Let's start
If it’s your first time drinking soju in Korea, the small green bottle on the table may come with more etiquette than you expected.
Someone may pour your glass before you reach for the bottle. Another person might hold the bottle with two hands. If an older person is sitting at the table, you may even notice younger people turning slightly away before drinking.
Don’t worry – you don’t need to memorize a complicated rulebook to drink soju correctly.
The basic idea is simple:
pour for other people, receive politely, pay attention to age and formality, and drink at your own pace.
In this guide, we’ll explain how to drink soju step by step, including pouring etiquette, drinking with elders, whether you should sip or shoot soju, what to eat with it, and how modern Korean drinking habits differ from the traditional rules.
Table of contents
01 Quick Answer: How do you drink soju in Korea?
02 How to drink soju step by step?
03 Do you sip or shoot soju?
04 Can you pour your own soju?
05 How to drink soju with older people?
06 How formal is soju etiquette with friends?
07 What should you eat with soju?
08 What is somaek?
09 How to say cheers when drinking soju?
10 Common soju mistakes first-time visitors make?
11 Can you drink soju without alcohol pressure?
12 How does soju fit Into korean drinking culture?
13 Want to learn the etiquette in more detail?
14 What about korean drinking games?
15 How to experience soju culture in Seoul?
16 How to drink soju FAQ?
17 Final thoughts
소주 마시는 법
Quick Answer: How Do You Drink Soju in Korea?
If you only remember a few things, remember these:
- 1Let someone else pour for you in more traditional or formal situations.
- 2Pour for other people too.
- 3Use two hands when pouring for or receiving from someone older or senior.
- 4Say “geonbae” when making a toast.
- 5Turn slightly away when drinking in front of an elder in a formal setting.
- 6Don’t assume every glass has to be finished in one shot.
- 7Follow the tone of the group and drink at your own pace.
Official Korea.net guidance specifically describes using two hands when pouring or receiving alcohol around older people and turning slightly away when drinking as traditional signs of respect.
practical tip
If you’re unsure what to do, start slightly more formal. It’s easy to relax later once you see how everyone else at the table is behaving.
How to Drink Soju Step by Step
1
How to Drink Soju Step by Step
Traditional Korean drinking culture is social.
Instead of everyone focusing only on their own drink, people often pour for one another.
At a more formal table, don’t immediately grab the bottle and fill your own glass.
Let someone pour for you, then return the gesture when appropriate.
This mutual pouring is part of the social side of the drinking table rather than simply a technical rule. Korea.net’s descriptions of traditional drinking etiquette emphasize exchanging drinks and serving one another.
practical tip
Among close friends, this can become much more relaxed. Don’t panic if someone pours their own drink – context matters.
2
Pour Soju With Two Hands in Formal Situations
When pouring soju for someone older or more senior, use two hands.
A common method is to:
- hold the bottle with your right hand,
- lightly support your wrist or forearm with your left.
You may also simply hold the bottle with both hands.
The exact position is less important than the respectful gesture itself.
Korea.net explicitly describes using both hands when pouring alcohol for an older person.
If you’re not sure whether one hand is appropriate, two hands is the safest choice.
3
Receive Your Soju Glass With Two Hands
The same principle applies when someone older or senior pours for you.
Receive the glass with both hands.
You can:
- hold the glass directly with both hands,
- or hold it with one hand while supporting your wrist with the other.
Traditional etiquette descriptions from Korea.net identify receiving a drink from an elder with both hands as a sign of courtesy.
Among friends of a similar age, you may see people become much less formal.
4
Say “Geonbae” Before Drinking
A common Korean toast is:
Don’t worry about pronunciation being perfect.
Making the effort is enough.
5
Turn Away When Drinking With an Elder
One of the most recognizable Korean drinking customs is turning slightly away when taking a drink in front of someone older.
You don’t need to turn your entire body.
A slight movement of your head or shoulders is enough.
This tradition is documented by official Korean sources as a sign of respect toward older people.
Don’t perform this dramatically. It’s a small gesture, not a ceremony.
6
Return the Favor and Pour for Others
Once someone has poured for you, keep an eye on the table.
If another person’s glass is empty, offering to refill it is a natural part of the social rhythm.
The idea is reciprocal:
someone looks after your glass, and you look after theirs.
This is one reason drinking soju in Korea can feel more communal than simply ordering an individual drink.
7
Follow the Group After the First Round
Traditional etiquette can be especially visible during the first round.
After that, the table often becomes more relaxed.
Among friends, you may notice:
The most important thing is to read the room rather than trying to enforce every traditional rule.
Do You Sip or Shoot Soju?
This is one of the most useful questions for first-time visitors.
The answer is:
both happen.
But that does not mean every glass of soju must be finished immediately.
You can:
If someone says “원샷 – wonsyat,” it means “one shot,” but you don’t have to treat it as an obligation.
Common Soju Mistakes First-Time Visitors Make
Mistake #1: Pouring Only for Yourself
The table is social.
Pay attention to other people’s glasses too.
Mistake #2: Using One Hand in a Formal Situation
When drinking with an older person or senior colleague, use two hands.
Mistake #3: Treating Every Glass as a Shot
You can drink at your own pace.
Mistake #4: Assuming Every Korean Follows the Same Rules
Etiquette changes depending on:
Mistake #5: Drinking Without Eating
Food is a major part of many Korean drinking occasions.
Don’t ignore the anju.
Mistake #6: Focusing So Much on Etiquette That You Stop Enjoying the Night
You don’t need to perform Korean drinking culture perfectly.
The purpose of the etiquette is social consideration.
Start respectful, watch what everyone else does, then relax with the group.
Can You Pour Your Own Soju?
Traditional etiquette favors pouring for one another.
In a formal setting, especially around older people, it’s better to let another person fill your glass and return the gesture for them.
But this should not be treated as an absolute law.
Among close friends or in very casual settings, people may pour their own drinks without anyone caring.
So rather than thinking:
How to Drink Soju With Older People
If you’re drinking with someone older or more senior, this is where traditional etiquette matters most.
A useful checklist:
- ✓offer or receive with two hands,
- ✓wait and observe before being the first to act,
- ✓turn slightly away when drinking,
- ✓return the gesture by pouring for the other person,
- ✓keep your behavior slightly more formal at the beginning.
Traditional Korean etiquette places particular emphasis on age and seniority in drinking situations.
If you’re unsure who should go first, wait a moment and watch the table. Usually the situation becomes obvious very quickly.
How Formal Is Soju Etiquette With Friends?
Usually much less formal.
When friends are close in age, many traditional gestures may be relaxed.
You might see:
Even Korea.net’s historical overview notes that one-handed handling can be acceptable when the age difference is small or the relationship is less formal.
So the real lesson isn’t:
What Should You Eat With Soju?
Soju is commonly enjoyed with food rather than completely on its own.
Food eaten alongside alcohol is often called: 안주 – anju
One of the most recognizable pairings is:
Samgyeopsal + Soju
Samgyeopsal is grilled pork belly.
Korea.net describes soju and samgyeopsal as such a well-known pairing that the combination even has the nickname ssosam.
Soju is commonly enjoyed with food rather than completely on its own.
Food eaten alongside alcohol is often called: 안주 – anju
One of the most recognizable pairings is:
If you’re drinking soju in Korea, think of the food as part of the experience rather than something separate from the alcohol.
What Is Somaek?
Somaek (소맥) is a mix of:
It is one of Korea’s best-known mixed drinks.
There is no single universal ratio.
Different people prefer different strengths and mixing styles.
VisitKorea notes that the flavor changes depending on the beer-to-soju ratio and describes different methods for mixing the drink.
How to Say Cheers When Drinking Soju
Mistake #1: Pouring Only for Yourself
The table is social.
Pay attention to other people’s glasses too.
Mistake #2: Using One Hand in a Formal Situation
When drinking with an older person or senior colleague, use two hands.
Mistake #3: Treating Every Glass as a Shot
You can drink at your own pace.
Mistake #4: Assuming Every Korean Follows the Same Rules
Etiquette changes depending on:
Mistake #5: Drinking Without Eating
Food is a major part of many Korean drinking occasions.
Don’t ignore the anju.
Mistake #6: Focusing So Much on Etiquette That You Stop Enjoying the Night
You don’t need to perform Korean drinking culture perfectly.
The purpose of the etiquette is social consideration.
Start respectful, watch what everyone else does, then relax with the group.
Can You Drink Soju Without Alcohol Pressure?
You never have to drink more than you want.
This is worth saying clearly because drinking etiquette should never be interpreted as an obligation to consume alcohol.
How Does Soju Fit Into Korean Drinking Culture?
Soju is only one part of a much broader social culture.
Korean drinking occasions can also involve:
hierarchy and etiquette,
somaek,
workplace gatherings,
nightlife,
drinking games,
and non-alcoholic participation.
If you want the bigger picture, read our guide:
The bigger pictureKorean Drinking Culture: A Guide for First-Time Visitors
Read the guide →
Want to Learn the Etiquette in More Detail?
This article focuses specifically on how to drink soju.
For a broader explanation of Korean drinking rules, including situations where soju isn’t involved, read:
All the rulesKorean Drinking Etiquette: Essential Rules for Visitors
Read the guide →
What About Korean Drinking Games?
Once the first rounds are underway, the table may become much less formal.
That’s often when games begin.
Popular Korean drinking games include:
We’ve explained them separately here:
How to Experience Soju Culture in Seoul
Reading the rules is useful.
Seeing them around a real table makes them much easier to understand.
During a Korean Drinking Games Night in Hongdae, travelers can experience Korean drinking customs, learn popular games, meet other people, and see how the social side of a Korean night out actually works.
You don’t need to drink alcohol to join.
Experience a Korean Night Out in Hongdae
Want to experience it for yourself?
How to Drink Soju FAQ
How are you supposed to drink soju?
In more traditional settings, people pour for one another, use two hands with older or senior people, make a toast, and may turn slightly away while drinking in front of an elder.
In casual settings, the rules are often more relaxed.
Do you sip or shoot soju?
Both.
A shot may be traditional during an early or formal toast, but you can also sip soju and drink at your own pace.
Can you pour your own soju?
You can, especially in casual situations.
However, traditional Korean drinking etiquette emphasizes pouring for other people and letting them pour for you.
Why do Koreans use two hands with soju?
Using two hands when pouring or receiving a drink is traditionally a gesture of respect, especially toward someone older or more senior.
Why do Koreans turn away when drinking soju?
Traditionally, younger people may turn slightly away when drinking in front of an elder as a sign of respect.
What does geonbae mean?
Geonbae (건배) means “cheers.”
It is commonly used before drinking together.
What food goes best with soju?
Samgyeopsal is one of the best-known pairings, while raw fish, grilled meats, soups and other shared dishes are also common.
What is somaek?
Somaek is a mixture of soju and beer.
The name combines soju with maekju, the Korean word for beer.
Do I have to drink soju in one shot?
No.
You can drink at your own pace.
Do I have to drink alcohol to participate in Korean drinking culture?
No.
You can still join the food, conversation, toasts and games without drinking alcohol.
Final thoughts
Learning how to drink soju in Korea is much easier once you stop thinking of the etiquette as a list of strict rules.
The basic idea is:
pay attention to the people around you.
- ✓Pour for others.
- ✓Use two hands when you want to show respect.
- ✓Follow the lead of older or senior people in formal situations.
- ✓Eat with your drinks.
- ✓And don’t feel pressured to match someone else’s pace.
The goal isn’t to perform Korean etiquette perfectly — it’s to understand the social gestures behind the bottle and enjoy the experience respectfully.
