SOJU OF YESTERDAY
The origins of soju date back to the 13th century during the Goryeo Dynasty. Centuries later, in 1965, South Korea banned the use of rice to brew alcohol in order to alleviate a rice shortage. Thus, changing soju forever.
SOJU OF TODAY
Brewers adapted to the 1965 ban by replacing rice with starches like sweet potato and tapioca. As a result, the soju makers had to change the traditional distilled way to dilute alcohol. Thus, altering the flavor. In 1999, the ban was lifted, and since then, many soju makers went back to creating soju the traditional way. However, diluted soju remained in mass production to accommodate its popularity as the most consumed alcohol in the world.