Drinking Etiquette

There is a not-so hidden system of protocols when it comes to drinking in Korea, and if you mess up too often you move from ‘amusing-white-person-that-can-do-tricks’ to ‘annoying-foreigner’ and that isn’t good. 1) Never pour your own drinks. 2) Try not to have an empty glass on the table. [Be warned most Koreans will swoop on an empty glass, so if you want to stop just leave it half full] 3) When pouring a drink, hold the bottle in your right and support your elbow with the left. 4) If you are given a shot-glass you are expected to hold it with both hands while your host fills it, drink the shot, and then hand it back. You can NOT sip your first few shots, but you can slow down later. [Meals will involve a LOT of shots so it is a good idea to slow down long before you have the urge to do a face-plant on the hotplate.]

Additionally drinking is Koreas’ national pastime, they can pass-out at an Olympic level, and drunken behaviour often exceeds what we would consider drunk and disorderly.

That should read drunken behaviour for men.

Actually it should read drunken behaviour for Korean men.

The Etiquette

Pour for those older or more senior then you, and receive from those who are younger or further down the pecking order (usually a woman). Accept the drink in the polite manner with both hands on the cup and arms outstretched. If you’re at the bottom of the ladder some ‘generous’ soul will be sure to pour for you, possibly while smirking at their superiority. This is not a reason to start a fight, however if you’re upset by the hierarchy, you might want to try another country.

When you take you first drink, turn your head to the side. Do not look directly at anyone who is older than you, in fact try to avoid all eye contact while drinking. This means that the standard cheers is right out… 

There is also a certain signature noise made by sojo drinkers following a shot, the video below gives a good example of it, even if Boa is a actually drinking beer.

The Warning

As a final rule, and one that makes my blood run cold, don’t interfere when you see some drunken ageoshi beating on his girlfriend. This is apparently acceptable behaviour here and if you interfere (speaking from a guys perspective) it will start a fight that will result in you getting sued (best outcome), deported (moderate outcome) or jail-time with being sued (worst outcome). While Korean men may engage in unacceptable behaviour while drunk they all had ‘hard lives’ and it’s okay. If you’re not a local then you’re just one of those ill-mannered, arrogant, woman stealing, criminals and you deserve whatever comes your way. 

PS. I’m not certain how things would go if a white girl decked a drunken male for bashing his girlfriend, but since hitting women, and children is acceptable for drunks, I’m willing to bet he’d swing back.