Guests Beneath the Pine (Part 2)
“Welcome.”
“The scenery here is breathtaking,” Jeong Subin said, beaming. “Calling it ‘beneath the pine’ hardly does it justice.”
“Thank you for the kind words.”
It wasn’t just Subin; the production staff trailing behind her couldn’t stop marveling at their surroundings either. Over a month had passed since the onset of spring, and even here in the rugged mountains of Gangwon Province, the winter snow had completely melted away. In its place sprouted tender green shoots, lush foliage, and vibrant flower buds bursting open in celebration of the season. Cradled amid mountains painted in a kaleidoscope of springtime colors sat our quiet, timeless brewery.
Hearing such heartfelt praise for the place that was my grandfather’s lifelong pride put me in good spirits right from the start. After all, they had made the long trek out here today for a collaborative shoot.
“Is there anything specific we should keep in mind before we start rolling?” I asked.
“Not really, to be honest!” Subin chirped brightly. “I just came here to drink the liquor I love and get some rest—”
“Hold it right there. Go wait over there for a minute, will you? Haha. Hello, Mr. Song... I’m Gu Yunhwan, Subin’s manager. First, please take my business card... and here is the storyboard for today’s shoot. Nothing has changed from the outline we sent over previously.”
Yunhwan hastily stepped in front of Subin, handing me his card along with a sheaf of papers. The sheets were filled with rough sketches and notes outlining how the video would unfold.
“First of all, the overarching concept is healing and relaxation,” Yunhwan explained. “Even though her channel is called Jeong Sul Bin, we try to avoid making it look like she’s just binge-drinking.”
“Hey! I really did come here to relax!” Subin pouted from behind him.
“Haha... Well, she is a public figure, after all,” I chuckled.
“You’re entirely right, Mr. Song. If only Subin would take that to heart... Ah, forgive me. Let me walk you through the shoot.”
Yunhwan’s explanation was thorough yet crisp, easy to follow even for an outsider to the entertainment industry like me. Subin leaves the frantic city behind in search of peace and healing. Her destination: Songhadang, the very brewery that crafted Meari, the spirit she had fallen in love with. There, she discovers a tranquil comfort she could never find amidst the concrete towers of Seoul.
“That’s the general narrative framework, but please let us know if there’s anything you’d like to adjust,” Yunhwan said politely.
“Actually, there was one idea we prepared on our end... Would it be possible to include it?”
When I shared the arrangement we had put together in advance, Yunhwan lowered his head in thought for a brief moment before speaking.
“Sounds wonderful. That’ll make for a fantastic visual... Although... hmm...”
“Is there an issue?”
“To be frank, everything about it is great, but I’m worried Subin might lose all self-control and go completely wild... Ah, never mind. Let’s proceed exactly as you suggested.”
“Thank you.”
Our preparations were met with enthusiasm, and I found the concept genuinely appealing. Having Songhadang framed as an idyllic sanctuary where one could escape daily life was flattering enough, and interweaving our handcrafted spirits throughout the journey was ideal.
“Honestly, we’re just grateful that Ms. Subin took the time to come all the way out here,” I added.
Ordinarily, to be featured in content like this, a traditional brewery would have had to plead and pay handsomely for an appearance. And who was Jeong Subin? A celebrated star who fully lived up to the prestige of the Korean Wave. The mere fact that someone of her caliber loved our humble brewery was deeply gratifying.
“Not at all,” Yunhwan replied. “We were thrilled when your email came through. In fact, we were just about to reach out to you first.”
“Pardon? You were going to contact us?”
“Yes. We were already planning a shoot around this exact healing concept, but we couldn’t find the right location. When Subin heard about Songhadang, she was ecstatic. Now that we’re here in person, the air and water really are pristine.”
“Mmm. The spiritual energy of this land is indeed exceptionally fine,” Songha murmured softly beside me.
Perhaps because everyone was approaching the project with smiles and genuine warmth, our collaboration was off to a wonderful start.
“Ah, looks like they’re getting ready to roll,” Yunhwan noted.
“What should we do?” I asked.
“Just act naturally, exactly as you always do. That’s the true charm of healing content.”
“Is this the right place?”
The shoot officially began with the van carrying Jeong Subin pulling into Songhadang’s courtyard. Technically, she had arrived earlier, but that had only been to settle in and let the crew set up their equipment.
“Has that young lass lost her marbles?” Moktong scoffed, cocking his head.
“Mmm... It certainly appears rather odd,” Songha chuckled. “Though perhaps it is not our place to judge the customs of modern folk.”
Naturally, the two dokkaebis had no concept of filmmaking and could only watch Subin’s theatrical arrival with total incomprehension.
Subin stepped gracefully out of the van, closing her eyes as she inhaled the crisp, clean mountain air. That simple gesture alone carried such effortless poise that it looked like a still from a high-budget film. As I stood watching in mild awe, the production writer called out from behind the cameras.
“Mr. Sejun? Are you ready?”
“R-R-Rea—ready!”
“Relax, relax! You’re way too stiff right now.”
“S-Sorry... This is my first time acting...”
“Don’t worry! Just stick to what we rehearsed earlier!”
The writer offered an encouraging nod to Sejun, whose hands were visibly shaking from raw nerves. Bolstered by the pep talk, Sejun marched forward with heavy, deliberate strides toward the camera’s frame.
Though they had already met off-camera, Subin brightened as if seeing him for the first time.
“Oh! Hello! Wait... Hi?”
“I-I’m Korean.”
“Oh! I’m so sorry! Ah... it’s just that you’re in such incredible shape and look so exotically handsome!”
To be fair, Sejun did fit the bill. Blessed from birth with raw physical power, a towering build, and heavy bones, he had been mistaken for a foreigner more times than he could count. Well, except perhaps for the handsome part.
“Th-Thank you. Are you the guest who was scheduled to visit today...?”
“Yes! I’m Jeong Subin!”
Contrary to his earlier trembling, Sejun managed to keep the dialogue flowing naturally. It was clear that Subin was masterfully smoothing over his awkwardness. She hadn’t earned the title of ‘National Actress’ for nothing; she carried his wooden acting with effortless grace.
“Would you happen to be the owner here?” Subin asked.
“The master brewer is someone else.”
“Oh?”
“Yeonwoo! A guest is here!”
Right on cue came the rehearsed line.
“That’s your cue. You can head in now,” the writer whispered, tapping my shoulder.
Doing my best to steady my racing pulse, I stepped into the courtyard and approached Subin, extending a hand.
“Hello. I’m Song Yeonwoo.”
“Ah! So you’re the master brewer! You’re the one who created Meari, right?”
“Not just me. Everyone here made it together.”
“Indeed. Every single one of us poured our sweat and soul into it,” Songha chimed in, nodding warmly beside me. His presence calmed my lingering jitters considerably.
With that, the brewery tour officially got underway. Our first stop was the brewing hall where Sejun and I steamed the grains and tended the fermentation vats. There, the fraternal twins, Yehyeon and Yeeun, were already in position, demonstrating their tasks just as rehearsed.
“Whoa...” Subin gasped softly.
“This is where we handcraft our nuruk from scratch,” I explained.
“You make your own nuruk by hand? That’s incredible!”
I could tell instantly that her reaction was entirely genuine. With her deep appreciation for spirits, she understood better than most just how demanding and painstaking it was to craft traditional fermentation cakes by hand rather than relying on standardized commercial starters.
Of course, her astonishment was only just beginning.
“Look at all these onggi jars!”
“This is where we prepare the mitsul, our starter mash,” I said. “Because Nokpaju undergoes a secondary fermentation, it has to complete this initial brew first.”
“It really... takes an extraordinary amount of effort.”
“And we don’t stop there,” Sejun joined in, now visibly more comfortable in front of the lens as he explained the distillation setup. “We also process our spent grain mash and wastewater using the most eco-friendly methods possible.”
Mindful of the protests we had faced in the past, Sejun made sure to emphasize the clean, sustainable practices of our facility.
Then came the moment to guide them into what could truly be called the heart and soul of Songhadang.
“Shall we head into the maturation cellar now?” I offered.
“Yes! I’ve been dying to see it!”
“Heh heh. Songha, I’m takin’ quite a shine to this gal,” Moktong cackled.
“Come now, control yourself. You are a dokkaebi, my friend,” Songha chided lightly.
Flanked by the unseen banter of the two spirits, we stepped into the cool dimness of the maturation cellar. The moment the heavy door opened, Old Man Moktong’s voice began ringing out without pause.
“Whoa. All of these barrels and jars are filled with liquor?” Subin gasped.
“Course they are! And let me tell ya about this particular beauty right here!”
“This feels like an absolute dream!”
“Gwahaha! I really do like this lass!”
Moktong was bellowing so enthusiastically that it was almost hard to hear Subin’s voice over his shouting. Here, we offered her samples of several spirits currently aging in the cellar.
“Oh wow... It’s so sweet...”
“How do you like it?” I asked.
“Like it? That doesn’t even begin to cover it! This is extraordinary!”
Subin began rattling off tasting notes and unraveling the intricate flavor palette she experienced with uncanny accuracy. All the while, the cameras whirred quietly, capturing her radiant expressions. Behind the equipment, several crew members were involuntarily swallowing dryly, completely transfixed by her vivid descriptions of the flavors and aromas.
“She didn’t earn that aura of a seasoned connoisseur for nothing, it seems,” Songha observed with a satisfied nod.
“Songha! I’ve made up my mind! This lass has gotta taste that one!” Moktong barked, thoroughly delighted that our handcrafted spirits were being appreciated so deeply.
I was of the exact same mind. Which meant it was time to unveil what we had kept in reserve.
“Sejun. Let’s bring out the one we prepared.”
“Ah. That one, right?”
“Wait, what is it? What are you bringing out?”
Overhearing our exchange, Subin poked her head closer, her eyes alight with curiosity. Up until now, she had maintained a shred of professional composure for the sake of the broadcast, but right now, all restraint was gone. Seeing her eyes sparkling with pure, unadulterated fascination, I made up my mind.
We would pour *that* drink.
“We have another aged spirit resting in here,” I said.
Once the decision was made, action followed immediately. Pouring a clear measure into a tasting glass, I offered it to Subin.
“Please, have a taste. It’s called Dalvorde.”
I’m so happy...
If Subin had to describe her emotions in this singular moment, a single word was all it took: bliss.
Pure happiness.
Not only was she tasting the spirits she loved, but she was also getting an intimate, behind-the-scenes look at the craftsmanship behind every drop. To sample raw, undiluted base brews and traditional liquors resting in the middle of fermentation and aging before they were ever released to the public—where else could anyone experience such a privilege?
Certainly nowhere else in Korea.
At renowned international distilleries, such comprehensive tours were celebrated traditions. Places like the Bombay Sapphire Distillery, where visitors wandered through bespoke glasshouses to experience the scents of the ten exotic botanicals infused into their gin. The Lakes Distillery, nestled amid the dramatic rolling hills of Cumbria alongside the flowing currents of the River Derwent. Or the historic La Rojeña Distillery in Mexico, the home of Jose Cuervo tequila, where an open plaza honoring artist Juan Soriano showcased 20th-century Mexican art history right beside towering agave stills.
Songhadang doesn't fall short of them in the slightest.
Though her grueling schedule had kept her from taking those legendary overseas distillery tours, Subin genuinely believed that Songhadang possessed every ounce of that majesty. The breathtaking sight of Yeongwol’s jagged peaks kissing the open sky, with the tranquil brewery nestled below, looked like a timeless masterwork painted on silk.
And their alcohol is out of this world.
Even the commercially bottled Meari had deeply moved her palate. Yet Songhadang was an artisan house born from an unyielding resolve to craft spirits unlike anything else on earth. True to form, the liquor she had tasted here resonated straight to the depths of her soul.
I’m so, so happy...
Honestly, everything she had experienced up to this moment was already more than enough to leave her utterly fulfilled. And yet...
“Sejun. Let’s bring out the one we prepared.”
“Ah. That one, right?”
Those unexpected words sent a sudden thrill through her chest.
That one? What does he mean, “that one”?!
Gulp.
Saliva rushed into her mouth, pooling on her tongue before slipping down her throat. What kind of scent and profile could this mystery drink possibly possess? How would it make her heart race this time?
“Wait, what is it? What are you bringing out?”
Before she even realized what she was doing, she had blurted out the question, leaning in with breathless anticipation. The young master brewer named Yeonwoo smiled gently and poured a measure into a glass for her.
“Please, have a taste. It’s called Dalvorde.”
A glass filled with a clear, delicately sweet-scented liquor was placed into her trembling hands.
Wait... this... this is unbelievable!
In the very next instant, an intoxicating bouquet blossomed outward, enveloping her entire being in its rich, golden warmth.