Editing Soju (section)

==Brands==
[[File:Korean drink-Soju-01.jpg|thumb|225px|A bottle of ''[[Chamisul]]'' ({{Korean|hangul=참이슬|labels=no}}) soju]]

[[Jinro]] is the largest manufacturer of soju, accounting for half of all white spirits sold in South Korea.<ref name="CNN">{{cite web | url=http://travel.cnn.com/seoul/drink/soju-most-sold-drink-world-930177/ | title=It's official: Jinro soju is the world's best-selling liquor | publisher=Cable News Network. Turner Broadcasting System, Inc. | access-date=December 15, 2015 | archive-date=April 17, 2016 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160417014149/http://travel.cnn.com/seoul/drink/soju-most-sold-drink-world-930177/ | url-status=live}}</ref> Soju accounts for 97% of the category. Global sales in 2013 were 750 million bottles.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://blog.thewhiskyexchange.com/2015/05/jinro-soju-the-world-leader/|title=Jinro Soju – the world leader|date=20 May 2015|publisher=The Whiskey Exchange|access-date=December 14, 2015|archive-date=December 22, 2015|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20151222110009/https://blog.thewhiskyexchange.com/2015/05/jinro-soju-the-world-leader/|url-status=live}}</ref> The most popular variety of soju is currently [[Chamisul]]<ref name="CNN" /> (참이슬 - literally meaning "real dew"),{{Citation needed|date=August 2008}} a quadruple-filtered soju produced by Jinro, but recently ''Cheoeum-Cheoreom'' (처음처럼, lit. "like the first time") of Lotte Chilsung ({{Korean|hangul=롯데칠성|labels=no}}) and Good Day ({{Korean|hangul=좋은데이|labels=no}}) of Muhak ({{Korean|hangul=무학|labels=no}}) are increasing their [[market share]]. However, the popularity of brands varies by region. In [[Busan]], Shiwon Soju (시원 소주-"refreshing soju") is the local and most popular brand. Yipseju (잎새주 - "Leaf Soju"/"Maple Soju") is popular in the [[South Jeolla Province]] region.<ref name="Pop">{{cite web | url=http://www.soompi.com/2015/06/01/the-most-popular-soju-by-region-in-south-korea/ | title=The Most Popular Soju by Region in South Korea | date=June 2015 | publisher=Viki Inc. | access-date=December 14, 2015 | archive-date=August 3, 2016 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160803073210/http://www.soompi.com/2015/06/01/the-most-popular-soju-by-region-in-south-korea/ | url-status=live}}</ref>{{Unreliable source?|reason=See reliable sources list on [[WP:KO/RS]]|date=March 2025}} The [[Daegu]] Metropolitan Area has its own soju manufacturer, Kumbokju, with the popular brand Cham ({{Korean|hangul=참|labels=no}}).<ref>{{cite web|url-status=dead |url=http://etrade.daegu.go.kr/co/kumbokju/GC02333375/CA02333376/Charm_Soju.html|title=Charm Soju|work=EtradeDaegu|access-date=November 22, 2014|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141129044725/http://etrade.daegu.go.kr/co/kumbokju/GC02333375/CA02333376/Charm_Soju.html |archive-date=November 29, 2014}}</ref> Further north in the same province, Andong Soju is one of Korea's few remaining traditionally distilled brands of soju.<ref>{{cite web |last=Dunbar |first=Jon|date=2011-10-26|url-status=dead|url=http://www.hansik.org/zh/restaurant/recommendRestaurantView.do?currentPage=2&fboardId=1064 |title=Andong Soju Traditional Food Museum - Review|access-date=2011-11-09 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120402111713/http://www.hansik.org/zh/restaurant/recommendRestaurantView.do?currentPage=2&fboardId=1064 |archive-date=2012-04-02}}</ref> On the Special Self-Governing Province of [[Jeju Province]], Hallasan Soju is the most common brand, being named after the island's main mountain [[Mt. Halla]].<ref name="Pop" /> Also, there is pureun-bam<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://news.mk.co.kr/newsRead.php?year=2017&no=463498|script-title=ko:신세계, 제주소주 브랜드명은 '푸른밤'…소주 사업 본격화|last=방 |first=영덕|website=[[Maeil Business Newspaper]]|date=July 11, 2017|language=ko|access-date=2019-03-15|archive-date=April 24, 2023|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230424043425/https://www.mk.co.kr/news/business/7895103|url-status=live}}</ref> (푸른 밤/meaning: blue night) made by Jeju-soju.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://jeju-soju.co.kr/|script-title=ko:제주소주|website=제주소주|language=ko|access-date=2019-03-15|archive-date=December 12, 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181212001430/https://jeju-soju.co.kr/|url-status=dead}}</ref> In [[South Gyeongsang Province]] and [[Ulsan]], the most popular is Good Day ({{Korean|hangul=좋은데이|labels=no}}), produced by Muhak in [[Changwon]].<ref name="Pop" /> However, as soon as one crosses the border from [[Ulsan]] north to [[Gyeongju]] in [[North Gyeongsang Province]], it is almost impossible to buy White Soju, and the most popular brands are [[Jinro|Chamisul]] and Cham. Since 2015, the new trends of soju include fruit soju and sparkling soju, which have become increasingly popular in Korea, especially for young people.<ref>{{Cite news|url=http://www.newspim.com/news/view/20160322000201|title=the sparkling soju and fruit soju are new trends|last=kang|first=pilsung|date=2016-03-22|work=|access-date=|via=|archive-date=December 1, 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171201040153/http://www.newspim.com/news/view/20160322000201|url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|date=2015-10-31|script-title=ko:[재계 3.0시대 (10)주류업계] 트렌드 주도하는 주류업계 2·3세들|url=https://news.joins.com/article/18975390|access-date=2021-04-16|website=[[JoongAng Ilbo]]|language=ko|archive-date=April 16, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210416094703/https://news.joins.com/article/18975390|url-status=live}}</ref> Sae-ro, a sugar-free soju, is also popular among young people.<ref>{{Cite web  |date=2024-05-12 |script-title=ko:연매출 1000억…제로 슈거 소주 트렌드 이끄는 롯데칠성 '새로' |url=https://news.mt.co.kr/mtview.php?no=2024051210351287383 |access-date=2024-09-13 |website=[[Money Today]] |language=ko}}</ref>
[[File:TokkiSojuGoldLabel.png|thumb|A bottle of Tokki Soju Gold at their estate bar in Seoul, Tokki Bar]]
New American producers are entering the market. Some, like [[Tokki Soju]] and West 32 Soju, with initial market penetration in major markets like New York, are finding critical success. Tokki Soju won double gold for their barrel-aged soju, Tokki Soju Gold, in the San Francisco Spirits Competition 2021 and 2022. West 32 Soju won a gold medal at the 2017 New York International Spirits Competition.<ref>{{Cite news|url=http://west32soju.com/|title=Home|work=West 32 Soju|access-date=2017-04-25|language=en-US|archive-date=April 26, 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170426020100/http://west32soju.com/|url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=https://nyispiritscompetition.com/2017-winners/|title=2017 Winners – New York International Spirits Competition|website=nyispiritscompetition.com|language=en-US|access-date=2017-05-22|archive-date=June 17, 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170617141438/https://nyispiritscompetition.com/2017-winners/|url-status=live}}</ref>

A new all natural soju distilled in Germany called ISAE is also entering the premium soju market. It is distilled according to the German Purity Law ([[Reinheitsgebot|the Reinheitsgebot]]) for grain spirits of 1789 and uses 100% regional winter wheat and organic rice.<ref>{{Cite news|url=http://isaesoju.com/|title=ISAE all natural Soju|work=Isae Soju by Kyopo spirits|access-date=2018-07-26|language=en-US|archive-date=July 26, 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180726201753/https://www.isaesoju.com/|url-status=live}}</ref>

Recently, soju has been produced for the younger generation. It mainly contains fruit flavor and produces and sells soju with low frequency.<ref>{{Cite web |script-title=ko:진격의 K과일소주…주류 수출 30% 육박 |url=https://news.nate.com/view/20240919n31818 |access-date=2024-09-20 |website=[[Nate News]] |language=ko}}</ref>