In Korea, drinking is rarely just drinking. A night of soju with coworkers, a first dinner with a partner’s parents, or a team celebration all come with small rules about who pours, how you hold your glass and when you drink. Koreans will forgive a visitor for getting them wrong, but knowing even three or four of them gets an immediate, delighted reaction.
Quick answer: Never pour your own drink: pour for others, oldest first. Hold the bottle with two hands when pouring for someone older, and hold your glass with two hands when they pour for you. Turn your head slightly away from elders when you drink. Do not top up a glass that is not empty. If you want to stop, leave your glass full.
Pouring: The Rules That Matter Most
- Do not pour your own glass. Pouring is something you do for others, and someone will do it for you. Filling your own glass looks lonely, and some older Koreans joke that it brings bad luck to the person sitting across from you.
- Pour for the oldest or most senior person first. Age and rank decide almost everything at a Korean table.
- Use two hands for elders. Hold the bottle with your right hand and touch your right wrist or forearm with your left hand. With friends your own age, one hand is fine.
- Do not top up a glass that is not empty. Adding to a half-full glass (첨잔, cheomjan) is how drinks are offered at ancestral rites, so many Koreans avoid it at the table. Wait until the glass is empty, then refill.
Receiving and Drinking
- Hold your glass with two hands when someone older pours for you, or hold it in your right hand with your left hand supporting it.
- Turn your head slightly away from elders or your boss when you drink, and cover your mouth lightly with your hand. It shows respect, and Koreans notice it immediately.
- The first glass is often finished in one go after a toast. It is a custom, not a rule; sipping is acceptable, especially if you say you do not drink much.
- Return the favor. Once someone pours for you, pour for them when their glass is empty.
Toasts You Will Hear
| Korean | Say it | When to use it |
|---|---|---|
| 건배! | Geonbae! | The standard “Cheers!” |
| 짠! | Jjan! | Casual cheers with friends, the sound of glasses clinking |
| 위하여! | Wihayeo! | “For…!” at company dinners; someone shouts a cause, everyone answers |
| 원샷! | Wonsyat! | “One shot!”: finish the glass |
Somaek and Other Drinking Games
Somaek (소맥) is soju mixed into beer, usually about one part soju to two or three parts beer, and it is the default drink at most Korean company dinners. You will also see people tap the bottom of the soju bottle, twist it, or flick the cap’s twist-off tail as a mini game. Our soju and drinking culture guide covers the brands, prices and somaek in more detail.
How to Say No Politely
- Leave your glass full. A full glass signals you are done, because no one will refill it.
- Give a reason. “I have to drive” or “I do not drink well” is accepted without argument in most groups today.
- Never drink and drive. Korea’s legal limit is 0.03% blood alcohol, stricter than many countries. Use a taxi or a designated-driver service (대리운전, daeri unjeon), which Koreans use routinely after drinking.
- Pressure is fading. Younger Koreans drink less, low-alcohol soju is a bestseller, and forcing someone to drink is widely seen as old-fashioned.
Who Pays?
Traditionally, the person who invited you or the most senior person pays, and the younger person offers to pay for the second round. Among friends and younger people, splitting the bill (더치페이, deochi pei, “Dutch pay”) is now normal. Whatever happens, it is polite to at least offer.
Order like a local
소주 한 병 더 주세요.
Soju han byeong deo juseyo.
“One more bottle of soju, please.”
저 술 잘 못 마셔요.
Jeo sul jal mot masyeoyo.
“I am not a good drinker.” The polite way to slow down without offending anyone.
운전해야 해요.
Unjeonhaeya haeyo.
“I have to drive.”
FAQ
Is it rude to pour your own drink in Korea?
It is not offensive, but it looks odd. Koreans pour for each other, so wait for someone to fill your glass, or fill theirs and they will fill yours.
Why do Koreans turn their head when drinking?
It is a sign of respect toward older or more senior people at the table. With friends of the same age, there is no need.
Do I have to finish my glass?
No. The first glass after a toast is often finished in one go, but you can sip, and leaving your glass full is a polite way to say you are done.
What is the drinking age in Korea?
Korea uses 19 as the legal drinking age, counted by birth year. See our drinking culture guide for details on drinking in public.
