OF ALCOHOL IN SOUTH KOREA
PER YR
SHARE OF SOJU IN THE
SPIRITS MARKET
IN SOUTH KOREA
PRICE OF A BOTTLE OF SOJU
RICE ALCOHOL
Source: Quartz|Ritchie King
‘Sul’ def: general purpose Korean word for alcohol.
Signifies a culture, sharing between friends
Essential Social Activity in South Korea
Belief:
Alcohol brings people closer together
Long tradition of consuming alcohol to celebrate holidays in which they honour ancestors.
Some of the holidays included Lunar New Year and South Korea’s Day of Thanks
FARMING
MEDICINAL VALUE
Once the harvest has ended farmers would spend their downtime brewing and fermenting alcohol as they looked forward to the spring.
Korean ancestors consumed Seju to drive out disease and bad spirits. Korean ancestors took great pains to pass down drinking customs
DAEBOREIUM
On New Year's first full moon night, Koreans drink Daeboreium or "ear-quickening wine" in hopes of hearing good news quickly for the next year. Children do not drink alcohol but are encouraged to place their lips to the glass, and then pour the wine in a chimney.
TEMPERAMENT OF KOREAN PEOPLE
The drinking culture in Korea has much to do with the free and lively temperament of its people. Koreans have intense feelings and high spirits, and love to enjoy themselves.
The Korean tradition of generous hospitality and the timehonored custom of sharing a drink to deepen relationships can lead to drinking in various social settings.
STRONG HIERARCHICAL SYSTEM
• Being invited out to drinks by a superior is one of the biggest compliments a Korean worker can receive.
• If your boss is constantly re-filling your soju cup, it’s
COLLECTIVISM
a sign that he really likes you.
Belonging to a group is vital to one's identity. To succeed in a group, one must please the others.
Alcohol plays an essential role in lubricating this system. RESPECT
• Drinking is how you show your elders respect and how they show you respect
• Older people are more superior