Soju has soared in global popularity over the last couple of years due to its light and refreshing taste. While it’s an enjoyable and delightful drink, there are some etiquettes you’ll need to observe when consuming this traditional alcoholic beverage with other Koreans.
In this article, we’ll share what soju is and how to drink soju like a Korean. We’ll also introduce some mixers and fun drinking games you can play while enjoying this beverage with your mates!
What is soju?
Soju is a type of distilled spirit made from rice, barley or wheat. It’s best served chilled and goes well with various kinds of Korean food, especially Korean barbeque (BBQ)!
- Appearance: Clear
- Taste: Clean and refreshing; has a neutral taste with a hint of bitterness and a slightly sweet aftertaste
- Alcohol percentage: 13 – 30%
Soju traditions and etiquette
Rather than just taking a shot, drinking soju requires a lot more thought and consideration.
Its rules are deeply steeped in tradition and focus on respect for one’s elders and seniors. Thus, many of these drinking etiquettes are dependent on your age and seniority.
1. Oldest or most senior person will pour the first drink
The first shot is typically poured by the oldest or highest-ranking individual for the youngest or most junior individual. This signifies the start of the drinking session.
2. Receive the drink with both hands
When receiving a drink, you should always hold your shot glass with 2 hands. If the glass is too small to use both hands, you should hold it with your left and support it with your right.
You should also bow slightly when receiving the drink to show respect for the other person. If you’re drinking with close friends, you may choose not to observe this tradition of bowing.
Note: These rules are especially crucial if the person pouring you a drink is significantly older or more senior!
3. Turn to your side when drinking
After receiving the drink, your first instinct may be to just take the shot immediately. However, in Korean culture, you’re advised to turn to your side to down the drink (with both hands too!).
Drinking with 2 hands and turning to the side are signs of respect, especially if you’re facing your elder or superior!
4. Down your first drink in one shot
For your first drink, you should consume it in one shot. After which, you’re welcomed to enjoy the drinks at your own pace.
5. Avoid pouring your own drink
The basic rule of thumb when it comes to drinking soju is to never fill your own shot glass! If you’ve received a drink from someone else, it’s only polite to pour one back.
Additionally, if you notice empty glasses on the table, you should offer to fill them up. Remember to begin with the oldest or highest-ranking individual and move down the hierarchy accordingly!
Don’t worry if your glass is empty after filling up everyone else’s; someone will fill yours for you!
6. Pour with both hands
It’s important to note that using both hands doesn’t apply to just drinking — it applies to pouring as well!
As soju bottles are usually small and slender, you can grab the bottle with one hand and support your elbow or wrist with the other. If you’re drinking with a group of close friends, you may choose to ignore this rule.
Soju cocktails and mixes
Soju is great as a standalone drink, but you can enhance its flavour with these simple cocktails and mixes. We recommend using Jinro soju, a popular brand in Korea and around the world!
1. Soju bomb (Somaek)
Ingredients:
- 2 shots of soju
- ½ glass of beer
2. Soju, beer and coke (Cojinganmek)
Ingredients:
- 2 shots of soju
- 90% beer
- A dash of coke
3. Yoghurt soju
Ingredients:
- 2 shots of soju
- ½ glass of Yakult
- A dash of Sprite (optional)
4. Soju and Red Bull (Energiser)
Ingredients:
- 40% soju
- 40% Red Bull
- Water or ice (optional)
5. Screw Bar soju
Ingredients:
- 60% soju
- 40% Sprite
- 1 Screw Bar ice pop
6. Melona soju (Ujjujju Melony)
Ingredients:
- 60% soju
- 40% Sprite
- 1 Melona bar
7. Soju and coffee
Ingredients:
- 2 shots of soju
- ½ glass of coffee
8. Soju and grape gummies
To make this drink, empty out a packet of grape gummies into a glass filled with soju. Leave it in the fridge for 30 minutes. Once the time’s up, grab it from the fridge and enjoy this refreshing drink!
Ingredients:
- 1 bottle of soju
- 1 packet of grape gummies
9. Watermelon soju
Ingredients:
- 1 bottle of soju
- 1 watermelon
- 1 cup of ice
Soju drinking games
1. Flick the cap
Time taken: A few minutes
Items needed: Soju bottle cap, soju
This is one of the most popular soju drinking games and has a simple objective: remove the end piece of the soju bottle cap by flicking it!
How to play:
- Remove the bottle cap and twist the end piece to make it stiff.
- Take turns to flick the end piece.
- The person who’s able to flick it off wins!
2. Titanic
Time taken: A few minutes
Items needed: Soju, beer, a shot glass and a regular-sized glass
One game often played at Korean BBQ restaurants is Titanic! The objective is simple: don’t let the shot glass sink.
Unlike ‘flick the cap’, which is about luck and strength, strategising is key in this game!
How to play:
- Fill ½ a glass with beer.
- Place a shot glass carefully into the glass with beer. Make sure that it’s floating!
- Take turns to pour any amount of soju into the shot glass.
- The person who sinks the shot glass loses!
3. Baskin Robbins 31
Time taken: Less than a minute
Items needed: Soju
Don’t be misled by the name of the game — no ice cream is involved!
Instead, Baskin Robbins 31 is a number counting game that requires some strategy as well. The aim of the game is to avoid ending up on 31.
How to play:
- Anyone can start saying “Baskin Robbins 31”. This signals the start of the game!
- The one who starts the game will count from 1 up to 3.
- Take turns to count at least 1 number sequentially. The maximum is 3 numbers.
- The person who ends up counting 31 loses!
Penalty: The loser who ends up saying “31” has to take a shot.
4. Higher-lower game
Time taken: A few minutes
Items needed: Soju bottle cap, soju
Many aren’t aware of the hidden number on the underside of the soju bottle caps but it’s the key to the ‘higher-lower’ game!
The objective is to guess the number on the bottle cap.
How to play:
- Choose 1 person to be the gamemaster. The gamemaster will peek at the number on the bottle cap.
- A player will call a number between 1 to 100.
- Based on the number called, the gamemaster will reveal the range which the bottle cap number falls within.
- Repeat steps 2 and 3 until a person calls the number on the bottle cap. The player will be the loser!
Penalty: The loser is to take a shot.
5. Noonchi (눈치) game
Time taken: Less than a minute
Items needed: Soju
This is yet another number counting game but involves some intuition. The aim is to avoid calling the same number as someone else in the group.
How to play:
- Anyone can start by saying “Noonchi game, 1”. This signals the start of the game!
- Anyone at the table can call the next sequential number. If the number is called in unison by 2 or more people, they’ll receive the penalty.
- If the game proceeds smoothly without any collisions, the person who calls the last number loses!
How to enjoy soju
Soju is so much more than an alcoholic beverage. While it’s deeply rooted in traditional Korean culture and values, it also has a fun and vibrant side to it.
Practising the right etiquette and learning some fun games and mixes will help you to enjoy soju to the fullest!