Korean Job Discussion Forums

[xox]

Hi
i was wondering if anyone is able to show pictures as to how your suppose to how your cup?
basically a video of the complete learning of drinking etiquette in korea would be much appreciated.
thank you!

[Ya-ta Boy]

No pictures, but...

1. Use two hands to hold your cup/glass when someone pours you a drink. Best is just to hold it lightly with both hands. No special position.

2. When pouring, use your right hand. Your left hand can be anywhere, as follows: One easy way to just hold the bottom of the bottle with the left hand while your right hand is doing all the work. You can also put your left hand anywhere along your right arm. It can touch the bottle, or be around your wrist, up near your elbow, or even tucked into your arm pit.

For a newbie, the best bet is to watch other people and mimic them. Some Koreans are absolutely COOL in the way they use their left hand.

3. Clinking glasses: Just do it normally. However, if you are serious about it, watch where other people clink your glass. If the bottom of their glass touches yours near the rim, you are not getting the respect due a teacher. The rim of their glass should be lower than the rim of your glass.

4. Do your best to keep an eye on other people's glasses. When someone's glass is empty, offer them more. It shows you care.

5. If your glass remains empty and you want more, say something like: What is the real reason Pres. Park Chung-Hee was assassinated? You will get blank stares for a minute, possibly someone will say he doesn't know. Then you say, "Because he didn't fill the guy's glass." At that point your drinking partners will roll around on the floor laughing or bash into each other lunging for the bottle to pour you more. Then they will tell you that you are Korean.

6. Expect some of the group to insist that you go to what sounds like 'ee-cha'. They mean '2nd place' and will drink more. There can also be a 3rd place, usually a singing room. Normally, they only drink soju at the first place (with food) and then beer after that.

7. If you have any survival instinct at all, turn down offers of Bombs/Hydrogen Bombs (there are other names, too)--glasses of beer with a shot glass of soju or whiskey dropped into it. If you live, you will regret living. There is no disgrace involved in refusing (politely) a drink like that.

8. Any time you want to stop drinking, just leave your glass full on the table. No need to make a big announcement.

9. It's customary for one person to pay at one place and another one to pay at ee-cha. Many will agree to divide up the bill, but not everyone. If you never offer to pay your share, nothing will be said publically. But it will be noted.

10. The very best way to learn Korean drinking customs is to be open about wanting to learn. Just sit down on the floor at the next dinner and ask the people around you to teach you. Most enjoy the idea that you are interested. And you'll get snockered before the meat is done.

[gang ah jee]

Does anyone know the 'international rules' for drinking? Maybe it's just a New Zealand thing.

edit: found them - http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/International_Drinking_Rules

[jamielives2000]

haha
yes
for drinking games

no pointing
no first names
no swearing
using certain words 'skull(sp), drink'

[coolsage]

Ya-ta boy teacher: You're in the zone again. It's starting to sound like you're becoming a lifer. Are you all right with that? Do you have a K-sweetie (or one of any persuasion) with whom to share your life? If you're going to dig in here, you must have one, only one, of these lovely women.

[I_Am_Wrong]

-If your boss/principal is going around serving drinks to his employees you should reciprocate his drink. Drink yours (while looking away from him) and then pour him a glass. Two hands with right hand dominate or Right hand with left hand across your body and underneath the elbow.

-If your with friends, it's ok to make a sly remark when your glass is empty...however, DON'T DO THIS WITH A POWER TRIPPING AUTHORITY FIGURE!!!!!!. With friends say either, "Are you busy?" or "Bappayo?"

[Ya-ta Boy]

coolsage dong-sang, where have you been keeping yourself? Haven't seen much of you around here lately.

I'm somewhere near the end of my 11th year here, so it is beginning to feel like I'm becoming a lifer, but unfortunately, K-sweetie opsayo. I often asked my (adult) students if they had any unmarried rich but terminally ill aunts in my age bracket, but they said they were looking for the same thing. The competition out there is fierce--this is Korea after all.

Just started a new job on Wednesday and so far it seems like it will be FAR superior to my last gig. Got my first invite to dinner with one of the co-teachers for next Monday or Tuesday. The PE teacher, in extremely broken English, asked me to dinner at his friend's (the 'CEO' of a bulgogi restaurant) place in town. Looking forward to demonstrating my mastery of Korean drinking culture.

[pocketfluff]

I don't know how outdated this rule has become, but Koreans have believed that it is disrespectful to show the inside of your mouth to another person.

This is the reason why someone would down a shot of soju while facing away from somebody else.

[cookie7]

Isn't it disrespectful to show the inside of your mouth to another person anywhere at anytime?
I always like to show off what I'm eating right when it's been half chewed and that seems to bother everyone in the States.

[Cerriowen]

I just learned last night that when they say "Bottoms Up" you're also supposed to hold the shot glass upside down over the top of your head to show it's empty. Getting out the last few drops. I forgot about it until I woke up this morning and wondered why my hair felt nasty.

[poet13]

If you're serving more than one person, serve the oldest first.
When someone offers you a drink, empty your glass first.
I experienced for the first time the other night another custom.
When you have finished your first glass of beer, you exchange glasses with someone else. The process is not complete until you have drunk from everyone elses glass. Nasty.