"RESCENE's Uncle" Reveals Three Hidden Faces... Ad Draws 2.07 Million Views

Lotte Chilsung Beverage relaunches Captain Q after discontinuing it in 2015
Retro ad evoking 1980s nostalgia draws attention

Lotte Chilsung Beverage's retro-style ad for Captain Q, the liquor it relaunched after 11 years, is drawing attention.

Lotte Chilsung YouTube

As of October 17, the pre-launch ad for Captain Q, posted on Lotte Chilsung's official liquor YouTube channel, had recorded 2.07 million views. The launch ad posted afterward had also surpassed 550,000 views.

Comedian Lee Seonmin, sometimes called “RESCENE's uncle,” was selected as the advertising model. The ad pays homage to a Captain Q commercial that aired in the 1980s, reinterpreting the brand image of the time with humor and direction suited to today's audience.

A scene from a Captain Q ad. Comedian Lee Sunmin appears as the model, drawing attention online. Screenshot from Lotte Chilsung's liquor YouTube channel.

The ad opens with the narration, “The world of satisfying, genuine liquor.” It centers on a scene in which three friends gather at a home and enjoy Captain Q, with Lee Seonmin playing all three characters. She naturally portrays each distinct character, while background music that evokes the old commercial helps create a stylish retro atmosphere.

A Lotte Chilsung representative said, “We planned the ad to introduce the brand to more consumers as we relaunch Captain Q,” adding, “We expect the familiarity of the old ad and Lee Seonmin's performance to deliver a fresh kind of fun.”

A key scene from a Captain Q ad. Comedian Lee Seonmin appears as the model, drawing attention online. Lotte Chilsung Beverage.

Captain Q was a product that helped popularize liquor in the 1980s and 1990s. It was once a “whisky substitute” for young people short on cash and a familiar fixture at year-end parties. It was so well received that 10 million bottles were sold by the year after its launch. However, after reports emerged that some bars had used Captain Q to make counterfeit liquor, it became stigmatized as a symbol of binge-drinking culture and was ultimately discontinued in 2015. Even after it was discontinued, interest in the product continued on social media and elsewhere, with claims such as, “If you drink it, you don't wake up the next day but the day after that, so you never get a hangover.” Lotte Chilsung decided to relaunch it. According to Lotte Chilsung Beverage, the new product uses 99% authentic Caribbean rum to create a sweet, smooth taste.

Meanwhile, on the JTBC variety show “Please Take Care of My Refrigerator,” which aired on October 11, Lee Seonmin said that chef Edward Lee, born in 1972, had thought she was his age, even though she was born in 1988. “I'm living life 1.7 times faster than other people,” she said. Lee Seonmin added, “When I was in my first year of middle school, I took the bus and paid 1,000 won, but they charged me the adult fare. When I said I was a student, the driver stared at me for a long time and said, ‘Don't lie, young man. There are passengers sitting in the back.’” She added, “When I look at photos from back then, I don't feel that wronged. At a glance, I look about the same age as my father,” drawing laughter.

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.