View source for Milkis

{{Short description|South Korean soft drink}}

{{infobox beverage
| name = Milkis
| image = Lotte Milkis.jpg
| type = [[Soft drink]] 
| manufacturer = [[Lotte Chilsung]]
| origin = South Korea
| introduced = 1989
| color = Various milky tones
| flavor = Regular, strawberry, orange, muskmelon, mango, peach, pineapple, banana, apple, grape, lemon.
| variants = 
| related = [[Chilsung Cider]]
| website = [https://company.lottechilsung.co.kr/eng/brand/milkis/contentsid/777/index.do http://company.lottechilsung.co.kr/]
}}

'''Milkis''' ({{Korean/auto|hangul=^밀키스|rr=yes}}) is a South Korean [[soft drink]] produced by [[Lotte Chilsung]], a South Korean beverage company.

It combines many of the common elements of traditional carbonated beverages such as [[sugar]] and [[carbonated water]] with [[milk]] to create a creamy taste; its label proclaims "New feeling of soda beverage". As of 2024, U.S.-market Milkis cans state "Korea's No.1 [[Cream soda|Cream Soda]]".

Milkis is available in [[orange (fruit)|orange]], [[strawberry]], [[mango]], [[melon]], [[banana]], [[peach]], [[apple]],  and classic (regular) flavors; the classic flavor is also featured as a glaze in pastries.<ref>{{Cite web|last=Park|first=Jong-gwan|date=2021-05-26|script-title=ko:'밀키스맛' 빵이 있다고?|url=https://www.hankyung.com/economy/article/202105269703i|access-date=2021-06-18|website=[[The Korea Economic Daily]]|language=ko}}</ref> It is a popular beverage in South Korea, and it is available worldwide.<ref>{{Cite web |url=http://company.lottechilsung.co.kr/eng |title=Lotte Chilsung official site |access-date=2010-06-22 |archive-url=https://archive.today/20120708180021/http://company.lottechilsung.co.kr/eng |archive-date=2012-07-08 |url-status=dead }}</ref>

==History==
Milkis launched in 1989 with a huge marketing campaign, notably with the appearance of [[Hong Kong]] actor [[Chow Yun-fat]] in its television advertisements.<ref name="milkis 365">{{Cite web |date=2007-12-17 |script-title=ko:[옛날광고] 싸랑해요, 밀키스! |trans-title=[Old Advertisement] I love you, Milkis! |url=http://www.interview365.com/news/articleView.html?idxno=393 |access-date=2024-01-27 |website=Interview 365 |language=ko}}</ref> Chow was enjoying huge popularity from the success of the film ''[[A Better Tomorrow]]'' and his saying the catchphrase "''Saranghaeyo'', Milkis!" ({{Korean|hangul=사랑해요, 밀키스!|lit=I love you, Milkis!|labels=no}}) in his strong accent became a huge hit; sales soared and the catchphrase remains as one of the most popular.<ref name="milkis 365"/><ref>{{Cite web |language=ko |url=http://www.daehong.com/creative/hit/view.php?seq=25&page=1&section=198 |title=Lotte Chilsung Milkis |archive-url=https://archive.today/20120730071529/http://www.daehong.com/creative/hit/view.php?seq=25&page=1&section=198 |archive-date=2012-07-30 |work=Daehong Communications Inc}}</ref>

== Popularity abroad ==
The beverage has experienced a sharp increase in popularity in [[Taiwan]]. Chilsung began selling Milkis there in late 2020, exporting 200,000 cans. Demand increased rapidly, selling 2.3 million cans in 2021.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Choi |first=Moon-hee |date=2022-09-20 |title=Lotte Chilsung Beverage Exports 10mn Cans of Milkis to Taiwan in 2022 |url=https://www.businesskorea.co.kr/news/articleView.html?idxno=100644 |access-date=2024-01-21 |website=Businesskorea |language=ko}}</ref> 10 million cans were sold in the first 8 months of 2022 alone.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Park |first=Han-na |date=2022-09-20 |title=Milkis sales volume grows over 800 percent in Taiwan |url=https://www.koreaherald.com/view.php?ud=20220920000681 |access-date=2024-01-21 |website=[[The Korea Herald]] |language=en}}</ref>

The drink has also seen success in the United States, selling 10 million cans in 2021, mainly through [[Asian supermarket]]s.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Jin Young-hwa and Jenny Lee |date=20 September 2022 |title=Lotte's creamy beverage Milkis poised to become global hit - Pulse by Maeil Business News Korea |url=https://pulsenews.co.kr/view.php?year=2022&no=828043 |access-date=2024-01-21 |website=Pulse News |language=en}}</ref>

==See also==
*[[Calpis]]
*[[List of Korean beverages]]
*[[Lotte Chilsung]]
*[[Korean cuisine]]
*[[Wahaha Joint Venture Company|Wahaha]]
*[[Yakult]]

==References==
{{reflist}}

==External links==
*{{official website|1=https://company.lottechilsung.co.kr/eng/brand/milkis/contentsid/777/index.do}}

[[Category:South Korean drink brands]]
[[Category:Products introduced in 1989]]
[[Category:Soft drinks]]