Annyeonghaseyo! Today we head over to Korea, the land of K-pop, K-dramas, and Soju. Like the Japanese, Koreans also see drinking as an opportunity to bond and socialize (no, they aren’t the same!) Either way, if a trip to Korea is something that you’re looking into, here are the deets on Korean drinking culture that you should know.
Alcohol In Korea
The first spirit to pop into someone’s mind at any mention of Korea is usually Soju, and rightly so too! It’s almost as popular in non-Korean geographies as it is in the country. A close second is Shochu, but rarely ever is the Korean rice beer, Makgeolli, ever talked about. Looking up the cloudy spirit’s name will lead to confusing answers, as most results call it a wine. However, Makgeolli typically has a lower alcohol content of around 6% to 11% ABV, and is bottled immediately after fermentation, without aging. These key differences make Makgeolli more of a beer than a wine.
Makgeolli has an extremely varied range of patrons. The Korean rice beer is served anywhere from street side shops to fancy restaurants. Local brands are more commonly found and drunk, but you can also find yourself sipping a glass of artisanal Makgeolli too, if you visit a boujee enough restaurant.
That’s not all the booze that Korean drinking culture has to offer, though. There’s a varied selection of Korean rice liquors to choose from, along with some fruit wines. Here are a few more spirits that you should consider giving a shot, or maybe a glass!
- Gukhwaju: Gukhwaju is a rice wine but with a twist. Also known as “flower wine”, Gukhwaju has the added flavor of chrysanthemum flowers. The dried and crushed flowers are added to the wine during the fermentation process to imbibe it with floral scent and flavors.
- Baekseju: Baekseju is a Korean rice wine that is flavored with herbs. The herbal wine can contain up to 12 additives, out of which, ginseng, licorice, cinnamon, and ginger are the most common.
- Dansul: The Koreans sure love their wine because Dansul is yet another one of its types. What sets Dansul apart from other wines is the fact that it undergoes an incomplete fermentation process, which leads to a low alcohol content (2-3% ABV) in the final product.
- Bokbunja-ju: Bokbunja-ju is a fruit wine made from blackberries, with an alcohol content of 15-19% ABV, making it stronger than its western counterparts.
Also Read: Forget Soju, Have You Heard of Baijiu?
Korean Drinking Rules
Now that you know what to drink in Korea, here’s how you get about drinking in the country. Taking a few pages of drinking etiquettes from its international neighbor Japan, Korean drinking culture focuses a lot on respect and hierarchies too. The Koreans are a bit less tightly wound than the Japanese though, and a high-spirited Korean can be a force of nature to be reckoned with. A few Korean drinking rules are a bit difficult to follow, especially for new drinkers. Like it goes with everything in life though, there is balance to be found in the rules and letting loose. Here are a few things to keep in mind when you go a-drinking in Korea.
Glass hierarchy: As seen in the case of drinking in Japan, you should conduct yourself in a manner that’s respectful to your elders. This display of respect is shown right from the beginning of the evening. During the initial toast, you should ensure that your glass is lower than that of the hosts, elders and any superiors in the group.
Also, the Korean equivalent of “cheers” is “Geonbae”, which sounds similar to the Chinese and Japanese versions, Ganbai and Kampai, respectively. The phrase translates to “empty glass” and is an invitation to do so.
Display humility, even when drinking: This rule also stems from the need to be respectful to the people around you. If the group you are drinking with happens to have people who are your seniors in age or some other status, make sure to turn your face away from them, and cover your mouth when you drink.
Finish your shots: When the Koreans say Geonbae, they mean it! Drinking in Korea is often coupled with a side of peer pressure, and prowess over alcohol is admired. In Korean drinking culture, it is customary to finish the first drink of the night at once. Not doing so can be considered rude, or a sign of weakness. You also have to finish a drink at once if your senior or superior asks you to. This can make pacing yourself a bit tough, but getting buzzed really easy!
Pouring rules: Another shared drinking rule between Japan and Korea is to never pour your own drinks, and always making sure that people within your reach have their cups and/or glasses full. If you want a drink for yourself, serve some to another at your table, and they will reciprocate. You should also hold your drinking vessel with both hands when someone is pouring you a drink as a sign of respect.
Refusing drinks: As an evening of drinking rolls into a night of buzz, it’s only natural for you to want to put a stopper on your drinks. Instead of telling people that you’re done drinking for the night, there’s a nifty way to signal the same. Leaving a glass of drink partially full will stop your company from pouring more for you.
Also Read: How To Take A Tequila Shot The Right Way
Summing Up
Although Korean drinking culture has a few similarities with Japan’s drinking habits, the spirits consumed and the spirit of the people vary vastly! Hierarchy is respected and given serious attention to, but not at the expense of a good time. With these things in mind, consider yourself well prepared for a fun night of drinking in Korea!
FAQs
Why Do Korean People Turn Away When Drinking?
Koreans turn their faces away from their seniors when drinking because it’s considered a sign of disrespect to be “seen drinking” by them.
Is It Rude To Not Drink Alcohol In Korea?
Peer pressure can often turn into a problem as it’s considered rude to turn down an invitation to, or a glass of drink in Korea. A good way to maintain a healthy dose is to go out, to avoid flat out rejecting an invitation, grabbing a couple of drinks, and leaving your glass half full. Korean tradition is to offer drinks to people with empty vessels, and a polite way to avoid drinking is leaving a partially full cup or glass.
Does Korea Have A Drinking Culture?
Drinking in Korea forms a significant part of their culture, where going out for drinks together is a way to socialize among friends, family and colleagues alike.
Why Do You Need To Shake Soju?
It is no longer necessary to shake a bottle of Soju before pouring a drink. The practice to do so is now just a remainder from days of the past when shaking the bottle helped avoid sedimentation from reducing the strength or the flavor of the drink.
Is 2 Bottles Of Soju A Lot?
With an ABV range of 14-18% Soju is definitely a stronger drink than a typical beer or wine, and can definitely make you tipsy fairly quickly.
Is Alcoholism A Big Problem In South Korea?
A lot of health departments are voicing concern that alcohol consumption is becoming a problem with residents of Korea. It is due to the fact that drinking is a deeply ingrained cultural practice in the country.
Can You Openly Drink In Korea?
There are no laws prohibiting openly carrying and drinking alcohol in Korea. However, disorderly conduct due to alcohol consumption can land you in trouble with the law.
