Drinking Culture in Korea

There are a few things you should know before you have a drink in Korea. Especially regarding drinking manners.

1. You don’t pour your own drink. Someone usually pours the drink for you. If you need your glass filled and someone does not pour it for you, you should ask them if they can pour you a glass. You should also pour other people’s drink. Why we don’t try to pour our own drink is because of various reasons. It could mean back luck, or there is also a saying you won’t get a boyfriend/girlfriend for the next 3 years.

2. When you give or receive something from someone, you do it with both hands to show respect. You don’t have to do it with both hands if it is a friend. This also goes the same when receiving drinks. You should hold your glass when someone pours you a drink.

Koreans don’t drink the alcohol solely. We always have food to have with. Even when we are full, we will have some kind of fingerfood to eat with our alcohol.

There are three typical alcohol Koreans drink.

Soju, beer, and Makegolli

Makgeolli is made of rice. Usually drink it in a little bowl.

Beer is also a popular drink. But we sometimes mix soju with beer to create soju bomb.

So called “SO MAC”. The usual ratio would be soju 1 and beer 3-4.

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