Japanese beer is highly regarded for its quality in South Korea, a reputation that has grown stronger in recent years as the number of South Korean visitors to Japan has risen since the COVID-19 pandemic. Amid growing interest in Japanese beer and the launch of a variety of products, sales of Japanese beer in the South Korean market have continued to expand.
Kirin Brewery began its partnership with HiteJinro in 2004 and has since exported and sold KIRIN ICHIBAN in South Korea. The brand’s distinctive taste, created using Kirin’s unique First Press Brewing Method, which uses only the first wort extracted during the filtration process, has been well received by consumers. As a result, KIRIN ICHIBAN achieved its highest-ever sales volume in 2025.
With the start of local production, Kirin Brewery will ensure a stable supply of KIRIN ICHIBAN while shortening transportation lead times and delivering an even higher-quality product to consumers in South Korea. By further enhancing the value of the brand, Kirin Brewery aims to make it even more beloved among South Korean consumers.
Furthermore, Kirin Brewery will expand its more than 20-year, sales-centered partnership with HiteJinro to encompass manufacturing, technology and quality management. Together, the two companies will continue to create new value through alcoholic beverages and contribute to the revitalization of South Korea’s alcoholic beverage market.
Through the production and sale of KIRIN ICHIBAN in South Korea, Kirin Brewery will continue to share the appeal of great-tasting beer through KIRIN ICHIBAN as a global brand and contribute to a bright future for the beer market.
