HiteJinro begins licensed production of Kirin Ichiban Shibori in South Korea
In short
HiteJinro has begun producing Kirin Ichiban Shibori canned beer at its Jeonju plant following a July technical-cooperation agreement with Kirin. The company targets an initial 1.5 million liters and plans to produce about 75% of the brand's South Korean sales volume domestically by next year.
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HiteJinro has begun producing Kirin Ichiban Shibori canned beer at its Jeonju plant in South Korea under a technical-cooperation agreement with Japanese brewer Kirin. Shipments began in the first week of October after the companies signed a memorandum of understanding in July. HiteJinro presented the arrangement at an October 8 press briefing at its research center in Yongin. [ 2 , 3 , 6 , 7 , 16 ]
The initial production target is about 1.5 million liters, equivalent to 3 million 500-milliliter cans. HiteJinro plans to manufacture about 75% of the brand's South Korean sales volume locally by next year. The company described the agreement as Kirin's first licensed production in Asia through an import-distribution partner with no equity relationship to the brewer. Dong-A Ilbo reported that existing equipment would be used without adding a separate production line. [ 2 , 5 , 6 , 11 , 16 ]
HiteJinro says local production will help secure supplies as Japanese beer demand grows. The company expects distribution time to fall from about a month and a half for beer produced in Japan and imported through customs to one or two weeks for locally made products. Yonhap reported that Japanese beer imports reached 100,322 tonnes last year, up 22% from the previous year, citing the food-safety ministry's 2026 inspection yearbook. [ 5 ]
The companies conducted more than a year of technical exchanges and trial production before approval. HiteJinro receives Kirin yeast and cultivates it locally, while malt and hops must meet Kirin's specifications. The process uses only the first wort extracted from malt. Trial products were sent to Japan for evaluation, and HiteJinro plans to continue regular quality checks there. [ 2 , 3 , 7 , 16 ]
Reports differed on how logistics savings would benefit customers. Seoul Shinmun said selling prices would remain unchanged for now and savings would go toward marketing and promotions. Bloter likewise reported that transport savings would fund marketing rather than price cuts. Kyunghyang Shinmun instead reported a plan to turn savings into consumer benefits including lower prices. [ 6 , 8 , 10 ]
Why it matters
HiteJinro says local production will stabilize supplies as demand for Japanese beer increases. It expects the time from production to domestic distribution to fall from about a month and a half to one or two weeks.
Key facts
- HiteJinro and Kirin signed a technical-cooperation memorandum of understanding in July. [ 2 , 3 , 4 , 7 , 16 ]
- Shipments of locally produced canned beer began in the first week of October. [ 2 , 3 , 6 , 7 , 16 ]
- The initial production target is about 1.5 million liters, equivalent to 3 million 500-milliliter cans. [ 1 , 6 , 9 , 11 , 16 ]
- The company plans to produce about 75% of South Korean sales volume domestically by next year. [ 2 , 5 , 7 , 11 , 16 ]
- HiteJinro receives Kirin yeast and cultivates it at the Jeonju plant. [ 2 , 3 , 5 , 7 ]
- The company expects domestic production to shorten distribution time to one or two weeks. [ 1 , 4 , 5 , 7 , 16 ]
Confirmed by several sources
- HiteJinro has started producing Kirin Ichiban Shibori canned beer at its Jeonju plant. [ 2 , 3 , 5 , 7 , 16 ]
- The companies signed a technical-cooperation agreement in July. [ 2 , 3 , 5 , 7 , 16 ]
- Locally produced beer shipments began in the first week of October. [ 2 , 3 , 6 , 7 , 16 ]
- The initial production target is approximately 1.5 million liters. [ 1 , 3 , 5 , 6 , 16 ]
- HiteJinro plans to produce about 75% of domestic sales volume locally by next year. [ 2 , 3 , 5 , 7 , 16 ]
Still unclear
- Whether logistics savings will lead to lower selling prices. Seoul Shinmun reports unchanged prices for now and spending on marketing; Bloter also says marketing rather than price cuts, while Kyunghyang Shinmun reports benefits including price reductions.
What local media are saying
Timeline, local time
- Yonhap reported the start of canned-beer production and the company's initial production and next-year sales-volume targets. [ 5 ]
- Bloter reported that logistics savings would go toward marketing rather than price reductions. [ 8 ]
- Hankook Ilbo reported that domestic production was limited to canned beer and described ongoing quality checks. [ 16 ]