Bohae

Bohae, formally identified in English as Bohae Brewery Co., Ltd. and in Korean as Bohae Yangjo, is a South Korean alcoholic-beverage producer headquartered in Mokpo, South Jeolla Province. The company represents the brewing and traditional-liquor industry of the Honam region, with a portfolio spanning soju, fruit wines, and makgeolli. Its products are associated particularly with regional Korean ingredients, including Korean black raspberries and Japanese plums. The company's origins date to the 1950s, when Lim Gwang Haeng established the business after obtaining government permission to begin operations. Its early development was linked to agricultural activity in Haenam County, where substantial areas of plum trees were planted to support production. This agricultural foundation helped position Bohae around fruit-based alcoholic drinks in addition to more conventional Korean spirits. Bohae's best-known fruit-wine product is Bohae Bokbunjajoo, a wine made from Rubus coreanus, commonly known as the Korean black raspberry or bokbunja. The company exported this wine to markets including the United States, Japan, and Australia, and received recognition associated with exports valued at five million U.S. dollars. The product became an important expression of the company's regional identity and its effort to introduce Korean fruit-based alcohol to overseas consumers. In 2004, Bohae became the first South Korean brewing company described as entering the American wine market. Its Korean black raspberry wine attracted attention for a rugby-ball-shaped bottle and received silver and bronze awards in international wine competitions. In 2005, Bohae Bokbunjajoo was selected as the official wine of the APEC summit held in Busan, giving the product a prominent diplomatic and hospitality role. Bohae's wider portfolio includes Bohae Soju and Yipseju in the soju category, Matchsoon plum wine, and Soony makgeolli. The product range reflects the company's position between regional brewery, traditional-liquor producer, and fruit-wine specialist. Publicly available reference material emphasizes its South Korean base, regional importance, export activity, and product history, while providing limited information about current ownership, management, financial performance, and corporate structure.

Bohae is a South Korean brewery and alcoholic-beverage company based in Mokpo, South Jeolla Province. It is associated with the Honam region and produces several categories of Korean alcoholic drinks, including soju, fruit wine, and makgeolli. The company is formally referred to in Korean as Bohae Yangjo and in English reference material as Bohae Brewery Co., Ltd. The business began in the 1950s under Lim Gwang Haeng. Its establishment followed permission from the South Korean national government. Early production was connected to agricultural development in Haenam County, where large areas of Japanese plum trees were planted. The use of regionally cultivated fruit became an important part of Bohae's production identity and helped distinguish the company from producers focused solely on distilled spirits. Bohae later developed an export business for wine made from Rubus coreanus, the Korean black raspberry used in bokbunja wine. The product was sent to the United States, Japan, and Australia. Reference material associates the export activity with recognition for five million dollars in exports, although the exact year and award wording are not specified in the available material. The company's international profile increased in 2004. Bohae was described as the first South Korean brewing company to enter the American wine market. Its Korean black raspberry wine, Bohae Bokbunjajoo, was promoted in a distinctive rugby-ball-shaped bottle. The wine also received silver and bronze awards at international wine competitions, supporting its positioning as a Korean fruit wine capable of competing in international settings. In 2005, Bohae Bokbunjajoo was chosen as the official wine of the APEC summit held in Busan. This appointment placed the product in a high-profile official-event context and connected the brand with South Korea's efforts to present distinctive domestic food and beverage products to international visitors. Bohae's documented portfolio includes Bohae Bokbunjajoo and Matchsoon in the fruit-wine category; Yipseju and Bohae Soju in the soju category; and Soony in the makgeolli category. Together, these products show a business model combining traditional Korean alcoholic beverages with fruit-derived drinks based on regional ingredients. Public sources available for this dossier do not establish a precise incorporation year, current executives, ownership structure, listing status, revenue, or present distribution footprint beyond the markets historically identified.

• 2005

  Official wine of the APEC summit

  [1]Bohaeen.wikipedia.org

  Bohae Bokbunjajoo was selected as the official wine of the APEC summit held in Busan.

• 2004

  Entry into the American wine market

  [1]Bohaeen.wikipedia.org

  Bohae became the first South Korean brewing company described in the reference material as entering the American wine market, using its Korean black raspberry wine as a lead product.

• 2004

  International recognition for Bohae Bokbunjajoo

  [1]Bohaeen.wikipedia.org

  The company's Korean black raspberry wine received silver and bronze awards in international wine competitions.

• 1950

  Bohae is established

  [1]Bohaeen.wikipedia.org

  Lim Gwang Haeng established the company in the 1950s after receiving permission from the South Korean national government. The precise founding year is not specified.

• 1950

  Plum cultivation supports early operations

  [1]Bohaeen.wikipedia.org

  Large areas of Japanese plum trees were planted in Haenam County in connection with the company's early development and fruit-based production.

A regional South Korean alcoholic-beverage producer combining traditional spirits with fruit-based Korean drinks, especially Korean black raspberry wine.

• Fruit wine

  Bohae Bokbunjajoo

  A Korean black raspberry wine made from Rubus coreanus, commonly called bokbunja. It is Bohae's most internationally prominent documented product. The wine was exported to the United States, Japan, and Australia, promoted in a rugby-ball-shaped bottle, awarded silver and bronze medals in international wine competitions, and selected as the official wine of the 2005 APEC summit in Busan.

• Plum wine

  Matchsoon

  A fruit wine associated with Japanese plum, or maesil, and part of Bohae's fruit-based alcoholic-beverage portfolio. The available reference identifies Matchsoon as a major product but does not provide detailed information about its launch date, formulation, packaging, or current distribution.

• Soju

  Yipseju

  A soju product listed among Bohae's core offerings. The available reference confirms its category and association with the company but does not provide detailed information about its recipe, positioning, launch date, or market performance.

• Soju

  Bohae Soju

  A soju line carrying the Bohae name and representing the company's traditional Korean distilled-spirit business. Public reference material lists the product but does not specify its launch year, variants, alcohol content, or current market share.

• Makgeolli

  Soony

  A makgeolli product in Bohae's portfolio. Its inclusion demonstrates that the company operates beyond soju and fruit wine in the broader Korean traditional-liquor category. Detailed information about the product's launch, ingredients, packaging, and distribution is not provided in the available source.

• 2005

  Bohae Bokbunjajoo appointed official APEC wineOther

  Background

  The APEC summit in Busan provided a high-profile setting for showcasing South Korean products to international delegates.

  Action taken

  Bohae Bokbunjajoo was selected as the official wine of the summit.

  Aftermath

  The appointment reinforced the product's status as a nationally representative Korean fruit wine, although no quantified commercial effect is specified.

  Source

• 2004

  International expansion through Korean fruit wineStrategy

  Background

  Bohae sought to extend its regional Korean beverage business into overseas wine markets, using Korean black raspberry wine as a distinctive export product.

  Action taken

  The company entered the American wine market and promoted Bohae Bokbunjajoo in a distinctive rugby-ball-shaped bottle. The product had also been exported to Japan and Australia.

  Aftermath

  The move increased the international visibility of Bohae Bokbunjajoo, which subsequently received international competition awards and was selected as the official wine of the 2005 APEC summit.

  Source

1. 1Bohaeen.wikipedia.org