” he said.
We know it's a hassle to switch browsers but we want your experience with CNA to be fast, secure and the best it can possibly be.
South Korean Alcohol Singapore Exports Makgeolli Craft Beverages K-Culture
United States Latest News, United States Headlines
Similar News:You can also read news stories similar to this one that we have collected from other news sources.
South Korean President Lee Jae Myung to Visit Vietnam, Strengthening Ties and Exploring InvestmentSouth Korean President Lee Jae Myung is scheduled for a high-profile visit to Hanoi next week, marking his first foreign trip since Vietnam's President To Lam assumed office. The meeting is expected to foster deeper bilateral cooperation, with a focus on economic partnerships, including discussions on infrastructure projects and potential investments in the semiconductor sector. The visit underscores the growing strategic importance of Vietnam for South Korea, which remains a major investor in the Southeast Asian nation, with Samsung playing a particularly significant role.
Read more »
Blackpink’s Jennie named one of Time Magazine’s 100 Most Influential PeopleJennie is the only South Korean on this year’s list.
Read more »
American YouTuber sentenced to 6 months in South Korean prison for offensive stuntsSEOUL — An American YouTuber who sparked national outrage in South Korea for provocative stunts, including dancing on a statue honouring victims of wartime sexual slavery, was sentenced to six months in prison Wednesday (April 15).
Read more »
Wolf Escaped from South Korean Zoo Recaptured After Weeks on the RunA wolf named Neukgu, which escaped from a zoo in Daejeon, South Korea, by digging out of its enclosure, has been safely recaptured after a city-wide search involving hundreds of officers, drones, and thermal cameras. The wolf was found in a park and is reported to be in good health.
Read more »
Singapore Ranks 12th in Global City Vibrancy StudyA recent global study reveals Singapore's position in a worldwide assessment of city vibrancy, comparing its color diversity to major international destinations and highlighting the factors contributing to its score. The research, which analyzed nearly 80 cities, used a color analysis tool to determine the unique colors present in landscape imagery.
Read more »
Singapore teacher dies after developing infection from trimming nails; tributes pour inA primary school teacher who was battling cancer died on Monday (April 13), reportedly after developing an infection from a cut she sustained when trimming her nails.White Sands Primary School said on social media on Wednesday that Jacqueline Bay was a 'cherished member of our school family' and will be deeply missed by the community.
Read more »