Korean Job Discussion Forums

[jdog2050]

So as some of you know, I make beer, and I've been thinking of a way of capitalizing off my product as well as getting in valuable practice. So, what would be the best way to sell my wares in Korea? Would I seriously need a 50,000,000 won business license? Are there any visa additions you could get in order to sell beer as a handicraft or homemade item?

It's very grey area because Korea's homebrew laws are pretty lax (you can actually sell to friends, but not to bars).

Give me the negatives.

[VanIslander]

i would pay 100,000 won for a one liter bottle of cayman rum

it's a standing offer of mine on dave's

(not jamacan, not puerto rican, but cayman)

so if you branch out from homemade beer into import/export, you've got a customer

[jdog2050]

Also, here's an alternative: what if I gave it to a Korean/Kyopo for *them* to sell?

[wylies99]

Many Koreans sell "Bathtub punch"- just go to Jongno Sam-Ga station on a Saturday night, and walk around the outside of exits 8 or 9.

[Chambertin]

As a fellow brewer and a former retailer of happy products I say be wary of selling your home brew even if you have the licensing to sell any kind of booze known to man.

The government makes a nice coin on every part of the distribution chain through taxes, but the primary source is added on to the retail price (in theory). This can be done at the retailer, but is generally added to the distribution chain indirectly as it is easier to collect in bulk amounts than to try to audit every store in the country.

So even if you get a license to sell the beer it is most likely not the same license you need to make it legally (and vie versa). As we all know everyone and their brother knows someone who homebrews and sells. Problem is that being a foreigner you will stick out and show up on the radar.
I nearly got a heavy pinch for trying to sell my own beer in my store to friends. As it wasn�t a registered sale (and it was an off duty friend who saw it) I avoided lots of fines and potential jail time in the US. After that I made sure people came to my home to buy 6 pack holders.

I would avoid selling to anyone but very trusted friends.
I assume that Korea is like every other country and has a lengthy process to license making and selling of your product direct to consumer.
It stands to reason that any agent would love to make a name for themself by busting you for manufacture of illicit booze and anyone who gets caught would love to get off by turning you in.

Again these are just warnings, with proper investigation you might make quite a mint selling good beer to a very demanding market with a legitimate business. Make sure you investigate alcohol specifically as the taxes are always different than a regular business.

[skeeterses]

As far as gaining experience, I say just make it at home and sell it to close friends.

As far as making any money in the booze business, I don't think there's any need to explain the astronomical amount of startup capital necessary to be able import the really good stuff from America and sell it to the grocery stores.

[halfmanhalfbiscuit]

Korea's breweries have a stranglehold on the beer market to which others cannot compete-either not worthwhile or prohibitively difficult/ expensive to get involved.

eg Castle Praha do not bad beer but can't do "take-out"

[Robot_Teacher]

I understand microbreweries are not allowed to sell anything to go such as kegs and bottles, but can only serve on their premises as to protect the 2 big breweries economic interests. I could be mistaken, but a microbrewery wouldn't let me buy a keg or case of bottles to go.

[jdog2050]

[byrddogs]

It's totally unrelated, but did you look at an apartment near Ewha in the last couple of months jdog2050 ?

[Straphanger]

[Papa Smurf]

[byrddogs]

Yes, you have boasted about your home-brew on MANY occassions. How about giving some samples of your product? I am of German heritage and know good beer. Are you sure that it is actually good, or are you just proud of yourself for brewing it?

[JungMin]

Ohhh, German heritage....You must know good beer!?!?

[jdog2050]