Soju Preferred by Koreans and Sales Rankings

As of 2024-2025, the soju preferred by Koreans is predominantly diluted soju, characterized by a low alcohol content of around 16% and zero sugar. HiteJinro's "Chamiseul" maintains its unwavering lead, while Jinro (Jinro Is Back) and Saero form the top ranks.

1. Types of soju and alcohol content (as of 2025)

The recent trend in soju is 'low alcohol content' and 'health (zero sugar)', with the alcohol content mostly lowered to 15-16 degrees.

1-1) Chamisul Fresh(by Hite Jinro): 16.0 degrees (the most representative popular soju)

1-2) Saero(like New by Lotte Chilsung Beverage): 16.0 degrees (leading the zero sugar trend)

1-3) Saero( Like the first time by Lotte Chilsung Beverage): 16.0 degrees (lowered from 16.5 degrees to 16 degrees in 2025)

1-4) Jinro (Hite Jinro): Around 16.0 degrees (Jinro Is Back series)

1-5) Daeseon: 15.9 degrees (low alcohol content among local sojus)

1-6) Joeun Day(Good Day by Muhak): 16.5 degrees (centered on low-altitude areas)

1-7) Chamisul Original: 20.1 degrees (for those who prefer higher alcohol content)

2. Sales ranking and market share

Hite Jinro is ranked first with a market share of over 48%, followed by Lotte Chilsung Beverage (Cheoeumcheoreom/Saero).

2-1) Chamisul (Hite Jinro): No. 1 in domestic market share for over 25 years

2-2) Jinro (Hite Jinro): Jinro Is Back has been ranked first in sales in the zero sugar category for two consecutive years, showing a large gap with the second-place brand.

2-3) Saero( like New by Lotte Chilsung Beverage): Leading the 'Zero Sugar' soju craze, the company is showing strong growth in the 16-degree market.

2-4) Cheoumcheorum(like the first time by Lotte Chilsung Beverage): Steady sales, mainly in the metropolitan area and Gangwon region

2-5) Representative soju by region (Good Day, Daeseon, Cham Soju, etc.): Strong in Gyeongnam province(Good Day), Busan city (Daeseon), and Daegu city/Gyeongbuk province (Delicious Cham) regions

3. Key Trends

3-1) Low-Alcohol: The alcohol content has been steadily decreasing from 17 degrees to 16 degrees, and recently to 15.9 degrees.

3-2) Zero Sugar: Soju, which emphasizes a clean taste by removing sugar, has become a mainstream drink, especially among the younger generation.

3-1) Increased interest in traditional liquor and distilled soju: In addition to regular diluted soju, interest in distilled soju is also increasing.

Note: Based on data from 2024-2025, HiteJinro's Jinro has been the world's best-selling distilled spirit for 24 consecutive years.