Daedonggang Beer, North Korea’s leading beer brand, has begun diversifying its product lineup by developing a new product to add to its existing range. As Daedonggang Beer is well-known even abroad, observers suggested on June 28 that this diversification of beer products is likely intended to boost tourism and exports.
The Choson Sinbo, the official newspaper of the General Association of Korean Residents in Japan (Chongryon), reported in a video titled, Taedonggang Brewery Develops New Product, that the brewery recently developed and released a new product, which has attracted significant interest from beer enthusiasts both at home and abroad.
Kim Geum-hyok, head of the Technical Department at the Taedonggang Brewery, explained that until now, it has produced Beers No. 1 through No. 8 based on different blending ratios of malt and white rice, adding that this time, it has newly developed Beers No. 9 through No. 13 to fully satisfy the diverse needs and preferences of the people.
The most notable among the new products is the fruit-flavored beer. Products infused with a total of 10 different fruit flavors—including apple, pear, grape, strawberry, tangerine, and cantaloupe—have been released for the first time. In addition, new beers made from buckwheat and wheat were also introduced. Regarding the buckwheat beer, Manager Kim noted that it is rich in rutin, which is beneficial for improving cardiovascular health.
The development of North Korea’s Taedonggang Beer began in 2000 when North Korea imported production equipment after the British brewery Usher’s went out of business. It is reported that, under the direction of National Defense Commission Chairman Kim Jong-il, the equipment was imported at a cost of approximately 2 billion KRW (about 1.3 million USD), and based on this, the Taedonggang Brewery was constructed in Pyongyang on June 17, 2002.
It is known that Usher’s Brewery had imported machinery from Germany—often referred to as the home of beer—which is said to have laid the foundation for the distinctive flavor of North Korean beer.
Taedonggang Beer has been well-received among South Koreans visiting North Korea for tourism to Mount Kumgang and Kaesong, as well as during inter-Korean talks, and among foreign tourists visiting the country. At one point, the assessment that North Korean beer tastes better than South Korean beer became a hot topic of conversation.
Analysts suggest that the launch of this new Taedonggang Beer product demonstrates that North Korea is simultaneously pursuing the diversification of consumer goods and the development of its tourism industry. This is interpreted as a move by North Korea to study the latest trends in its own way and segment consumer preferences.
North Korea has also recently shown signs of diversifying its beer brand as a commercial product, such as by establishing a Taedonggang Beer-themed beer hall in the new city of Hwasong District.