OB Beer has introduced a certification system to strengthen draft beer quality control and enhance competitiveness in the food service industry.
OB Beer announced Wednesday that it is operating Korea's first "Master of Draft Management (MDM)" certification program based on Ministry of Employment and Labor accreditation. The initiative aims to standardize and systematically verify the entire process of draft beer hygiene and quality management.
The MDM certification system differentiates itself from existing programs by offering credentialed certification rather than simple training. Operating as a non-profit entity based on Ministry of Employment and Labor accreditation, the program focuses on elevating service quality at food service establishments.
The program is jointly operated with Kinocon, a company specializing in draft beer quality management. Kinocon has built draft beer quality management training and equipment maintenance systems over the past 14 years, combining its expertise with OB Beer's quality management know-how to establish more refined management standards.
The MDM certification process consists of four stages: theoretical education, practical training, online examination, and on-site practical evaluation. The program particularly focuses on comprehensively verifying management capabilities in actual store environments.
The curriculum is practice-oriented, covering the entire process required for providing high-quality draft beer—from draft beer hygiene management to supply line cleaning, carbonation pressure adjustment, dedicated glassware management, and freshness preservation storage methods. On-site practical examinations are included to evaluate real-world application skills rather than mere knowledge acquisition.
Certificate holders receive an official certification along with an authentication plaque for display at their establishments. Additional benefits to support store operations include dedicated glassware, quality management tool sets, and social media marketing assistance.
The MDM certification program introduced this year is rapidly gaining traction, expanding to approximately 220 stores nationwide.
"The key to draft beer taste starts with precise management of draft beer equipment, which is why we aim to raise the industry's quality standards together with Kinocon, which has the specialized expertise," an OB Beer official said. "We will continue to combine certification program operation with expert on-site inspections to strengthen the competitiveness of food service business owners and take the lead in creating a draft beer environment that consumers can trust."