Drinking culture of Korea

South Korea's drinking culture reveals much about its social structure, lifestyle, and traditions.^[1] The beverages themselves are also reflective of the country's geography,climate,and culture.

South Korea's interest in creating its own alcohol came about during the Koryo Dynasty (936–943), when exposure to foreign cultures and the introduction of distilled water created the basis ad technique for distilling a unique alcohol.^[2]

History of South Korean drinking culture

South Korea has a long tradition of consuming alcohol to celebrate holidays and seasonal events, in which they honor ancestors and exchange goodwill with neighbors and friends. Some of the holidays included New Year, Rice planting and South Korea's Day of Thanks.

Hongdo Kim, "Lunch"

Farming

Drinking alcohol is often correlated with a season's passing and its related farming activities. Once the harvest has ended farmers would spend their downtime brewing and fermenting alcohol as they looked forward to the spring.^[3]

South Korean ancestors often drank a glass of rice-wine (Takju) accompanied by a light breakfast snack (Saecham) before they left for the fields in the morning. Traditional South Korean music (Nongak) would play while they worked.^[4]

Korean New Year

Upon the new year Korean ancestors consumed Soju to drive out disease and bad spirits, the word 'Soju' meaning a welcoming spring. One type of Soju is called Dosoju, made with medicinal herbs and refined rice wine.^[5]

Alcohol consumption was also used to medicate both adults and children during illnesses. Because alcohol was held in such high regard, Korean ancestors took great pains to pass down drinking customs from generation to generation.^[6]

Daeboreum

The 15th day of the New Year according to the lunar calendar is a traditional South Korean holiday. Many attend moon-viewing events all over the country for the new year's first full moon. On that night, Koreans drink Daeboreium or "ear-quickening wine" in hopes of hearing good news quickly for the next year. While children do not drink the alcohol they are encouraged to place their lips to the glass, then pour the wine in a chimney to deter sickness and vaporization. Each region gave their own name to the beverage.^[7]

yoon bok shin 'Danopungjeong'

Dano

The fifth day of the fifth month of the lunar calendar is called ‘Dano’. This is an important holiday and celebrates the transplanting of rice seedlings and the time of year when yin energy is weakest and yang energy is strongest.

The custom during ‘Dano’ was/is to hold a memorial service ^[8] for their ancestors and toast the day with a drink mixed with sweet flag called Changpoju. The properties in the drink were said to dispel evil spirits, providing escape from misfortune and promote health and longevity.^[9]

During this era most Koreans practiced Confucianism which prohibited women and certain other members of society from drinking alcohol or pouring it for someone else. However, in modern times anyone can partake in the customs.

Alcohol drinking etiquette

By the middle of 1300’s, manners and culture of drinking came into South Korea. There are many manners about drinking alcohol in South Korea. Among them is a typical manner of drinking culture called ‘Hyanguemjurye(향음주례)’. It was an event that saw many classical and Confucian scholars gather and drink, learning drinking manners. It also meant that people had to respect benevolent persons and support old men. It was held every October.^[10]

Within ‘Hyanguemjurye’, the most important thing about South Korea drinking culture is manners. Koreans believed drinking etiquette is important. When people become of age to drink alcohol, they are taught how to drink with other people by elders, because Korean ancestors thought that pouring and receiving drinks was important over the bowl.

Pouring drinks

In South Korea, it is traditional is that when a person gives an alcoholic drink to another adult, the person has to offer the drink respectfully with two hands. When pouring a drink, the cup should be held with the right hand, and the wrist of your right hand held lightly with the left hand. It is customary to fill empty cups immediately.

Receiving drinks

There is also a tradition for receiving drinks. When receiving drinks, the same etiquette applies when pouring drinks. When elders give alcohol to a younger person, the younger person should receive the drink politely and with gratitude by saying "thank you". The next step is to hit the bottle, and then put it down. This pleases the elders. Also, when drinking beer, it is proper for the younger drinker to turn their head.

Modern Korean drinking culture

Bomb drink by beer and hard liquor

makgeolli and bindaetteok

As society developed, the drinking culture started to change. In the past, people drank on specific days like New Year's, but presently alcohol can be drunk regardless of events. The goal of drinking parties is to promote good fellowship and open one's heart to talking. Some other aspects are beginning to adapt to modern ways as well; Koreans are changing to enjoy drinking all kinds of alcohol. They also like to make special cocktails like "Bomb drink" or "poktanju". A "bomb drink" is a mixed drink similar to the American boilermaker—a whiskey shot sunk into a glass of beer. In Korea, many people like "poktanju". Examples are soju and (mekju) beer = Somek, foreign liquors and beers, and soju, beer and coke (kojingamlae). Poktanju makes people inebriated fairly quickly; nevertheless, people enjoy drinking it and drink it bottoms up.^[11] There are lots of Poktanju, with many new ones becoming famous, including 'red eye' and 'meakkiss', and commonly mix alcohol with other liquids such as milk, tomato juice, coke and coffee.^[12]

In a Korea program, 쿨.까.당., Sam Hammington said: "Colorful drinking culture in Korea, I'd like true love. However, poktanju, surfing glasses, glass recycling, etc. until drunk Eating does not seem real". This is how Korean drinking culture is different from other countries.^[13]

When Koreans drink alcohol, each drink is matched to each different food. For example, chicken is matched to beer, soju to samgyeobsal, and makgeoli to jeon. It is common to match certain alcohols with certain foods.

References

1. sanghee, lee (2009). Drinking: drinking culture of Korea #1(술: 한국의 술문화1). Seon. pp. 56–59.
2. woochang, shin (2008-04-24). "[alcohol story] You need to restore the 'disappeared' Korea Pearl alcohol ([술이야기]외래 술에 사라진 '한국 명주' 복원해야)". Sport kyunghyang.
3. Jongki, Lee (2009). Drinking story. Dahalmedia. ISBN 9788989988694.
4. youngjune, choi (2004). understanding of alcohol(주류학의 이해). gimoonsa. p. 19.
5. seosuck, yoon (2008). Cutom and festival of South Korea(한국의 풍속, 잔치). Ewha Womans University Press. pp. 105–106. ISBN 8973007769.
6. sungnam, chu (2012-01-23). "drinking alcohol in Korean New Year(설날에 마시는 술...도소주)". MBN.
7. seosuck, yoon (2008). Cutom and festival of South Korea(한국의 풍속, 잔치). Ewha Womans University Press. pp. 80–105. ISBN 8973007769.
8. sagnhee, lee (2009). Drinking: drinking culture of Korea 1(술: 한국의 술문화1). sun. ISBN 8963120066.
9. people who hold the nature (2013). South Korea's natural alcohol (한국의 자연약술). item books. pp. 186–187. ISBN 8987095975.
10. hakmin, kim (2012). There is alcohol in the beginning. Yellow Sea Writings. ISBN 9788974835071.
11. health chosun (2013-06-10). "reason of drink poktanju". chosunas.
12. yonggi, jeon (2013-05-22). "moving from soju poktanju to tomato poktanju". financial news.
13. Jinhyun, Lee (2013-02-28). "Sam haemingteon," difficult cultural adaptation drink soju bottle of One Shot."(샘 해밍턴,"소주 한 병 원샷, . 술문화 적응 힘들었다")". OBS News.