Drinking etiquette for modern Korean people

Drinking etiquette for modern Korean people

The bottom line is to invigorate good human relationships with appropriate manners. Consider these manners when drinking:

Prepare the right amount of drinks and foods.

Prepare guests' own dishes and bowls so they can take their own food.

You can pass your cup around, but you should wash it with clean water. In the past, people passed their cups around with alcohol in it. These days, however, an empty cup is passed.

When you pass along the cup, do not pressure people to drink more than 2 drinks to not give pressure to those who cannot drink much.

Those who cannot drink should pass along the cup to the next person after they bow.

When a cup is empty, you should ask the person if he/she wants more and then fill it up for the person.

When drinking, drink openly. Ask younger people or students to serve drinks in order for them to learn the right drinking manner.

When treated with drinks, you should return the favor later.

When the eldest person finishes drinking, every one else should finish as well.

You should deliver thank you comments the next day after drinking.

When an acquaintance comes, you can suggest at least one shot of drink.

The most important seat in drinking is the inner side from the door and center position. The designation of seats is usually dependent upon the host or the eldest person.

Prepare clean water with drinks for cleaning cups.

When you talk, put down you cup or anything in your hands.

There are no customs such as cheomjan (pouring alcohol in a cup before the cup gets empty). You should wait until a person's cup is empty before refilling it.

It is considered impolite to make people pour their own drinks.