Foreign beer brands threatening South Korea brewers on price

Seoul

SOUTH Korean beer drinkers are drinking to the more robust flavours of imported brands, encouraged in part by attractive discounts for multi-packs - so much so that local brewers are crying foul over pricing tactics and have asked for government help.

Beer imports surged 43 per cent last year in South Korea, as consumers, among the most enthusiastic beer drinkers in Asia, move beyond often-bland local lagers. Lighter domestic beers may be well-suited to accompany traditional spicy food, but Korean drinkers increasingly crave variety.