What you are ordering
소주 (soju) is a clear grain spirit, drunk cold in small glasses, almost always with food. Its strength has been falling for two decades: Hite Jinro cut Chamisul Fresh (참이슬 후레쉬) from 16% to 15.7% in June 2026, the latest step in a long slide from close to 20% in the mid-2000s. A 360 ml bottle holds about seven small glasses, but the amount of alcohol depends on the product’s strength and how much you pour.
맥주 (beer) in a Korean restaurant means a large bottle or a draught, and it is frequently ordered with the soju rather than instead of it. 소맥 (somaek) is the mix — a splash of soju into a glass of beer, poured at the table, and the pouring is half the point.
Makgeolli (막걸리) is a cloudy, lightly fizzy Korean fermented rice drink, often around 6% alcohol. It is commonly served in bowls and paired with savoury pancakes. Check the bottle for its strength and serving instructions.
전통주 (traditional liquor) is a legal category as well as a cultural one, and its distance-sales rules differ from those for ordinary retail alcohol.
What it costs
| Where | A 360 ml bottle of soju |
|---|---|
| Convenience store | around ₩2,000 |
| Restaurant | ₩6,000 or more |
Restaurant prices include service and can be substantially higher than shop prices. Check the menu before ordering. At a convenience store, ask whether you may drink at its tables; seating does not automatically mean alcohol is permitted.
Drinking outdoors, and where you cannot
Korea has no nationwide ban on drinking in every public place, but local restrictions and facility rules apply. Look for 금주구역, which means “no-drinking zone”, and check the park or facility’s rules before drinking there. Do not assume drinking is permitted simply because you cannot see a sign.
The rules that are law
Age. Article 2 of the Youth Protection Act defines a minor as anyone under 19 — except anyone who has reached 1 January of the year in which they turn 19. Korea runs this on the calendar year, not your birthday: in 2026 anyone born in 2007 or earlier may buy alcohol.
Identification. The same Act requires a seller to check the buyer's age and identity, and selling to a minor carries up to two years' imprisonment or a fine of up to ₩20,000,000. A convenience store may therefore ask an adult visitor for ID — staff need accepted evidence of age rather than an estimate based on appearance. Carry your passport; a foreign driving licence is often not accepted.
Driving and cycling. Do not drive or cycle after drinking. Korea’s drink-driving rules also cover bicycles, but the penalties differ from those for motor vehicles. You cannot reliably judge your blood-alcohol level from a fixed number of drinks. Arrange public transport or a taxi before you go out.
Buying online. Delivery and in-person collection have different rules. Under the tax office's notice on distance selling of alcohol, only approved makers of traditional liquor (전통주) may sell alcohol at a distance, and buyers may need Korean digital identity verification that short-term visitors cannot complete. Three carve-outs matter instead:
- A restaurant may deliver alcohol with food, provided the alcohol is 50% or less of the order value.
- A shop may take a phone or app order and hand it to you in person in the shop.
- A downtown duty-free shop may sell you a voucher to exchange for the bottles at the airport departure hall.
The etiquette, briefly
Two habits are worth having before you sit down; the full set of pouring rules is its own subject — “Pouring and receiving drinks: the rules”.
Offering to pour for others is a common courtesy. Ask before refilling a glass, and respect anyone who declines.
Two hands. Pour with two hands, or with your right hand and your left touching your forearm, and receive the same way — especially with anyone older or more senior.
Two more that matter practically:
- 차수 (rounds). A Korean night out moves venues: 1차 is dinner with drinks, 2차 might be beer and fried chicken, 3차 means a third round at another venue. Leaving after 1차 is completely acceptable and does not need an excuse beyond saying so.
- 안주, the food you drink with. Drinking without food is unusual, and many drinking places require a food order alongside the alcohol. Budget for it rather than being surprised by it.
You can decline politely by saying 못 마셔요 (“I can’t drink”) or 괜찮아요, 감사합니다 (“No, thank you”). You do not need to accept or taste alcohol; choose a non-alcoholic drink if you prefer.
