Korean BBQ

There’s truly nothing like Korean BBQ. When my Korean friends and I muse about what we miss most about Korea, BBQ tops the list for most (소주 (soju) also tops the list, but we’ll get into that later.

So what is Korean BBQ? Well, it encompasses a whole range of meats that you grill yourself. Vegetarians beware. Dishes range from pork belly (삼겹살 (samgyeopsal)), to tender slices of beef (샤부샤부 (shabu shabu)).

샤부샤부 (shabu shabu)

There are so many choices when it comes to BBQ, and usually restaurants will have a particular specialty when it comes to it. So one restaurant will focus on 삼겹살 (samgyeopsal), and another one would focus 샤부샤부 (shabu shabu).

A 삼겹살 (samgyeopsal) resturant

The most popular Korean BBQ dish is 삼겹살 (samgyeopsal) or pork belly. Imagine bacon, but thicker, fattier, and 100x more delicious.

삼겹살 (samgyeopsal)

Now, 삼겹살 (samgyeopsal) is generally drunk with Korea’s seemingly favorite alcoholic beverage, 소수주 (soju).

수주 (soju) has a similar taste to Nyquil

As mentioned in previous posts. 소주 (soju), is the equivelent of Korean vodka, but a lot less tasty than actually vodka. Somehow though, with 삼겹살 (samgyeopsal), 소주 (soju) turns from the shot usually dreaded, to a drink that pairs quite well with the meal.

삼겹살 (samgyeopsal) is also traditional drunk with beer. Now, most westerners are a not a fan of Korean beer, and all things considered, they are right in their taste. Korean beer tends to be water and favorless, but it works magic on 삼겹살 (samgyeopsal).

The wide selection of Korean beers

Korean BBQ is best enjoyed with a group. It’s a great way to cut loose at the end of a stressful school and laugh over crappy beer and eat delicious food. Don’t miss out on this delicious culinary experience.

Yummy. 

Drinking Customs

In connection with my last post, drinking in Korea is an integral part of its culture. Drinking though, comes with its own set of customs, and knowing these customs is crucial.

           

First comes accepting a drink. You NEVER pour your own drink. It’s rude and it comes with the saying, “If you pour your own drink, you will be alone for 20 years.” Your senior will generally pour your drink if you are drinking with work colleagues, or by your business partner in a business meeting. When accepting the drink, you want to hold your glass with your right hand, and then, you put your left hand under the glass, put your left hand under your elbow, or accept with both hands. You put your left hand under the glass if the person is very important, i.e. your boss, and you put it under your elbow if it is someone closer, i.e. a friend, and with both hands for accepting a shot of soju. NEVER ACCEPT A DRINK WITH ONE HAND, even when you are with friends.

Accepting a shot of soju with both hands

This goes the same for pouring the drink. Once your drink has been poured, you are expected to the pour a drink for the person who poured yours. Always do this with both hands with the right hand pouring and the left hand under the bottle.

Notice how both of his hands are on the bottle. 

When it comes to actual drinking, there are even more rules, but these rules usually apply to when it is a more formal setting of drinking such as drinking with colleagues or business partners. When drinking from your glass, turn your head to the side, facing away from the senior member of the group (this person is usually your boss, a senior member who is hard to approach, or someone who is older than you by ten years, not a friend or close colleague), cover the drink with your hand, and then drink. This is because it is rude for the senior of the group seeing you drink alcohol.

Now these rules seem so strict, but try to follow them. If you don’t get it precisely, do not worry. Koreans will be delighted with the fact that you are trying and forgive the mistakes.

The Importance of Drinking

Drinking is to Korea as Texas is to steak. It is so essential in fact, that knowing how to hold one’s liquor is essential in advancing in the business world. For someone like me, who never drank before coming to Korea, it was a bit of a challenge to go out every weekend and be expected to get drunker than an alcoholic at a music festival. But I soon came to realize the importance of drinking in Korea and the incredibly important customs that come along with it.

Drinking, in Korean culture, is a way to form friendships and business alliances. Korea is a Confucian society, and this leads to it having a very rigid social structure as well as customs. This leads to a high level of conformity and almost complete lack of individuality. Drinking, for Koreans, became a way to escape the social norms. In Korea, when you drink, you are becoming yourself. In the West, there is forgiveness for things said while drunk, because we believe that you are a different person while drunk. This just the opposite in Korea. There, you are held highly accountable for your drinking actions, as those are the actions of your true self.

If you’re someone who does not drink, I have bad news for you, you’re going to have to learn. You’ll soon find though, that drinking with Koreans is an experience in and of itself. Quite honestly, it’s a blast. As I mentioned earlier, I never drank before coming to Korea, and since coming back, I no longer drink in America—in most part because drinking in America is no fun compared to Korea. If you’re still uncomfortable with drinking, then here’s a trick of the trade: if you’re drinking 소주 (soju, or Korean vodka), then simply and DISCREETLY poor your soju into a glass of water (or throw it behind you if there's no water). Just don’t get caught or you will insult everyone, especially the one who is pouring your drinks and paying the bill.

In my next post, I will go more into the customs of drinking. Until then 원쎳 (one shot)!