National Tax Service to Help Small and Medium Liquor Producers Enter Global Markets via '2026 K-SUUL Awards'

The National Tax Service has announced the start of the '2026 K-SUUL Awards,' which aims to discover excellent local small and medium-sized liquor producers and support their entry into global markets. This awards program captures the journey of finding various Korean liquors that can represent South Korea, ranging from Takju to fermented liquors, Soju, and distilled spirits.

The Role of '2026 K-SUUL Awards' in Overcoming the Limitations of Small and Medium Liquor Producers

The K-SUUL Awards, hosted by the National Tax Service, do not stop at simply selecting delicious liquor. While there are many small and medium-sized liquor producers in South Korea with excellent technical capabilities, most face difficulties entering overseas markets due to a lack of export experience or low brand recognition. The National Tax Service intends to act as a 'global link' for these small and medium-sized enterprises, aiming to discover excellent products and support the development of overseas sales channels.

In fact, an official from a liquor manufacturer, which was one of last year's winning companies, stated that interest in their products has increased thanks to the support of the National Tax Service, and they are achieving practical results, such as finalizing export plans to Cambodia this past August. The reason the National Tax Service manages the liquor industry is to supervise the production volume and distribution process to fairly collect relevant taxes, but it also performs the role of a supporter helping the industry grow. A National Tax Service official explained in a video, "Our tax agency manages beverages, supervises related taxes, and collects taxes on beverages," adding, "We must know how much is produced and where it is distributed to know how to save on taxes."

Increasing Expertise by Adding 'Regional Office Selection Process' This Year

The K-SUUL Awards being conducted this year have a more reinforced system based on last year's achievements. The most notable change is the addition of a selection process by regional offices. In order to more precisely find hidden famous liquors across the country, the strategy is to increase the reliability and regional characteristics of the selected products by going through a verification stage at the regional level. The National Tax Service stated, "This year, we added a selection process at the regional offices," and "We will strive even more to collect and reflect the opinions of the public through the K-SUUL Awards."

The National Tax Service plans to actively collect public opinions through this selection process and reflect them in the operation of the awards. This shows that the national institution aims for a progressive administrative model that does not merely stop at regulation and tax collection, but listens to the voices of the industry sites and supports innovative products so they can shine in the market. In particular, positive evaluations are coming from the industry regarding the expansion of tax administration, which manages the liquor industry, into a method of discovering new products and supporting exports.

"Delicious Liquor Must Be Proven in the Market"... Aiming for the Global Market

Companies participating in the awards are focusing not only on product quality but also on market competitiveness. A representative of a winning company from last year said, "Truly high-quality liquor does not just stop at being delicious; it must be widely known and consumed in the market," expressing hope that the value of their product would be recognized globally through the support of a national institution. The company expressed pride in having realized a taste comparable to whisky and expressed gratitude for establishing a foothold for entering global markets, such as exporting to Cambodia, through the support of the National Tax Service.

The name K-SUUL contains the meaning of 'K' representing Korea, along with a shape representing two glasses clinking together (U), symbolizing mutual respect and trust. The National Tax Service plans to maintain continuous interest so that the excellent products discovered through this awards program can lead to global stages such as the Hong Kong International Drinks Exhibition. The National Tax Service expects this awards program to be a special journey that discovers new possibilities for Korean liquor and connects it to the world.

Source: original video (YouTube)