South Korea: Kim Changsoo Whiskey unveils Andong Distillery
Kim Changsoo Whiskey, which has been challenging the notion that “whiskey can be made in Korea” since establishing a distillery in Gimpo, Gyeonggi Province, in 2020, has prepared a new distillery. The company plans to resolve supply shortages by increasing production tenfold. Leveraging its accumulated distillation and aging expertise, it also intends to launch a product called ‘Andong Soju’, the Chosun Ilbo reported on July 7.
Kim Changsoo Whiskey announced on the 7th that it has completed the construction of its second distillery in Andong, Gyeongbuk Province, spanning 2,500 pyeong. The project began in March 2025 and took one year and four months. Since releasing its first product in 2022, Kim Changsoo Whiskey has faced difficulties meeting demand, with all products selling out on the day of release. The newly completed Andong distillery has production and aging capacities ten times larger than the Gimpo distillery. The increased output will support domestic supply and overseas exports. The first shipment to the U.S. is planned this month.
The core distillation equipment at the Andong distillery was manufactured by the German brewing equipment company Kasper Schulz. A source from Kim Changsoo Whiskey stated, “The equipment has already successfully commenced trial operations, and full-scale whiskey production will begin after the completion ceremony.”
A significant portion of the whiskey production materials will use domestically grown barley contracted from a 130,000-pyeong site in Yecheon, Gyeongbuk Province. The company will also collaborate with local universities to research and test cultivation of barley seeds optimized for Korea’s soil and climate.
The company will enter the ‘Andong Soju’ market, a representative liquor of the region. A source from Kim Changsoo Whiskey said, “We will develop a ‘premium soju’ by applying our whiskey distillation and aging expertise, launching it simultaneously in domestic and international markets.”
The Andong distillery will collaborate with the Korea Food Research Institute and Scottish single malt distilleries to begin research using AI and semiconductor sensors in the second half of this year. This will analyze how climate in different countries affects whiskey aging, enabling production tailored to Korea’s climate.
Representative Kim Changsoo stated, “The completion of the second distillery in Andong has laid the foundation for Korean whiskey to compete on the global stage. By combining Andong’s traditional liquor culture, domestic raw materials, and modern technology, we will present the world’s best K-whiskey loved by everyone.”
08 July, 2026
