Omija, celebrated for its unique balance of five distinct flavors, has been a highly cherished product for centuries, with Mungyeong recognized as the primary producer. Mungyeong contributes approximately 45% of Korea’s total output. It is also home to various facilities related to omija production and distribution, including the Omija Theme Park and Mungyeong Brewery, which produces traditional omija-based makgeolli. Named for its unique blend of sweet, sour, bitter, salty, and spicy flavors, omija blooms with red and white flowers between May and June, bearing red berries that ripen by late September. The harvesting of omija continues through the end of October. It is renowned for its health benefits, which include aiding digestion, alleviating fatigue, preventing aging, and reducing the risk of diabetes and anemia. As a result, it has been widely used in health foods, beverages, and traditional herbal medicine for many years.

JL Co., Ltd. is a company that specializes in producing wine and distilled spirits from locally grown omija, with a focus on both domestic and international markets. The company was founded by Dr. Lee Jong-ki, a master of Korean whiskey with over four decades of brewing experience. In 2008, Dr. Lee established JL Co., Ltd., an agricultural corporation that operates the Ominara winery, using Mungyeong’s omija as the primary ingredient. JL Co., Ltd. sources 100% of its omija from local farms, including its own. The company has increased its omija purchases on a consistent basis, from 5.2 tons in 2019 to 20.2 tons in 2022.

Ominara’s wine range includes “Sparkling Wine Omiroje Kyul,” “Sparkling Wine Omiroje Yeon,” “Omiroje Premier,” and “Omiroje Together.” The company’s distilled spirits line includes Gowoon Dar Oak 52%, Gowoon Dar Baekja 52%, and Gowoon Dar 43 Oak. Omiroje Kyul, the world’s first omija sparkling wine, is produced using traditional methods and has an alcohol content of 12% with a medium-dry sweetness. During President Biden’s visit to Korea in 2022, Omiroje Kyul was selected as the toast wine for a banquet. In 2023, the Korean Night banquet at the Davos Forum in Switzerland chose Omiroje Yeon, produced using the Charmat method. The Omiroje Premier and Omiroje Together are still wines, each with an alcohol content of 12%, made through traditional fermentation and oak barrel aging.

The Gowoon Dar series is premium spirits crafted with meticulous attention to detail over a five-year period. The product range includes the “Gowoon Dar Oak 52%,” which is distilled twice from omija wine using atmospheric stills and aged in European oak barrels. The company also offers the “Gowoon Dar Baekja 52%,” a premium option aged in traditional baekja (white porcelain) jars rather than oak barrels.
In 2019, Ominara’s omija products generated sales of KRW 265 million in wine, KRW 140 million in sparkling wine, and KRW 182 million in distilled spirits. By 2022, these figures had surged to KRW 477 million in wine, KRW 981 million in sparkling wine, and KRW 770 million in distilled spirits, representing a remarkable 380% growth over four years. In 2023, Ominara achieved total sales of KRW 2.7 billion and expanded its exports to markets including the U.S., Singapore, China, and more.