SEOUL, Feb. 24 (Korea Bizwire) — The COVID-19 pandemic changed the landscape of the South Korean import liquor market, which is now dominated by whisky and wine.
The nation’s imports of whiskies such as scotch, bourbon, and rye amounted to US$266.8 million last year, up 52.2 percent year on year, according to the data from the Korea Customs Service. This figure is the highest in 15 years.
The culture of drinking alone at home became widespread due to the pandemic and the number of young people who accessed high-priced whiskies is increasing.
In particular, highball drinks that are made by mixing whisky with other beverages enjoyed strong popularity among young people.
The nation’s wine imports also reached an all-time high of $581.3 million last year, up 3.8 percent year on year.
In contrast, the nation’s beer imports slid to $195.1 million last year, down 12.5 percent year on year, the fourth straight year of decline. This reflects a drop in interest in imported beers and a shift in the taxation system.
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