A New Chapter Begins in Miyazaki
Park Seo-jun is pouring his heart into more than just acting these days. The K-drama heartthrob has officially launched a whisky company in Japan. Teaming up with Japanese entertainment firm STARBASE and the legendary distillery Osuzu-yama, Park co-founded a new joint venture called 1216—named after his birthday, December 16. Their goal? To bring Japanese craft whisky to the global stage with a distinctly artistic and personal flair.
The Birth of ’26’: A Whisky With a Backstory
The partnership’s first baby, a craft blended whisky called ’26’, hit shelves in December 2024—but only in Japan and in limited supply (10,000 bottles, sold out instantly). The number 26 holds deep meaning for Park. It’s the age when his acting career took off, marking a symbolic rebirth. “I hope this whisky lets people reconnect with their younger, more passionate selves, just like I did,” he shared.
A Toast to Tradition and Trust
This isn’t just a celeb-fronted brand with a pretty label. Park Seo-jun took the long route—traveling across Japan, studying distilleries, and eventually forming a rare partnership with the historic Kuroki Honten, known for their premium shochu and strict traditionalism. Their head distiller Shinsaku Kuroki admitted, “He didn’t just say he was interested in whisky. He genuinely loved the land and the craft. That sincerity won us over.”
A Global Dream Rooted in Miyazaki Soil
With 1216, Park Seo-jun isn’t just chasing novelty—he’s betting on craftsmanship, culture, and community. “We want 1216 to soothe people’s hearts and make life’s moments a little more special,” he said. The initiative also aims to support local revitalization in Miyazaki, positioning the brand as both an artisanal product and a symbol of grassroots innovation.
Bigger Than Booze: Building a Cultural Legacy
Park’s deep involvement goes beyond taste-testing. He had a hand in every step—curating the blend, naming the product, designing the logo, and even hand-drawing the package. STARBASE brings creative firepower with branding and promotion, while Osuzu-yama handles the distillation with cutting-edge techniques. Together, they hope to create a globally recognized Japanese whisky brand anchored in authenticity.
Curious to taste what 26 feels like? The global stage might be next. Until then, this whisky story proves that when passion meets tradition, the result is something worth sipping slowly.
