HiteJinro to Halt Operations at Iksan Plant After 69 Years and Consolidate Production at Jeonju Plant

[Financial News] HiteJinro will halt operations at its soju-producing plant in Ma-dong, Iksan-si, North Jeolla Province, on the 16th of next month and consolidate production at its Jeonju Plant. The HiteJinro Iksan Plant, built in 1957 as the former Bobaesoju plant, will thus begin the process of ending operations after 69 years.
HiteJinro said on the 9th that it made the decision after considering the aging of the Iksan Plant’s equipment and its operating conditions.
When it was established, the area surrounding the Iksan Plant consisted of farmland on the outskirts of the city. The environment has changed significantly, however, with large-scale apartment complexes and other developments now nearby. During the plant’s operation, nearby residents also repeatedly filed complaints related to noise.
From a facilities perspective, the plant’s prolonged operation has also led to aging equipment, making improvements and investment urgent to ensure the stable operation of its production facilities.
HiteJinro plans to operate the Iksan Plant through the 15th of next month and halt operations on the 16th. Production equipment and personnel will then be transferred sequentially to the Jeonju Plant.
The Jeonju Plant will become HiteJinro’s first facility to produce both soju and beer.
As a result, HiteJinro’s production system will be reorganized around five plants nationwide: Icheon, Gangwon, Cheongju, Jeonju and Masan.
A HiteJinro official explained, "By utilizing the Jeonju Plant, we have decided to reduce the burden of facility investment while improving the efficiency of related infrastructure, including production and logistics, so that we can respond more flexibly to changing market conditions. The halt in operations at the Iksan Plant will have no impact on product production or supply."


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