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If you’re visiting Korea for the first time, your first night out might come with a few surprises.
Someone may reach for your glass before you can pour your own drink. Another person might hold a soju bottle with two hands. Someone may even turn slightly away before taking a drink.
None of this is random.
Korean drinking culture is built around social connection, sharing, and small gestures of respect.
The good news is that you don’t need to memorize dozens of rules before going out in Seoul.
A few basic customs will help you understand what’s happening around the table – and make your first Korean night out feel much more natural.
In this guide, we’ll cover Korean drinking etiquette, soju, somaek, anju, drinking games, hoesik, and the most useful rules first-time visitors should know.
From the host:
As a host of Korean Drinking Games Nights in Seoul, I’ve seen how quickly these customs make people feel more comfortable around the table. Once you understand a few simple rules, the whole experience feels much less intimidating – and much more social.
Table of contents
01 What is Korean Drinking Culture?
02 Korean Drinking Rules First-Time Visitors Should Know
03 What Do People Drink in Korea?
04 What Is Soju?
05 What Is Somaek?
06 What Is Makgeolli?
07 What Is Anju?
08 What Is Hoesik?
09 Korean Drinking Games
10 Can You Experience Korean Drinking Culture Without Alcohol?
11 Useful Korean Drinking Phrases
12 What First-Time Visitors Usually Get Wrong
13 Experiencing Korean Drinking Culture in Seoul
14 Korean Drinking Culture FAQ
15 Final Thoughts
What Is Korean Drinking Culture?
Drinking in Korea is often a group activity rather than an individual one.
A bottle of soju might sit in the middle of the table, food is shared, glasses are filled for other people, and the evening can involve conversation, toasts, multiple dishes, and drinking games.
That social element is one of the biggest things first-time visitors tend to notice.
Traditional Korean drinking etiquette can also reflect age and social hierarchy. In more formal settings, gestures such as using two hands when pouring or receiving a drink and turning slightly away while drinking in front of an older person can communicate respect.
But context matters.
A casual night out with close friends in Hongdae can look very different from a dinner with senior coworkers or someone’s parents.
Think of Korean drinking etiquette as a scale of formality rather than a rigid list of rules everyone follows in exactly the same way.
host tip
Among younger Koreans drinking casually with friends, the atmosphere is usually much more relaxed than traditional etiquette guides might suggest. The basic gestures of respect still matter, but people often adapt the rules depending on the group and setting.
Korea’s drinking culture is also changing. Recent reporting shows younger Koreans are drinking less frequently, while non-alcoholic and lower-alcohol choices are becoming more socially accepted; the traditionally obligatory workplace hoesik is also less dominant than it once was.
Korean Drinking Rules First-Time Visitors Should Know
You don’t need to memorize every custom.
Start with these five.
1
Pour Drinks for Other People
One of the best-known customs is that people often pour drinks for each other rather than immediately filling their own glass.
If someone’s glass is empty, someone else at the table may refill it.
They may later return the gesture by filling yours.
You shouldn’t panic if you accidentally pour your own drink – particularly in an informal group – but understanding the custom helps explain why someone may quickly reach for the bottle when your glass becomes empty.
host tip
On casual nights out, people don’t always follow the “never pour your own drink” rule strictly. But if someone offers to fill your glass, returning the favor later is a nice gesture.
2
Use Two Hands When Pouring or Receiving a Drink
When you’re drinking with someone older, more senior, or in a more formal setting, using two hands is the safest polite choice.
You might:
- hold the bottle with one hand while supporting your wrist or forearm with the other,
- or receive your glass using both hands.
You don’t need to obsess over performing the gesture perfectly.
The point is simply to show respect.
Host tip
If you’re unsure what to do, using two hands is usually the easiest respectful option.
3
Turn Away When Drinking With Someone Older
You may see a younger person turn their head or upper body slightly away before taking a drink.
Traditionally, this is a respectful gesture when drinking in front of someone older or more senior.
Among close friends of a similar age, you may not see it at all.
But in a formal dinner, recognizing the gesture helps you understand what’s happening around the table.
Host tip
This is one of those customs that can look unusual until someone explains it. Once you know what it means, you’ll start noticing it much more easily.
4
Pay Attention to the Context
Can all feel very different.
The more formal the setting: and the greater the age or status difference – the more visible traditional etiquette tends to become.
If you’re unsure what to do, simply observe the people around you.
5
You Don't Have to Drink Alcohol
This is particularly important for visitors:
you do not need to drink alcohol to participate socially.
You can still:
- share food,
- join the conversation,
- participate in toasts,
- play drinking games,
- and enjoy the night with water or soft drinks.
host tip
We regularly meet people who don’t drink alcohol, and they can still take part in the whole experience. Soft drinks, food, conversation, and drinking games without alcohol all work perfectly well – the social side matters more than what’s in your glass.
What Do People Drink in Korea?
Soju may be the drink most visitors associate with Korea, but it’s far from the only option.
Some of the drinks you’re likely to encounter include:
소주
Soju
the clear spirit commonly served in small glasses.
맥주
Beer (maekju)
widely consumed on its own and frequently mixed with soju.
소맥
Somaek
a mixture of soju and beer.
막걸리
Makgeolli
a cloudy Korean rice-based alcoholic drink.
VisitKorea specifically describes soju and beer as popular choices and somaek as a mixture of the two; it also notes that different ratios and mixing styles create different versions.
What Is Soju?
Soju (소주) is probably the drink most internationally associated with a Korean night out.
It’s commonly served in small glasses and shared around the table.
But there’s more than one type of soju.
The green-bottle soju visitors commonly encounter is generally a diluted style, while traditional distilled varieties such as Andong soju are different products with different production methods and alcohol strengths.
For a first-time visitor, however, the social rituals around a bottle can be just as memorable as the drink itself:
- pouring for someone else,
- receiving politely,
- making a toast,
- eating together,
- and sometimes playing games between drinks.
What Is Somaek?
Somaek (소맥) is a combination of:
soju + maekju — the Korean word for beer.
In simple terms:
There isn’t one universal ratio.
Some people prefer more beer, others want a stronger mix, and different groups have their own favorite ways of making it.
VisitKorea notes that both the ratio and mixing method can vary, including stirring or using chopsticks to create movement in the glass.
host tip
When we introduce somaek, part of the fun is making it together and comparing how each person likes it. There’s no single “correct” ratio – different groups have their own preferences.
What Is Makgeolli?
Makgeolli (막걸리) is a cloudy Korean alcoholic drink traditionally made from fermented rice or other grains.
Compared with clear soju, its appearance and drinking experience are very different.
You’ll often encounter it in traditional Korean restaurants, specialist makgeolli bars, or alongside dishes such as Korean pancakes.
VisitKorea describes makgeolli as a characteristically cloudy Korean liquor and notes that many regions have their own local varieties.
For a first-time visitor, it’s useful to know that Korean drinking culture goes well beyond green bottles of soju.
What Is Anju?
Anju (안주) refers to food eaten alongside alcohol.
And that’s an important part of understanding drinking in Korea.
A Korean night out often involves eating throughout the evening rather than drinking on an empty table.
Depending on the venue, anju might include:
VisitKorea’s guides to Korean drinks repeatedly pair alcoholic beverages with specific foods, reflecting how closely drinking and shared food are connected.
Host tip
Visitors are often surprised by how much food is part of the night. Korean drinking culture is rarely just about alcohol — sharing dishes around the table is a big part of the experience.
What Is Hoesik?
Hoesik (회식) is a group gathering connected with work, often involving dinner and traditionally sometimes drinks.
Older stereotypes of hoesik often involve:
- coworkers eating together,
- multiple rounds,
- alcohol,
- and strong expectations that junior employees participate.
But that picture is changing.
Recent reporting in Korea shows that mandatory after-work drinking has become less socially accepted and that younger workers increasingly prefer lighter or non-drinking forms of socializing.
So if you hear someone describe Korean workplace drinking culture as if every employee is still expected to drink heavily with their boss, treat that as an outdated oversimplification.
The modern reality varies enormously between workplaces, teams, generations, and individuals.
Korean Drinking Games
Drinking games are another social element of many Korean nights out.
Depending on the group, games might involve:
Popular examples include:
APT, 3-6-9, Soju Bottle Cap, Titanic, Nunchi, and Baskin Robbins 31.
If you want to learn the actual rules, we created a complete guide:
Can You Experience Korean Drinking Culture Without Alcohol?
Absolutely.
You can participate in the social side of a Korean night out without drinking alcohol.
You can still:
- join a table,
- share anju,
- participate in conversation,
- join a toast,
- play drinking games,
- and stay for the social experience.
This is increasingly compatible with broader changes in Korea itself. Recent data cited by The Korea Times showed that 56% of people aged 19–29 in 2024 either did not drink or drank no more than once per month.
Source: The Korea Times
Host tip
We regularly have people join who don’t drink alcohol. The games still work with soft drinks or no drinking penalty at all — the fun comes from the group, not the alcohol.
Useful Korean Drinking Phrases
You don’t need to speak Korean to enjoy a night out, but a few phrases can be useful.
건배 — Geonbae
Meaning: Cheers. Useful when making a toast with a group.
짠 — Jjan
A casual version of “cheers,” commonly used while clinking glasses.
감사합니다
괜찮아요, 감사합니다 — Gwaenchanayo, gamsahamnida
Meaning: I’m okay, thank you. A simple polite response if you want to decline something.
Host tip
You don’t need a complicated explanation when declining another drink. A smile and a polite “괜찮아요, 감사합니다” is usually enough to communicate that you’re fine.
What First-Time Visitors Usually Get Wrong
Understanding Korean drinking culture is often less about memorizing rules and more about avoiding a few assumptions.
Mistake #1: Thinking Every Rule Is Extremely Strict
Etiquette changes with the setting.
Drinking with close friends is usually much more relaxed than a formal work or family dinner.
Don’t spend the entire evening worrying about whether your wrist is in exactly the right position.
Mistake #2: Assuming You Must Drink Every Time You’re Offered Alcohol
You don’t.
You can politely decline, slow down, choose a non-alcoholic drink, or stop drinking altogether.
Mistake #3: Thinking Korean Drinking Culture Is Only About Alcohol
Food, conversation, games, group interaction, and sharing the table are equally important parts of many nights out.
Mistake #4: Assuming Every Korean Drinks the Same Way
They don’t.
Age, personality, workplace culture, friend groups, health, personal preferences, and changing generational attitudes all matter.
Experiencing Korean Drinking Culture in Seoul
Reading about the rules helps.
Experiencing them around a table is different.
During our Korean Drinking Games Night in Hongdae, travelers can learn Korean games, experience common drinking customs, meet people from around the world, and discover a more social side of Seoul nightlife with a local host.
You don’t have to drink alcohol to join.
During the night, people experience more than just the games. They see how drinks are shared around a Korean table, learn common customs, eat together, and watch how quickly a group of strangers can become comfortable with one another.
Not ready to head home when the experience ends?
Those who want to keep the night going can continue into Hongdae and experience more of Seoul nightlife.
Experience Korean Drinking Culture in Hongdae
Korean Drinking Culture FAQ
What is Korean drinking culture?
Korean drinking culture is a social tradition built around shared drinks, food, conversation, and group interaction. Traditional etiquette may include pouring drinks for others, using two hands in formal situations, and showing additional respect to older people.
Should you pour your own drink in Korea?
Traditionally, people often pour drinks for each other.
In casual settings, this is not necessarily treated as a strict rule, so don’t worry if you accidentally refill your own glass.
Why do Koreans use two hands when pouring alcohol?
Using two hands when pouring or receiving a drink can be a gesture of respect, particularly with someone older or more senior.
Why do Koreans turn away when drinking?
Traditionally, younger people may turn slightly away while drinking in front of someone older or senior as a gesture of respect.
The practice is more relevant in formal settings than among every group of friends.
What is soju?
Soju is a Korean alcoholic drink commonly served in small glasses. The widely available green-bottle style is generally different from traditional distilled soju varieties such as Andong soju.
What is somaek?
Somaek is a mixture of soju and beer.
The name combines soju with maekju, the Korean word for beer.
What is anju?
Anju refers to food eaten alongside alcoholic drinks.
Shared food is an important part of many Korean drinking gatherings.
What is hoesik?
Hoesik refers to a work-related group meal or gathering. Alcohol has traditionally been associated with many hoesik, although modern workplace drinking culture is becoming less compulsory and more varied.
Do I have to drink alcohol to join a Korean night out?
No.
You can still participate in food, conversation, toasts, and games without drinking alcohol.
Do I need to know all the Korean drinking rules?
No.
Understanding a few basic customs is useful, but nobody expects a first-time visitor to know every detail.
Observe the group, be respectful, and ask if you’re unsure.
Final thoughts
Korean drinking culture can look complicated from the outside.
But first-time visitors don’t need to memorize a long rulebook.
Remember the basics:
- ✓Pay attention to the people around you.
- ✓Use two hands when you want to show respect.
- ✓Don’t feel pressured to drink more than you want.
- ✓Remember that food and conversation are part of the experience.
- ✓Expect customs to change depending on the group.
- ✓Focus on the social experience rather than performing every rule perfectly.
Experience It in Seoul
Want to experience Korean drinking culture instead of only reading about it?
