Reimagining the Timeless,
Bogilsea Brewery

Handcrafted makgeolli brewed on Bogil Island, the island the poet Yun Seon-do loved

See the Makgeolli
Bogil Gosan Makgeolli bottle on the Seyeonjeong pavilion railing, with the pond and autumn trees behind
Looking up from beneath the eaves of Seyeonjeong
As featured in·JoongAng Ilbo·EBS Korea Travel Log·Mokpo MBC and more
Seyeonjeong pavilion on Bogil Island
Philosophy

What is old is not worn out.

A four-hundred-year-old garden, island water, makgeolli slowly ripening, the patience of the seasons. We do not keep the old as it was; we brew it anew for today's glass.

Terroir

Makgeolli, brewed by Bogil Island's water and time

Water

Clean, mineral-rich island water from the Dadohae Marine National Park.

Rice

Good rice, chosen grain by grain. The rice sets the depth of everything that follows.

Time

Fermented naturally with no additives, never rushed. That is why our fresh makgeolli keeps for a 150-day shelf life.

Since 1671

Beside Seyeonjeong

On his way to Jeju, the poet Yun Seon-do (Gosan) was caught in a typhoon and landed briefly on Bogil Island. Taken by its beauty, he made the island his home. Seyeonjeong, the garden he built and one of Korea’s three great gardens, still stands on Bogil Island. 1671 is the year Gosan ended his life here. We carry that year forward, honoring his philosophy and spirit, and brew makgeolli beside Seyeonjeong.

The pond and pavilion beside SeyeonjeongSeyeonjeong Pavilion
I worked in cultural content in Seoul, then came home to Bogil Island.Beside Seyeonjeong, I wanted to hold our island's time in a single glass of makgeolli.Bogilsea · From an interview with JoongAng Ilbo
My mother’s hands straining makgeolli
Learned beside my motherAfter coming home from Seoul, I practiced brewing makgeolli with my mother.
A row of orange silk wrapping cloths reading 'Bogil Dongbaek Jida'
Camellia Club

This year's Bogil Dongbaek, 300 bottles

Brewed just once a year, in April, as Bogil Island's camellias fall — 300 bottles. Members of the 'Camellia Club,' who receive makgeolli and island produce monthly, get it first. Remaining bottles are sent in order of reservation.

Ask about Bogil Dongbaek
The Collection

Our Makgeolli

Three makgeolli, brewed from this island, this water.

A bottle of Bogilsea Makgeolli on a Bogil Island beach, wave label and 9% ABV mark
Samyangju

Bogilsea Makgeolli

9% ABV, 750 ml

The makgeolli the people of Bogil Island drink every day. Triple-brewed (samyangju), deep and smooth, finishing dry and clean with Korean dishes.

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Bogil Gosan Makgeolli poured into a wine glass, bottle beside it
Wine makgeolli

Bogil Gosan Makgeolli

12% ABV, 500 ml

Clean and composed as if rinsed in water, like its namesake garden Seyeonjeong. A clear makgeolli to pour into a wine glass.

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A bottle of Bogil Dongbaek on a pavilion floor, camellia label and glass beside it
300 bottles

Bogil Dongbaek

9% ABV, 500 ml, 300 bottles a year

Brewed as Bogil Island’s camellias fall, from a childhood memory of sipping camellia nectar at Seyeonjeong.

Discover →
The Brewery

Visit Bogilsea

A glass of makgeolli, taken in the garden the poet Yun Seon-do spent his life shaping. That view and that water make a taste found only here, on Bogil Island.

Tasting & Experiences
Free

Tasting

Taste the makgeolli at the brewery itself.

By reservation

Brewery tour

See where the makgeolli ripens.

On request

Brew your own

Make a batch of makgeolli by hand.

Optional

Walk to Seyeonjeong

Stroll through the poet’s garden, close to the brewery.

Tastings and tours take about 30 minutes to an hour. Please message us on Instagram for hours and reservations.

Address

31 Buhwang-gil, Bogil-myeon, Wando-gun, Jeonnam-Gwangju, Republic of Korea

(right next to the Bogil Yun Seon-do Literature Museum)

View on map →

Visit

Duration
30 min – 1 hour
Hours & booking
Message us on Instagram beforehand and we will arrange a time.
Enquiries
bogilsea_brewery
Ask about tasting & experiences
FAQ

Questions

What is Bogilsea Brewery?

Bogilsea Brewery (보길도가) is a makgeolli brewery on Bogil Island in Wando County, South Korea. We brew with island water beside Seyeonjeong, the garden built by the poet Yun Seon-do. Our philosophy: reimagining the timeless.

What do you brew?

Three makgeolli: Bogilsea Makgeolli (9%), an everyday triple-brewed makgeolli; Bogil Gosan Makgeolli (12%), a clear makgeolli served in a wine glass; and Bogil Dongbaek (9%), brewed only as the camellias fall, 300 bottles a year.

How can I buy?

Fill in the Google Form linked in the Instagram profile of @bogilsea_brewery to place your order.

What is “wine makgeolli”?

It refers to Bogil Gosan Makgeolli: a clear, 12% makgeolli best served chilled in a wine glass and sipped slowly like a white wine.

Can I visit the brewery?

Yes, visits are welcome. Please get in touch beforehand and we will arrange a time. Message us on Instagram.