Why Dancing Cider Dances in Chungju

What motivates wadiz makers to launch a funding campaign? We were curious about the real stories of makers who build their campaigns over periods ranging from as short as a month to as long as a year. The “Meet the ___maker” series vividly captures their journeys—from experiencing small and big achievements to occasionally stumbling and falling.

Our second featured creator is Dancing Cider, a local creator from Chungju. Hear their story of sparking a Korean cider revolution by making apple cider in Chungju, the heart of Korea.

* This content is an edited version of a lecture given by Kim Seong-eun, Brand Manager at wadiz,
a lecture by Kim Seong-eun, Brand Manager of Dancing Cider.

Dancing Cider is

Hello. My name is Kim Seong-eun, Brand Manager at Dancing Cider. First, let me introduce our brand. Dancing Cideris anoriginal craftcider housethat uses domestically grown applesto produce apple cider,a fruit-fermented beverage. Simply put, just as wine is made by aging grapes, apple cider is a carbonated beverage made by fermenting apple juice.

Our mission is to produce the highest-quality craft apple cider using domestically grown produce. To make this mission a reality, about 20 “players” (at Dancing Cider, we call our members “players”) are working hard in their respective roles.

When defining all our activities, we work with the mindset that “the players are sparking a Korean cider revolution” and “we are revolutionaries.” Since everyone is a player and a starter working hard in their own field, our corporate culture is fairly flat—think of us not as a CEO, but as a “lead player.”

But have you noticed something, everyone? We’re from Chungju. While most famous brands that have made a significant social impact are based in Seoul, we’re sparking the Korean cider revolution by making apple cider here, a bit removed from the Seoul metropolitan area.

Why a Seoul Lover Became a Chungju Lover

I was born in South Gyeongsang Province and always had a romanticized view of Seoul. So, with the mindset of “I’m definitely going to work in Seoul,” I moved there. But as you already know, I’ve now become “Kim Seong-eun,” a Dancing Cider player, and I’m giving it my all in “Chungju.” So why did a “Seoulite” (someone who lives in Seoul) become a “Chungjuite” and move down to Chungju?

A year and three months ago, I was a producer at wadiz. While working as a food project director, I met hundreds of brands and realized there were so many that truly expressed their own unique identity. Among them, the maker that left the deepest impression on me was Dancing Sider.

I found the way Dancing Cider developed its brand fascinating. I loved how they pursued their own identity without following mainstream trends, andtheir unique culture—though unpolished,it had averystrong sense of individuality. Also, during my time as a wadiz PD, I often saw how they were growing out of their local base in Chungju and expanding the city’s significance through networking within that community. That’s why I ended up joining Dancing Cider.

To put it simply, I was drawnto “a local brand that pursues its own identity from its own place,” and now I’m living the life of a local creator in Chungju.

3 Reasons Why Dancing Cider Is Launching a Funding Campaign

Now, shall we talk about funding? Dancing Cider has run five wadiz funding campaigns. To summarize these five projects: since August 2019, we’ve launched five projects and achieveda cumulative funding total of 160 million won.Additionally, “Oakland,” which we launched earlier this year, raised the highest amount ever for a traditional Korean liquor campaign on wadiz. From the outside, you might think, “Dancing Cider has great instincts,” but this wasn’t something that happened overnight. Let me share the five key efforts that made this possible.

1) Brand Awareness
A debut stage where the spotlight shines on startups

Back in 2019, when Dancing Cider first turned to wadiz for funding, awareness of the apple cider genre was still low, so our brand recognition was extremely limited. Furthermore, while craft beer was gradually gaining traction in Korea,the cider genre—including apple cider and cidre—was virtually unknown.

Furthermore, since we’re based in Chungju, we needed a promotional channel that could help us overcome geographical limitations. So, we spent a lot of time wondering, “Which platform should we chooseso thatmore peoplewill learn about us and our category?”We decided that wadiz was the place that could solve this problem. For a startup with low brand awareness, it’s truly the perfect debut stage where the spotlight shines brightly.

2) An Unfamiliar Genre
Supporters Enthusiastic About New Proposals

One of the reasons I really love the wadiz platform is the presence of its supporters. Supporters aren’t just people who buy our products—they’re not merely “people who open their wallets.”Theyarepeople who are enthusiastic about new challenges and recognize their value, and we chose wadiz because it’s a place where such supporters gather.

3) Distribution Channels (Platform Expansion)
A Hub for Collaboration with Other Brands

The third point is that it serves as a platform for opportunities. While we previously focused on how to break into distribution channels and reach B2C customers, I’d liketo emphasize that wadiz funding also presents “new opportunities” in terms of securing B2B customers. Wadiz serves as a catalyst for B2B customers to think, “That brand seems to align with us—I’d like to try a collaboration with them next time.” If you conduct funding campaigns on wadiz with a consistent brand ethos, you’ll experience how consistency breeds excellence.

How Dancing Cider is Building Its Funding Campaign

Dancing Cider’s five funding campaigns were part of our effort to connect with customers in a more personal and engaging way. We began with a funding campaign back when people asked, “Is this even alcohol?” and, after establishing that it was cider, we utilizedthefollowingfive approachesto explore a wider range of brand directions.

As mentioned above, wadiz isa channel where consistency is key. But at the same time, it needs to stay fresh. So, to maintain consistency while continually offering something new, Dancing Cider kept refining our messaging and engaging with our supporters. Through these efforts, we’ve gradually increased—albeit modestly—the market presence of both “apple cider” and the “Dancing Cider” brand.

We believe that “good alcohol takes root in a region and helps a new culture flourish.” Dancing Cider has been striving for three years to establish its apple cider in Chungju. We believe that once we’ve taken root here, we’ll help createa culture where peoplefrom Seoul and across the countrywill want to visit Chungju.


As a member of the Dancing Cider team, I’m running full steam ahead—staying true to myself, radiating positive energy, and breaking the mold. Please support Dancing Cider as it breaks the mold with its unique, positive energy. We plan to launch our funding campaign soon in August, so please look forward to it. We’re currently crafting a delicious cider that will truly make you want to dance, and it’ll be available soon. Thank you.

▶ This content was first featured on the wadiz blog. If you’re curious about more stories from the blog, check itout here!