- Praised by local buyers and experts… Exploring opportunities for ‘K-beer’ to expand internationally
Korea’s craft beer industry showcased the global quality of 'K-beer' at Japan's largest beer festival. The Korean Craft Brewers Association(hereinafter KCBA, Chairman Inki Lee) announced on the September 26th that they participated in 'BeerFes Yokohama 2024,' held from September 21 to 23 at Osanbashi Hall in Yokohama, Kanagawa, Japan.
BeerFes is Japan’s largest beer festival, hosted by The Craft Beer Association in Japan, and has been held in various locations across Japan since 1998. This year, BeerFes Yokohama was the third event following Tokyo in June and Nagoya in August, with more than 200 carefully selected beers from around the world on display.
From Korea, eight member companies of the KCBA—Ggeek Beer Company, The Ranch Brewing, Beervana Brewing, Sokcho Brewing Company, ArtMonster Brewery, Andong Brewing Company, Whasoo Brewery, and Hiddentrack Brewing—showcased 16 different beers, promoting the taste and excellence of K-beer.
The KCBA has been continuously collaborating with overseas beer associations to promote K-beer to the global market, having previously been recognized for its outstanding quality through medals at prestigious international competitions like the World Beer Cup and the European Beer Star. The participation in BeerFes Yokohama 2024 was also the result of close cooperation with The Craft Beer Association in Japan.
Inki Lee, Chairman of the KCBA, stated, "To summarize the significance of participating in this festival: First, for the first time, the association collectively exported craft beer, allowing participating breweries to achieve export performance. Second, through the festival, we met with international buyers and consumers, gaining direct feedback and seeing the potential for expanding into overseas markets." He also added, "We will continue to create export success stories for small and medium-sized enterprises through high-quality, authentic craft beer, and proactive support from policymakers is essential."
The festival also garnered praise from local buyers. Through participation in the event, the possibility of exporting to Japan, where craft beer has a wider consumer base compared to Korea, was explored.
Jeonghyeon Kim, CEO of Sokcho Brewing Company, who participated in BeerFes Yokohama 2024, remarked, "In Japan, local breweries collaborate with small businesses to hold various festivals, creating opportunities to connect with consumers, which was impressive. It was a valuable time to reflect on the direction that the domestic craft beer industry should pursue."
Yusuke Yamamoto, Chairman of The Craft Beer Association, commented, "Not only beer enthusiasts but also brewers and beer experts were impressed by the high quality of Korean craft beer. I believe that the Korean and Japanese craft beer industries can continue to grow through mutual exchange and cooperation."
The KCBA(Korea Craft Brewers Association) represents Korea's craft beer industry and promotes the consumption of local craft beers through the 'Drink Local' campaign. The KCBA is also committed to supporting its members' entry into overseas markets through collaborations with international craft beer associations and by developing global market opportunities.
- Praised by local buyers and experts… Exploring opportunities for ‘K-beer’ to expand internationally
Korea’s craft beer industry showcased the global quality of 'K-beer' at Japan's largest beer festival. The Korean Craft Brewers Association(hereinafter KCBA, Chairman Inki Lee) announced on the September 26th that they participated in 'BeerFes Yokohama 2024,' held from September 21 to 23 at Osanbashi Hall in Yokohama, Kanagawa, Japan.
BeerFes is Japan’s largest beer festival, hosted by The Craft Beer Association in Japan, and has been held in various locations across Japan since 1998. This year, BeerFes Yokohama was the third event following Tokyo in June and Nagoya in August, with more than 200 carefully selected beers from around the world on display.
From Korea, eight member companies of the KCBA—Ggeek Beer Company, The Ranch Brewing, Beervana Brewing, Sokcho Brewing Company, ArtMonster Brewery, Andong Brewing Company, Whasoo Brewery, and Hiddentrack Brewing—showcased 16 different beers, promoting the taste and excellence of K-beer.
The KCBA has been continuously collaborating with overseas beer associations to promote K-beer to the global market, having previously been recognized for its outstanding quality through medals at prestigious international competitions like the World Beer Cup and the European Beer Star. The participation in BeerFes Yokohama 2024 was also the result of close cooperation with The Craft Beer Association in Japan.
Inki Lee, Chairman of the KCBA, stated, "To summarize the significance of participating in this festival: First, for the first time, the association collectively exported craft beer, allowing participating breweries to achieve export performance. Second, through the festival, we met with international buyers and consumers, gaining direct feedback and seeing the potential for expanding into overseas markets." He also added, "We will continue to create export success stories for small and medium-sized enterprises through high-quality, authentic craft beer, and proactive support from policymakers is essential."
The festival also garnered praise from local buyers. Through participation in the event, the possibility of exporting to Japan, where craft beer has a wider consumer base compared to Korea, was explored.
Jeonghyeon Kim, CEO of Sokcho Brewing Company, who participated in BeerFes Yokohama 2024, remarked, "In Japan, local breweries collaborate with small businesses to hold various festivals, creating opportunities to connect with consumers, which was impressive. It was a valuable time to reflect on the direction that the domestic craft beer industry should pursue."
Yusuke Yamamoto, Chairman of The Craft Beer Association, commented, "Not only beer enthusiasts but also brewers and beer experts were impressed by the high quality of Korean craft beer. I believe that the Korean and Japanese craft beer industries can continue to grow through mutual exchange and cooperation."
The KCBA(Korea Craft Brewers Association) represents Korea's craft beer industry and promotes the consumption of local craft beers through the 'Drink Local' campaign. The KCBA is also committed to supporting its members' entry into overseas markets through collaborations with international craft beer associations and by developing global market opportunities.