Itaewon Class teaches us how to drink and pour soju properly~ Exploring Korean Culture

I was really fond of Itaewon Class since I started watching it due to its intense story line. But as I watch it more, I realized that there were lessons that we could get from it. If you could notice, there was a part there when Korean culture was shown through Park Saeroy's father. There was a scene when Park Saeroy's father taught him how to drink Soju. And I was in awe with that~ I haven't really seen a drama where a father taught his son to drink. Just this one~ So I will grab this opportunity to show you how Saeroy's father taught him how to drink.

Politeness, respect, hierarchy... These are very important to Koreans so this kind of lesson is very important especially if you are to drink with Korean bosses, Korean colleagues, Korean friends and their families.

STEP ONE:

Receiving or giving something should be done using two hands. This also applies when receiving drinks. This is very important because it signifies politeness and respect. This is usually done when the other person is older than you. You can do it in two ways depending on hierarchy.~

1.) MOST RESPECTABLE FORM AND MOST FORMAL IS TO RECEIVE USING 2 HANDS

(IF YOU RECEIVE A DRINK FROM SOMEONE OLDER LIKE PARENTS, GRANDPARENTS, BOSSES, PERSONS WITH HIGH POSITION, etc.)

2.) LESS FORMAL BUT STILL WITH RESPECT IS BY USING THE OTHER HAND FOR SUPPORT

(IF YOU RECEIVE A DRINK FROM SOMEONE OLDER BUT CAN BE LESS FORMAL SUCH AS YOUR SUPERVISOR, COLLEAGUES, etc.)

       

Support of the other hand could be from wrist up to elbow.

STEP TWO:

This step is very important. You should turn your head away from your elder and drink to the side to show respect. Still, drink with two hands just like how Saeroy did in the drama.

Pouring a drink for your elder is as equal as the importance of receiving drinks. So follow the steps below properly.

STEP ONE:

STEP TWO:

Just like in receiving drinks, pouring drinks should also be done with two hands. One hand for pouring, the other one for supporting the other hand. You could also do the support arm from wrist to elbow. Other options could be like below.

STEP THREE:

NOTE: Do not let a glass left empty. Always fill an empty glass of alcohol. Do not pour the glass if the glass is still filled.

ADDITIONAL TIPS WHEN DRINKING WITH KOREANS

Below are my personal tips based on my experience through years of 회식 (hweshik-- which means company dinner) with my Korean colleagues.

1. Refusing a drink is a big no no! It is not polite to refuse a drink. But you could decline politely by saying:

        a. You are going to drive later.

        b. You are ongoing medications so you could not drink.

        c. Your religion does not permit drinking.

        d. You are currently sick.

2. The youngest must pour the drinks to the elders.

3. One cannot pour drink to himself. As a sign of respect, you must pour drink to the other person while the other person would pour a drink for you.

4. Say 'Cheers' or '건배' (Keonbe)

5. Expect that you will drink a lot when you go drinking with Koreans because you will not only go to one place but at least 2~3 places to drink.

        They call the 1st place as 1차 (il cha) which means 1st round where they eat dinner first while drinking. The place could be 고깃집 (Gogi jip) which means meat restaurant, or 치킨집 (Chikin jip) which means chicken restaurant or 횟집 (hwetjip) which means sushi restaurant.

           The next venue will be the 2차 (i cha) which means 2nd round where you would drink more. It could be a beer pub or norebang (Korean Karaoke room) or other place to drink. Then the next one is called 3차 (sam cha) which means 3rd round.

노래방 (norebang) - Korean Karaoke room: You could sing and dance there with a tamborine. And more drinking!

6. Expect a lot of talking. It could be work related or just anything under the sun.

7. Drinking starts as soon as you get off from work or school so you could be drunk early.

8. Expect One Shot or Love Shot

            One shot is Korea's bottoms up. When one says 'One Shot', it is expected that you would drink the content of the entire glass in one gulp. There are cases that they will also request you or your colleague, regardless of gender, to do the 'Love Shot', which means linking arms then drinking your alcohol via One Shot.

This is what you call 'Love Shot'

<<READ MORE>>: ITAEWON CLASS~ the most intense Kdrama of Park Seojun! The Kdrama you want to watch after seeing EPISODE 1

<<READ MORE>>: April Fool's Vocabulary (뻥) from Itaewon Class~ Exploring Korean Language

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I hope this post has been helpful for you to Explore more about Korean Culture especially Korean drinking~

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BONUS!!!

This was me with my Korean colleagues 4 years ago when we had our 회식 (hweshik) or company dinner in Suwon, South Korea. We were in a sushi restaurant for our 1차!

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