If you’ve ever been to Korea, either as a college student or as a worker, you probably noticed right away how much Koreans drink. In fact, it’s been statistically proven that Koreans drink more than people in any other country in Asia!

You might have also noticed how difficult it seems to escape from meetings involving drinking, even if you’re not into it yourself. Almost every time you meet a new person, or even an old friend, someone will likely suggest a round of drinks. The impression you get is that it’s an important part of Korean culture, and that soju is especially liked by Koreans. 

However, you’re probably wondering how the Korean drinking culture came to be this way. Furthermore, you might be curious about all the rules and etiquette around drinking in Korea, such as never leaving a glass empty. And so, let's take a deep dive into the drinking culture in Korea. 

Koreans believe drinking helps to get closer to others 

One big reason why the drinking culture in Korea is so prevalent is that it opens people up. Even the shyest man becomes more talkative after a few glasses of soju, and thus, if someone new suggests going out for drinks with you, it’s because they want to break the ice faster and get to know you better. Not only that, Koreans think that by having some drinks together, one can build a stronger friendship with the other person. This seems to apply to both interpersonal social relationships as well as work relationships. 

The alcohol is incredibly accessible 

While Korea is getting stricter at checking IDs at bars and convenience stores, alcohol is easy to access for anyone with an ID. If you go to your nearest convenience store, you can get a soju bottle for 1,500 won at most – that’s cheaper than bottled water in many Western countries! Not only that, but Korea lacks any rules when it comes to selling hard liquor. This means that any supermarket or convenience store you go to you can find hard liquor, from soju to tequila, in all of them, day or night.

Drinking is a part of the working culture 

It might not be normal at most companies to drink during working hours, but it is common to have work dinners together with your co-workers occasionally. And you might have already guessed that soju or other kinds of alcohol are a big part of these work dinners. There are several reasons why these work dinners happen, the most important one being the bonding opportunity with colleagues and bosses. Therefore, it’s frowned upon not to attend. 

It’s also the norm that if your elder offers you a glass (or ten!) of soju, you should accept every single one of them as a sign of respect. The fact that they are even inviting you out for a drink should be seen as a great compliment towards you. This naturally adds to the amount of alcohol consumed in Korea as especially older people like to end their days (or start their days) with some liquor. 

There’s plenty of other etiquette pointers that come with drinking with your elders: you should always hold the bottle with both hands as you pour and accept your drink with both hands; you should never pour your own drink, and you should turn your head away from the elders as you take the shot. 

Saying ‘no’ tactfully 

Directly saying no to a drink, in general, could be seen as rude. However, Koreans will understand if you don’t drink for medical or religious reasons. If you really don’t want to drink, it’s best to politely say ‘no’. You might suggest saying that you are on some medication that doesn’t allow you to drink alcohol. 

It’s best to practice moderation when it comes to drinking, even while you’re in Korea, but it could be a fun experience to go out with the locals for a crazy night of soju just once. Just keep the hangover cures in mind!

Source: 90 Day Korean (September 30, 2021)