South Korea will hold a promotional event in Taiwan later this week as part of its efforts to export "makgeolli," the indigenous traditional rice wine overseas, the agriculture ministry here said Tuesday.

The event will take place in a department store in Xinbei City, Taiwan, involving a talk show session hosted by professor Suh Kyung-duk and a free tasting of makgeolli and other Korean foods, according to the Ministry of Agriculture, Food and Rural affairs.

The ministry said it will help Taiwanese customers and wine lovers get a glimpse of the history and culture of the Korean traditional rice wine and give opportunities to taste it.

The South Korean government has held similar promotion events in Taiwan as part of efforts to diversify its export portfolio, of which Japan has accounted for the majority.

Exports of makgeolli to Taiwan have been on a sharp rise in recent years, as the amount jumped to 170 tons, worth US$130,000, in 2015 from 75 tons worth $69,000 in 2013, while the overall outbound shipments of the wine posted a 10.2 percent on-year drop in 2015 and a 40.6 percent plunge in 2013. (Yonhap)