Two consecutive title defenses — Korea's representative heads to global competition at Wimbledon

Bartenders Lee Jang-yun (1st place), Choi Yu-ri (2nd place) and Jo Seong-jae (3rd place) pose with judges at the 2026 Perfect Serve Awards Korea. [Provided by OB Beer]
Bartenders Lee Jang-yun (1st place), Choi Yu-ri (2nd place) and Jo Seong-jae (3rd place) pose with judges at the 2026 Perfect Serve Awards Korea. [Provided by OB Beer]

Stella Artois said it successfully concluded the 2026 Perfect Serve Awards Korea at Goose Island Brewhouse in Gangnam-gu, Seoul, on June 8. Bartender Lee Jang-yun of Dublin Terrace took the top prize, defending his domestic champion title for the second consecutive year.

The Perfect Serve Awards Korea is a competition that identifies the country's top draft master by evaluating mastery of Stella Artois' signature five-step pouring ritual alongside the overall quality of the experience delivered to customers.

Lee will represent South Korea at the Global Perfect Serve Awards in Wimbledon, England, in July. Last year, bartender Jo Yeong-jun became the first Korean to win the global draft master title, and Lee is now aiming to secure back-to-back global victories for Korea. Jo will serve as a judge at this year's global final.

Reflecting on his preparation, Lee said he treated every pour as both practice and the real thing. "I thought of every moment I served a guest as both practice and competition," he said. He added that flavor is not conveyed through taste alone. "When sight, aroma and atmosphere come together, the experience becomes far richer," he said. "When careful glass management and a service-oriented mindset are added to pouring technique, you can consistently deliver the flavor profile Stella Artois pursues." He said he would prepare thoroughly for the remaining time with the goal of winning a second consecutive Korean title.

The global final will bring together representative draft masters from roughly 10 countries, including South Korea, the United States, the United Kingdom and Canada. Unlike the domestic competition, participants must complete a mandatory training course before the event, followed by a written exam and a pouring ritual assessment. The overall global draft master is determined through a multi-stage judging process.

Park Sang-young, senior managing director of high-end brand marketing at OB Beer, said the Perfect Serve Awards is not simply a contest to select one outstanding draft master, but a process designed to spread the brand's quality standards across stores. "We will continue working to ensure that consumers can enjoy a consistently high-quality draft beer experience at any Stella Artois-serving establishment they visit," he said.

A scene from the 2026 Perfect Serve Awards Korea, held June 8 at Goose Island Brewhouse in Gangnam, Seoul. [Provided by OB Beer]
A scene from the 2026 Perfect Serve Awards Korea, held June 8 at Goose Island Brewhouse in Gangnam, Seoul. [Provided by OB Beer]

andy@heraldcorp.com