The most famous and popular drink in Korea is Soju (소주), a clear, distilled spirit often called Korea's national drink, integral to social gatherings and culture, similar to vodka but usually enjoyed neat or mixed, with modern versions coming in various flavors alongside traditional ones.
What are the most popular Korean drinks?
Soju (English pronunciation: /ˈsoʊdʒuː/; Korean: 소주) is a clear and colorless distilled alcoholic beverage from Korea, traditionally made from rice, but later from other grains and has a flavor similar to vodka. It is usually consumed neat. Its alcohol content varies from about 12.5% to 53% alcohol by volume (ABV).
Soju is a clear, colorless distilled spirit (liquor) from Korea, traditionally made from rice but now often using other starches like sweet potatoes, wheat, or tapioca, resulting in a neutral, vodka-like flavor but typically with a lower alcohol content (around 12.5% to 20% for modern types, but can be higher) and often with added sweeteners. It's Korea's national drink, known for its smooth, clean taste, making it great for sipping neat or in cocktails.
Due to its low alcohol content, soju can be drunk in large amounts, making it incredibly deceiving! It is known to get the drinker intoxicated very quickly, so be cautious!
A standard soju bottle typically contains 375 milliliters of this beloved Korean spirit. When it comes to pouring shots, the usual serving size is about 50 milliliters per shot. This means you can expect around seven or eight shots from a single bottle, depending on how generous your pour is.
The "3-2-1" (or often "1-2-3") drinking rule is a guideline for moderate alcohol consumption: 1 drink per hour, no more than 2 drinks per occasion, and at least 3 alcohol-free days per week, helping to pace intake and reduce risks. It aligns with official health advice, emphasizing that the body processes only about one standard drink (e.g., 12oz beer, 5oz wine) per hour, and provides a framework for mindful drinking to avoid binge patterns and health issues, though it's a simplification of broader guidelines.
Its special advantages are a lower calorie profile and a lower proof alcohol content. Soju delivers only about half the calories of ordinary vodka while delivering incomparable superior rich taste.
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It is often described as having a similar flavor profile to vodka or sake, but with a smoother finish. Flavored soju's will provide additional tastes including hints of apple, grape, grapefruit, blueberry, sweet potato, and more depending on the flavoring and distillation process.
건배 (geonbae) is the most common and safest way to say “cheers” in Korean. To use it, raise your glass, say 건배 (geonbae), and clink glasses before taking a sip.
Explore the wide range of great soju and shochu available online at Dan Murphy's. Shop the Dan's website or app to discover a huge selection of world-class soju and shochu.
South Korea's 52-hour work rule caps most employees' weekly working hours at 52, consisting of 40 standard hours plus 12 allowed overtime hours, aiming to reduce overwork, improve work-life balance, and boost productivity by ending excessively long workweeks previously common in the country. Implemented in phases for different company sizes, this law applies to a seven-day week, including weekends, and was a major revision to the Labor Standards Act, phasing in from 2018 to 2021 for most businesses.
Skincare, K-beauty products, K-pop merchandise, traditional Korean snacks, and Korean socks are some of the best things to buy in Korea.
Soju, often called Korea's national spirit, is a clear distilled liquor typically made from rice, barley, or sweet potatoes. It has a smooth, neutral profile, making it the perfect base for sipping or blending into cocktails.
Yes, soju can get you drunk quickly and easily, often surprisingly so, because it's consumed in larger quantities like beer but has a higher alcohol content (around 16-20% ABV, sometimes more) than beer, making it deceptively strong and a popular social drink for getting "sauced". While lower in alcohol than traditional spirits, its smooth, slightly sweet flavor and cultural habit of downing bottles can sneak up on drinkers.
Out of the top beer brands in Korea, Cass is often thought to be the best tasting. I would agree with this! Cass has a more distinct and iconic taste compared to Kloud, Hite, OB, Max and Terra.
Anju (Korean: 안주; Hanja: 按酒; pronounced [an. dʑu]) is a Korean term for food consumed with alcohol. It consists of a variety of foods, including both main dishes and side dishes.
For instance, a 360ml bottle of Jinro Soju 'Jinro Is Back' 16% contains about 4.5 standard drinks. This means that consuming an entire bottle is equivalent to drinking four and a half standard drinks.
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The 1-2-3 drinking rule is a guideline for moderation: 1 drink per hour, no more than 2 drinks per occasion, and at least 3 alcohol-free days each week, helping to pace consumption and stay within safer limits. It emphasizes pacing alcohol intake with water and food, knowing standard drink sizes (12oz beer, 5oz wine, 1.5oz spirits), and avoiding daily drinking to reduce health risks, though some health guidance suggests even lower limits.
A 2021 review of research notes that several studies determined that two to four weeks of abstinence from alcohol by heavy-alcohol users helped reduce inflammation and bring down elevated serum levels in the liver. In short: A few weeks off will help. But the longer you can abstain from alcohol, the better.
The "20-minute rule for alcohol" is a simple strategy to moderate drinking: wait 20 minutes after finishing one alcoholic drink before starting the next, giving you time to rehydrate with water and reassess if you truly want another, often reducing cravings and overall intake. It helps slow consumption, break the chain of continuous drinking, and allows the body a natural break, making it easier to decide if you've had enough or switch to a non-alcoholic option.
Two fingers means a single pour. Three fingers means a double pour. Served neat in a rocks glass. It's old school.