This study is designed to set the standard for establishing a certification system of Korean traditional liquor(K-Sool) Sommelier.
The main purpose of this study is to establish a system of definition for Korean traditional liquor sommeliers and develop evaluation criteria for traditional liquor certificates.
Delphi technique is applied to this study as a survey method. The survey has conducted 3 rounds and the results are as follows :
First, the definition of the Korean traditional liquor(K-Sool) Sommelier is someone who has expertise in systematic knowledge of Korean traditional alcohol classification, brewery, production and brands, and is capable of recommending fine traditional liquor matching with a certain dish in hotels, restaurants, and traditional liquor stores.
Second, 14 criteria are derived for written evaluation, which are brewing of traditional liquor, history of traditional liquor, matching with food, characteristics of each type of traditional liquor, characteristics of each region of traditional liquor, comprehensive knowledge in drinks, understanding of Korean food, table manners, traditional liquor and culture, marketing of traditional liquor, understanding of yeast, method of storing traditional liquor, marketing, drinking manners, food master and traditional liquor.
Third, 7 criteria are derived for the practical evaluation; blind tasting, service technique, cleanliness of tableware, matching food and traditional liquor, recommendation of traditional liquor, storytelling, and interviews.
Forth, eight criteria are derived for the assessment of job qualification; work ethics, service manners, personality, positive mind, customer centered thinking, agility to situations and passion for the Korean traditional liquor.
In addition, the result suggests that the proper times of testing a year are four times and grading levels for the license are three.
Based on these research results, it is believed that it could be used as a basic material for the certification of traditional liquor sommelier, resulting in contributing to the revitalization of the Korean traditional liquor industry by supplying formally qualified human resource by the certification.