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Let's drink Soju - "k-k-k-eh-h-h-h-h"

© Athan Rodostianos

Koreans carry a well-founded belief that liquor consumption makes for more honest discussion and a better appraisal of one's drinking companions. In business dealings, drinking establishes an informality that is alien to those with little understanding of Korean culture.

For Koreans it is crucial to establish a strong personal relationship before a professional one can be struck and this most often occurs after a number of serious Soju hangovers.

To drink with Koreans means to accept certain drinking protocol, a set of rituals emanating from the Confucianist concept of social order. Put simply, drinking, as with most other forms of interaction with Koreans, must show respect for elders and for people with higher status.

If a Korean person invites someone to share a Soju with them it is a sign that they want to get to know the person better and a refusal can be interpreted as a sign of disrespect.

Usually, the youngest person will pour the drink but they should never pour their own or top up a glass that still has liquor in it. This last point is significant because it offers a polite way to slow down your own drinking without causing offence.

The Soju should be shot as the head flicks back and at the end you have to let out that trademark throaty "k-k-k-eh-h-h-h-h".

As soon as a glass's contents are emptied, it should be filled immediately, preferably in one graceful fluid motion. Both the pouring and receiving should be done with two hands, unless you are in the company of close friends.

In receiving a drink the glass should be rested in the left palm and held by the right hand (bowing the head slightly doesn't hurt) and to pour a drink the bottle should be held in the right hand and the left hand should be touching the forearm or elbow.

In Korean culture using two hands to offer and accept things is regarded as an act of respect for the other person. This peculiar pouring ritual, however, emanated from the practice of holding back the sleeve of the hanbok so that it wouldn't touch the table or the food.

When drinking with people who are much older (10 years+) or with someone of a higher status there is some more etiquette to negotiate.

Their drink should be poured with the label covered and they must initiate the toast, in which their glass must be the highest. Additionally, the head should be turned away from the senior and the glass covered with the free hand so that they can't see the liquor being shot.

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