9 breweries worth the trip across South Korea, editor-ranked by TableJourney. All South Korea guides.
The Booth Brewing ★ 4.5 · Seoul
Itaewon and Hannam · 7 Noksapyeong-daero 54-gil, Yongsan-gu, Seoul
The Booth Brewing launched in Seoul in 2013, now with taprooms across the city making flagship IPAs and dark ales from its own recipes and facility.
Seoul Brewery (Seongsu) ★ 4.5 · Seoul
Seongsu and Dongdaemun · 28-12 Yeonmujang-gil, Seongdong-gu, Seoul
Seoul Brewery's Seongsu flagship spreads a brewhouse, taproom, restaurant, cafe and rooftop across five floors of a converted Seongsu building.
Magpie Brewing (Itaewon) ★ 4.4 · Seoul
Itaewon and Hannam · 244-1 Noksapyeong-daero, Yongsan-gu, Seoul
Magpie Brewing is South Korea's most recognised craft brewery, founded in Itaewon in 2011 with a taproom still serving the full range and rotating seasonals.
Magpie Near Mint (Euljiro) ★ 4.4 · Seoul
Jung-gu and Myeongdong · 127 Eulji-ro, Jung-gu, Seoul
Magpie Near Mint in Euljiro occupies a renovated building in the old print-trade district, with the full Magpie tap list and a terrace facing the pocha tents.
Galmegi Brewing Company ★ 4.3 · Busan
Haeundae · 2F, 9 Haeundaehaebyeon-ro 265beon-gil, Haeundae-gu, Busan
Galmegi opened Busan's craft beer era in 2014; brewing now runs at its Daejeo plant while the Haeundae and Nampo tap houses keep the taps pouring.
Tip: Start at the Haeundae taphouse near the beach; the Nampo room on Gwangbok-ro pours the same range downtown.
Praha 993 ★ 4.1 · Busan
Suyeong and Mangmi · 20 Gurak-ro 123beon-gil, Suyeong-gu, Busan
Praha 993 has brewed Czech-style lager at Busan's F1963 arts complex since 2017, taking its name from the year Bohemian monks first brewed at Brevnov.
Tip: Order the unfiltered lager and the pork knuckle; the F1963 galleries fill the wait.
Hurshimchung Brau ★ 4.0 · Busan
Dongnae and Oncheonjang · 32 Oncheonjang-ro 107beon-gil, Dongnae-gu, Busan
Hurshimchung Brau pours German-style dunkel beside the Oncheonjang hot springs in Busan, a Hotel Nongshim brewhouse of steins and smoked chicken.
Tip: Soak in the Hurshimchung spa first, then take a 600cc dunkel with the sausage board.
Bronx Brewing Gwangalli ★ 4.0 · Busan
Gwangalli · 217 Gwanganhaebyeon-ro, Suyeong-gu, Busan
Bronx Brewing pours its Busan-brewed craft range on the Gwangalli beachfront, a first-floor hotel-front pub where the bridge view comes with the house taps.
Tip: Open windows face the beach and the drone shows; weekday afternoons are the quiet window.
Gorilla Brewing Company ★ 3.9 · Busan
Gijang and Songjeong · 95-56 Sandan 7-ro, Jeonggwan-eup, Gijang-gun, Busan
Gorilla Brewing started in Gwangan in 2016 and now brews from its Gijang plant for Busan, its core ales and limited runs poured around the city.
Tip: The core range travels in cans across Busan bottle shops; check socials for limited drops.