NEXT-N takes Korean sool to buyers in Taiwan and Hong Kong

NEXT-N Korean Sool Heritage Collection will showcase four Korean sool products from four domestic breweries to importers and industry buyers in Taiwan and Hong Kong through online and offline tastings on Oct. 15-16 and Oct. 23, 2026. The export-oriented program is designed to turn sampling into import and distribution talks and expand overseas demand for Korean sool.

Why it matters: - NEXT-N is designed to move Korean sool from a domestic heritage story into direct export conversations with overseas buyers. - The program aims to create new business links for participating breweries in Taiwan and Hong Kong, two markets where import and distribution interest can lead to follow-on sales. - Tastings tied to business consultations give buyers a faster way to compare products, assess fit and discuss possible market entry.

What happened: - "NEXT-N KOREAN SOOL HERITAGE COLLECTION" will introduce four types of Korean sool from four domestic breweries to Taiwan and Hong Kong. - The project is being promoted through the export support project of the Korea Agro-Fisheries & Food Trade Corporation (aT). - APPLELIES, the organizer of the event, will hold an online seminar on Oct. 15-16 and an offline program in Taiwan and Hong Kong on Oct. 23. - The program targets local import and distribution companies, buyers, and hotel, restaurant and liquor industry professionals.

The details: - NEXT-N is a sampler collection, not a commercial liquor product or a new liquor brand. - The collection brings together representative sool from four domestic breweries in small volumes so overseas buyers and liquor experts can compare them in one place. - The sampler includes CHEONBIHYANG, KRATĒ, MOWALL and ADeVe. - The collection spans fermented sool, fruit wine and distilled spirits. - The online seminar will ship the sampler to participants in advance. - A Korean sool sommelier will explain each product’s ingredients, brewing method and characteristics during the seminar. - Q&A and business networking are also planned during the online session. - The Oct. 23 offline program in Taiwan and Hong Kong will let attendees taste the products directly and discuss local market fit and import and distribution possibilities. - NEXT-N’s core message is “FROM KOREA, CRAFTED WITH TIME.” - The message is meant to highlight Korea’s agricultural produce and nature, fermentation and aging, and the techniques and stories accumulated by each brewery.

Between the lines: - The structure of the project suggests a deliberate shift from product sampling to commercial matchmaking. - By linking tastings with consultations, NEXT-N is trying to reduce the gap between first exposure and serious buyer interest. - The focus on multiple breweries and multiple categories of sool broadens the category story beyond a single product or style. - The export push also helps overseas buyers understand the range of ingredients and brewing methods behind Korean sool, which can matter in market positioning.

What's next: - Participating breweries are expected to gauge reactions from buyers and liquor industry professionals in Taiwan and Hong Kong. - The project will look to secure continued individual consultations with import and distribution companies that express interest after tastings. - NEXT-N plans to discover new overseas buyers and build a network between domestic breweries and the overseas import and distribution industry. - The effort is intended to expand real export opportunities for participating breweries. - More information is available on NEXT-N's Instagram.