Kyochon's 'Yeongyang Fermentation Workshop 1991' named a hidden gem

Yeongyang Fermentation Workshop 1991, an agricultural corporation operated by Kyochon F&B, the company behind Kyochon Chicken, has been named among South Korea's hidden gems. The workshop earned a spot on the list through the 'Korea's Hidden Gems 100X100 Project,' organized by the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism and the Korea Tourism Organization. This project involved 100 travel experts recommending locations, with the public then voting to discover 10,000 notable sites across the country. The voting period, spanning roughly three weeks from late June, saw over 40,000 participants cast approximately 1.53 million votes. Yeongyang Fermentation Workshop 1991 was recognized for the appeal of its regional traditional liquors and the value of its historical space. It was selected in two categories: 'I'm Going to Drink Now, Full of Booze Pride' under the gourmet category, and 'Newtro Dive, Cultural Regeneration Space' under the culture, art, and tradition category. The workshop is a restored traditional brewery, originally established in 1926, which Kyochon F&B and the Yeongyang county government collaborated to renovate. Reopening in 2022, it preserves the original wooden structure, showcasing the legacy of a century-old brewery and serving as a prime example of successful cultural regeneration. The workshop produces modernized versions of traditional liquors, including 'Eunhasu Byeolhe-neunbam' and 'Eunhasu,' which are based on the recipe for 'Gamhyangju,' a type of makgeolli (rice wine) mentioned in the earliest Korean cookbook, 'Eumsik Dimibang.' Notably, 'Eunhasu Byeolhe-neunbam' has been selected as the official dinner wine for the 2025 APEC Ministerial Meeting's diplomatic and trade joint ministerial meeting. A representative from Yeongyang Fermentation Workshop 1991 expressed deep significance in receiving recognition through public votes, acknowledging both the 100-year history of the space and the value of the traditional liquors made from local agricultural products. The representative stated, "We will continue to practice the value of mutual growth and coexistence with the local community and strive to provide differentiated regional tourism content to visitors to Yeongyang." The selected hidden gems can be found on the 'Korea's Hidden Corners' website.

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We will continue to practice the value of mutual growth and coexistence with the local community and strive to provide differentiated regional tourism content to visitors to Yeongyang.