Ephney Tsai Having launched his own soju brand, Won Soju, in February 2022 in Seoul, South Korea, Jay Park is exporting the brand to the U.S. a year and a half later. To celebrate the official launch of Won Soju in the States, the rapper and entrepreneur himself showed up and showed out, preparing gifts, performances, and specially concocted drinks and treats for an exclusive invite-only event this past weekend.
Taking place at Intercrew Los Angeles, a New American Cuisine restaurant and lounge located in the heart of Koreatown LA, the event was hosted by K-town rapper DUMBFOUNDEAD and featured performances by beatboxer KRNFX, rap duo Year of the Ox, and Jay Park. Also, the event was decorated in Won Soju fashion, with various food and drink options for attendees to enjoy. Below is our list of the top three highlights from the event:
1. The Performances
Needless to say, attendees flocked to the small and low stage for the performances, which took place halfway through the evening. KRNFX kicked off the special stages, getting the crowd hyped up with his unique beatboxing performance. Keeping up the energy, rap duo Year of the Ox impressed the crowd with a few songs, even remixing them to include the phrase “Won Soju” in the lyrics. Unsurprisingly, however, everyone’s most anticipated performance was by none other than the man of the hour, Jay Park. Performing songs such as “All I Wanna Do” and “Iffy,” the rapper skyrocketed the energy in the chic venue even with his simple performances. The crowd reached peak energy when the melody of Jay Park’s “MOMMAE” began to play, and the rapper almost didn’t even need to perform himself, as everyone in attendance rapped the lyrics with him.
2. The Food and Drinks
With an event centered around a newly launched soju brand in the U.S., it was a must to carry a variety of soju mixed cocktails, and Won Soju certainly did not disappoint. With a range of flavors from sweet to light and refreshing, there was something for everyone to enjoy. Aside from the specially curated beverages, there was also a selection of hors d’oeuvre, soju infused ice creams, and a Shin Ramyeon bar with corn, cucumber kimchi, and bean sprouts at the topping bar. With a wide selection of sweet and savory foods and sweet and sour beverages, the event’s menu did a great job highlighting and pairing with Won Soju.
3. The Gifts
As expected of an exclusive invite-only party, the guests surely could not leave empty-handed. Just as there were several choices for food and beverages, attendees were given three different choices on a gift to bring home with them. First was a collaborative T-shirt between Won Soju and Vandy The Pink, which was available in sizes S to XL. Next was a trucker hat from the same collaboration line – except customizable. Anyone who selected the hat had the option to have their name of choice embroidered on the side, creating a personal take-home gift. The final choice, however, was the most popular, as it was a Won Soju gift box. Pulling out all the stops, this gift box included two glasses and two bottles of Won Soju – one of which could be engraved with the guest’s name of choice. These unique gift selections helped wrap up the event nicely, as each piece serves as a reminder of the memorable evening.
