Take 1.5 Podcast: Stories From The In-Between Turning a Korean Rice Drink into an American Brand: 막걸리 파는 2세교포 사업가 케롤
Mar 7, 2026
Carol Pak, Founder & CEO of Sool and maker of Makku, is a Korean American entrepreneur who modernizes traditional makgeolli for U.S. drinkers. She discusses discovering craft makgeolli, building a cross‑border production partnership, flavor and packaging choices, fundraising and scaling, and balancing family life with launching Korean alcohol in America.
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How Carol Found Makgeolli And Started Makku
- Carol Pak discovered makgeolli while working at ZX Ventures and launching a product in China, then noticed craft makgeolli bars in Korea around 2016–2017.
- Returning to the U.S., she found few premium imports and started Sool/Makku to introduce a modern canned makgeolli.
Makgeolli Basics And U.S. Positioning
- Makgeolli is Korea's oldest alcohol: a low-ABV fermented rice drink made with steamed rice and nuruk, traditionally shared across generations.
- Carol positioned it as a low-alcohol, carbonated alternative to beer and hard cider, emphasizing rice flavor and gluten-free appeal.
Why Makku Uses A Simple Slash On The Can
- Carol designed Makku's cans minimalistically with a diagonal slash to signal an upside-down can concept and to stand out from busy craft beer packaging.
- Practical customs concerns forced a right-side-up launch, but the simple stripe became a distinct brand mark.