An Exploratory Study on the Characteristics and Distribution of Traditional Liquor among China, Japan and Korea

Purpose - The study investigates the history, production methods, market scale, and distribution of the traditional liquors of three countries: South Korean sokokju, Chinese shaoxing-chiew, and Japanese sake. These have similar production methods, being made from rice or cereal, cores of their respective food industries. Research design, data, and methodology - The study investigated the history of the three liquors, liquor classification in the three countries, and production methods. It examined the scale of the traditional liquor market and these countries' distribution structure. Results - Brand cognition of traditional liquors is affected by a focus on wellbeing and LOHAS (lifestyle of health and sustainability). Promotion and marketing strategies along with a high quality image, shelf life of draft liquor, traditional liquor identification systems, and high taxes on traditional liquor, and the need for continuous R&D and training of professionals all impacted the industry. Conclusions - These countries play important roles in world trade, seeking economic integration. By forming a free trade agreement (FTA), their traditional liquors, with a proud history, can be jointly branded in the world market.