Singer and actor Kim Jaejoong has received an overwhelming response for his newly launched traditional liquor brand, “Apgujeong Makgeolli”, created in collaboration with Apgujeong Makgeolli.
Since its debut in April, the product has experienced a surge in orders, prompting urgent additional production to meet demand. Industry insiders note that it is rare for traditional liquors to require emergency production due to such explosive sales, highlighting the brand’s potential as a new cultural icon connecting K-Food and K-Culture.
“Apgujeong Makgeolli” has steadily built brand recognition through appearances on various TV shows and online content, including JTBC’s “Please Take Care of My Refrigerator”, YouTube channels “Yongtaro”, “JaeFriends”, and “Jo Hyun-ah’s Thursday Night”. Recently, Kim Jaejoong personally introduced the product on his YouTube channel “Hi-Fiction”, further fueling public interest and driving market demand.
The buzz has also spread internationally, with online communities and social media highlighting the drink as “the makgeolli enjoyed by a K-pop star”, signaling that traditional Korean liquors can resonate with younger generations and have global market potential.
Kim Jaejoong, aiming to promote K-Culture more widely and diversely, has taken an active role in the project, participating not only as a brand ambassador but also in product development and marketing.
Meanwhile, Kim continues his career as a singer, recently completing a successful fan meeting in Chengdu, China, engaging with fans around the world while managing his expanding cultural ventures.
