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)!