조선의 3대 명주 단맛의 붉은 이슬 '감홍로'를 만나다 On the back of K-culture enjoying much love globally, the Culture Ministry has published a book introducing traditional Korean liquor, including Gamjongno. Our Shin Se-byuck takes us on a journey to discover this unique beverage. Sweet, red dew. That's what this Korean traditional liquor 'Gamhongno' literally means. This liquor, with its deep gentle aroma, was considered one of the three best liquors of the Joseon Dynasty. Amid increased global popularity of Korean culture, the Culture Ministry has published a book that introduces various traditional alcoholic beverages. And Gamhongno was one of them. Although it may not be as popular as other drinks such as Makgeolli, Gamhongno has long been considered a medicinal liquor that warms the body. Today, Gamhongno is brewed in Paju, Gyeonggi-do province by Korea’s ‘Grand Master’ No. 43 Lee Ki-sook. Lee is the only person in Korea who can make the liquor using the traditional recipe, that's been passed down through generations of her family. Making Gamghongno is all about waiting and patience. First, she mixes rice, millet and the Korean fermentation starter nuruk, and lets the mixture sit and ripen for 15 days. Even the slightest change in temperature at this step can make a huge difference in taste later on. For the next four months, she distills it twice to get this crystal-clear, 40 percent strength fine soju. However, it is only halfway there. She then adds seven medicinal herbs including ginger and cinnamon, before letting it sit for three more months. After that, she removes the solids from the liquid and lets the drink rest for one more year. And here marks the end of the one and a half year journey of this red-colored dew that satisfies the senses of sight, smell and taste. Lee says her goal is to continue to pass down the family legacy, keeping Korea's traditional drinks culture alive for future generations. "Gamhongno began as a part of my father's and my grandmother's everyday life. Now it has become a part of Korean culture over time. I want to pass down not only the recipe but also the spirit to our future generations." She also says, with Korean traditional alcoholic drinks becoming a candidate representing South Korea as its next culture ambassador, Gamhongro could warm people's hearts. "Gamhongno is a liquor of 'warmth'. I hope that it can serve as a symbol of Korean warmth and hospitality. In that way, I believe this could potentially contribute to the spread of Korean culture." Shin Se-byuck, Arirang News. #traditional_liquor #Gamhongno #Kculture #Joseon_Dynasty #조선3대명주 #감홍로 #전통주 #Arirang_News #아리랑뉴스 📣 Facebook : https://www.facebook.com/arirangtvnews 📣 Twitter : https://twitter.com/arirangtvnews 📣 Homepage : https://v2.arirang.com/ 2023-03-22, 09:00 (KST)