Early in April 1984, Chairman Kim Jong Il visited a foodstuff factory.

   While making the rounds of several production lines, he stopped in front of the rice washing workshop.

   After looking at the rice washer for a while, he turned his eyes on the rice washing water, which flows under the ground through a pipe on the floor, and asked how it was disposed of.

   An official answered that it was deposited in a tank before it was discarded.

   With a serious expression Kim Jong Il said: It was wrong that the rice washing water was discarded. It would be advisable to use it in making refined rice wine or makkolli. And he explained in detail how to make makkolli.

   Makkolli is one of national drinks the Koreans have long since used in their dietary life.

   Makkolli is an inherent Korean word which means unrefined liquor.

   In the past, it was made by fermenting the rice washing water or the residues of boiled rice and other leftovers with malt before filtering it. Makkolli tastes refreshing and is good for health as it contains minerals, organic acids and other nutrients. So, the Koreans regarded it as a custom to drink makkolli during breaks at work on the field or at lunchtime.

   According to the instruction of Kim Jong Il who always cared for the improvement of the people’s dietary life, the foodstuff factory began to use the rice washing water in making makkolli, with the result that the water became “treasure water”.