Clear and clean Chungbuk Intangible Cultural Heritage Cheongmyeongju

Brewery that has been brewing for four generations

The liquor is brewed based on the manufacturing method recorded in , a family document of the Gimhae Gim clan in Changdong, Chungju-si, North Chungcheong Province.

Production was discontinued due to the brewing method established during the Japanese colonial period, but Kim Yeong-gi, a descendant of the family, revived the original method

reproduced it. In 1993, Kim Yeong-gi was designated as the holder of the Cheongmyeongju manufacturing technique and North Chungcheong Province Intangible Cultural Heritage No. 2, and currently his son, Kim Yeong-seop, is designated as the holder of the technique and brewing the liquor. The Cheongmyeongju manufacturing method is recorded in 17 ancient documents, but is the only record of the method that has been passed down to the public in the form of Gayangju (homemade liquor).

Yi Ik, a practical scholar of the late Joseon Dynasty, wrote in his book that "I have always loved Cheongmyeongju the most, and I have written down the method of brewing Cheongmyeongju for fear of forgetting it." Yi Gyu-gyeong, another practical scholar of the late Joseon Dynasty, also wrote in his encyclopedia that "Cheongmyeongju can only be made by people from Geumcheon, so it cannot be achieved without the water of Geumtan. If people from other regions try to imitate it, it will not be the same."

The "Geumcheon" mentioned above refers to Changdong-ri, Jungangtap-myeon, Chungju-si, where Jungwondang is located.

"The water of Geumtan" refers to the water of Susalmegi (a protective stone that partially blocks the two waters as they meet and go out), where the mountain water from Dalcheon and Changgol in Chungju and the Namhan River meet. After the construction of the Chungju Dam, this water is no longer available, so we are now using underground bedrock water.

Jungwondang will not settle for the reality of being an Intangible Cultural Heritage, but will continue to create new traditions.

Source: Jungwondang Homepage

In 2018, Cheongmyeongju Yakju (low-alcohol rice wine), and in 2019, Takju (unrefined rice wine),

won the Grand Prize at the Korea Liquor Awards.

The store is not very large, but

the interior is well-designed and stylish.

In 2021, it was selected as a Chuseok gift for the Blue House.

Experiences

·Traditional liquor experience (375㎖ Takju included / 20,000 won / 1 person or more)

·Ceramic experience (1 ceramic piece included / 20,000 won / 1 person or more)