CJ CheilJedang Launches Premium Korean Spirits Brand "jari" in the U.S., Marking the Next Step in Its Global Expansion

The launch introduces Korean-crafted spirits to American consumers, uniting K-Food and K-Spirits to deliver a more complete Korean culinary experience – where food, spirits, and shared moments around the table come together.

NEW YORK, Sept. 23, 2026 /PRNewswire/ -- CJ CheilJedang, a global leader in Korean food and culture, today announced the U.S. launch of jari, its new premium Korean spirits brand created to introduce the craftsmanship and culture of Korean spirits to a new generation of consumers. Following its introduction in Korea earlier this year, jari will be available at select stores and premium Korean restaurants in New York, including Michelin-starred fine dining establishments.

The name jari comes from the Korean word for a "place" or "seat" where people gather to share food and drinks. At the heart of jari is a simple idea: Korean food deserves a distinctly Korean drink to accompany it. Just as wine, sake and other spirits have become integral to their respective culinary cultures, jari aims to introduce consumers to the possibilities of pairing Korean spirits with Korean food – from enjoying the spirits neat to incorporating them into contemporary cocktails.

Rooted in Korea's distinctive approach to spirits and refined through a four-season aging process in traditional, unglazed Onggi, jari delivers clean spirits designed for versatility and equally suited for thoughtful sipping, broad food pairings, and elevated cocktail applications.

The U.S. launch features three varieties:  jari Moonbaesool 24, jari Moonbaesool 41, and jari Gamuchi 24, each showcasing the ingredients, craftsmanship, and time-honored techniques behind Korean distilled spirits. All three are aged to perfection across four seasons in traditional Onggi jars.

• jari Moonbaesool 24 & 41 (24% / 41% ABV)

Dating back to the Goryeo Dynasty, Moonbaesool originated in Pyongyang and has carried on its tradition for five generations in Gimpo, Gyeonggi-do. In recognition of its cultural significance, Moonbaesool was designated as a National Intangible Cultural Heritage of Korea in 1986, recognizing its importance as a living expression of Korea's traditional distilling heritage.

jari Moonbaesool is crafted from Korean ingredients and refined through jari's signature aging process. Using only traditional grains like millet, sorghum, and rice harvested in Korea, and crafted without artificial additives, the spirit is aged through four seasons in traditional Onggi.

• jari Gamuchi 24 (24% ABV)

The name Gamuchi was inspired by gamulchi, Korea's native freshwater fish. Known for its resilience in challenging environments, gamulchi reflects jari's ambition to bring a fresh perspective to traditional Korean spirits and inspire strength through change.

Made with freshly harvested Chungju rice, the spirit is aged through four seasons in traditional Onggi. It offers a smooth profile with delicate rice notes and a rounded texture. As it's poured into the glass, delicate aromas gently unfold, revealing a subtle sweetness, a silky texture, and a savory finish that lingers long after each sip.

"The U.S. launch of jari is an important step in expanding the presence of Korean spirits in a global market that has already embraced so many aspects of Korean food and culture," said Gregory Yep, Lifestyle Food Business (CJ Foods) CEO of CJ CheilJedang. "We believe jari can help open new possibilities for how Korean spirits are discovered, served, and enjoyed."

To mark its U.S. debut, CJ Foods hosted The Beginning of jari at Moono in New York City on September 22, an intimate five-course Korean pairing dinner hosted by Korean American chef and author Irene Yoo. The experience paired a curated tasting menu by Michelin-starred chef Hoyoung Kim, with jari served neat and in cocktails crafted by mixologist Du-ui Hong of Seoul's Pine & Co., bringing the brand's Korean heritage and approach to hospitality to life.

"In Korean culture, food and drinks go hand in hand, and today's 'The Beginning of jari' showed how naturally jari fits into that tradition," said Irene Yoo, author of SOJU PARTY and Chef/Owner of Orion Bar. "There's so much to discover in Korean spirits, and they don't have to feel unfamiliar. They're meant to be enjoyed around the table with food, with friends, and as part of the experience – and I loved being able to bring that spirit of Korean drinking culture to the table with jari."

Ahead of its U.S. debut this fall, traditional spirits brand jari has demonstrated its exceptional quality and craftsmanship, with all three products in its lineup earning top honors at prestigious global competitions, including the 2026 IWSC and ISC.

To learn more, follow on Instagram @jari.spirits.

About jari

Introduced by CJ CheilJedang, jari is a contemporary Premium K-Spirits brand inspired by the artistry of Korean distilling. By sourcing premium local ingredients and refining them through a distinctive aging process, jari brings new depth and dimension to generations of craftsmanship. Named after the Korean word 자리 ("a place" or "setting"), jari celebrates the harmonious space where food, spirits, people, and culture naturally come together. It reflects the brand's vision to earn a lasting place in the hearts of consumers, where each encounter becomes part of a story worth remembering.

About CJ CheilJedang

CJ CheilJedang is a South Korea-based food & biotech company operating globally. Founded in 1953 as the first Korean sugar manufacturer, its food business unit, CJ Foods, has grown to become Korea's largest food company and is now leading the global food industry with beloved bibigo™ K-food products. In the U.S., CJ CheilJedang operates its food business – including bibigo™, the No. 1 brand in the country's B2C dumplings category, and Red Baron® – through CJ Schwan's, a U.S.-based affiliate, running 20 production facilities across the country. CJ CheilJedang is part of CJ Group, an international company in the fields of Food & Food Services, Bio & Pharma, Entertainment & Media, and Retail & Logistics.

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CJ CheilJedang Launches Premium Korean Spirits Brand "jari" in the U.S., Marking the Next Step in Its Global Expansion

CJ CheilJedang Launches Premium Korean Spirits Brand "jari" in the U.S., Marking the Next Step in Its Global Expansion

BALI, Indonesia, Oct. 19, 2026 /PRNewswire/ -- The Internet Corporation for Assigned Names and Numbers (ICANN) convenes its 2026 Annual General Meeting (AGM) in Bali from 17-22 October, bringing the global Internet community together to advance work on Internet security, Domain Name System (DNS) expansion, and global cooperation.

Co-hosted by the Indonesian Internet Domain Name Registry (PANDI), with support from Indonesia's Ministry of Communication and Digital Affairs and the Bali Provincial Government, ICANN87 marks the first ICANN public meeting in Indonesia. The meeting brings together government representatives, businesses, technical experts, and civil society to address issues affecting the Internet's security, stability, and global interoperability.

The Welcome Ceremony on 19 October featured remarks from Meutya Hafid, Indonesia's Minister of Communication and Digital Affairs; Isnawan Aslam, President of PANDI; Tripti Sinha, ICANN Board Chair; and Kurtis Lindqvist, ICANN President and CEO.

"As we look toward the next decade, our responsibility is not simply to accommodate the Internet's continued expansion, but to preserve the trust that makes it meaningful. Connectivity enables participation. Growth creates opportunities. And protection builds the trust necessary to sustain both. For Indonesia, the objective is therefore not simply to bring more people online. It is to ensure that they can participate in a digital environment that is accessible, secure, and relevant to their needs," said Meutya Hafid, Indonesia's Ministry of Communication and Digital Affairs.

"Hosting ICANN87 marks an important milestone for Indonesia and reflects PANDI's commitment to the global Internet community. For us, managing .id goes beyond technical responsibilities; it is a commitment to safeguarding our nation's digital identity. We believe trust is earned through a proven track record, consistent performance, and responsible governance. Building on our experience and continuously strengthening our capabilities, PANDI remains committed to strengthening Indonesia's digital identity and ensuring that .id is secure, stable, trusted, and ready for the future of the Internet," said Isnawan Aslam, President of PANDI.

ICANN Board Chair Tripti Sinha highlighted the multistakeholder model of governance and the need to sustain public trust. "The tenth anniversary of the IANA stewardship transition demonstrates how this governance model has endured technological and geopolitical change. We continue to earn trust through transparent governance, sound decisions, and effective implementation," Sinha said.

"We need to strengthen the connection between strategy, prioritization, budgeting, and implementation, making the process clearer and more transparent," said Kurtis Lindqvist, ICANN President and CEO. "The ICANN community develops solutions and the ICANN org must turn those solutions into effective action."

ICANN Recognizes Hartmut Glaser for Capacity Building
During the welcome ceremony, ICANN awarded Hartmut Glaser the 2026 Dr. Tarek Kamel Award for Capacity Building. The ICANN Board recognized his contributions to Internet governance capacity building at local, regional, and global levels, including founding and leading the Brazilian School on Internet Governance and helping establish the Latin American and Caribbean Internet Address Registry (LACNIC). Sinha presented the award to Glaser, who joined remotely.

The award honors the late Dr. Tarek Kamel, an Internet pioneer, and recognizes members of the ICANN community who advance capacity-development programs related to ICANN's mission.

Advancing a Secure, Stable, and Inclusive Internet
ICANN87 features more than 200 working sessions on Internet policy and technical priorities, including DNS Abuse mitigation, strengthening the security, stability, and reliability of the Domain Name System (DNS), and expanding domain name options through the New Generic Top-Level Domains (gTLD) Program.

The six-day meeting advances ICANN's multistakeholder model, which brings diverse groups together to develop policies and coordinate the Internet's unique identifiers. Participants will also take part in capacity-building and leadership development discussions, while new members of the ICANN Board of Directors take their seats.

To learn more and join the conversation, visit www.ICANN.org and the ICANN87 website.

About ICANN

ICANN's mission is to help ensure a stable, secure, and unified global Internet. To reach another person on the Internet, you need to type an address – a name or a number – into your computer or other device. That address must be unique so computers know where to find each other. ICANN helps coordinate and support these unique identifiers across the world. ICANN was formed in 1998 as a nonprofit public benefit corporation with a community of participants from all over the world.

About PANDI

Pengelola Nama Domain Internet Indonesia (PANDI) is the registry operator for Indonesia's country-code top-level domain (ccTLD), .id. PANDI plays a role in developing the .id domain name ecosystem and supporting secure, stable, and trusted Internet governance.

PANDI is an organization whose membership represents various stakeholders, including the government, the Internet industry, and academia. As of 31 December 2025, the number of registered .id domain names had grown to 1,431,960, making .id the largest country-code top-level domain in Southeast Asia.

The .id domain represents Indonesia, Identity, and Ideas. In the governance of .id domain names, PANDI also administers the Domain Name Dispute Resolution Policy (PPND) in accordance with applicable laws and regulations.

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ICANN87 Brings Global Internet Community to Bali