BOTTOMS Up

do you have what it Takes To be The last one standing when drinking Korean-style?

If there was a worldwide contest for which country has the best nightlife, South Korea would definitely be one of the finalists standing on the podium. Korea has an unparalleled drinking culture. Whether you prefer a night of soju and karaoke with friends, or enjoy an after-work, all-night party with co-workers and bosses, every self-respecting traveller should have Korea on their list of destinations to visit.

Anju

Anju refers to food eaten with alcohol. It includes peanuts, dried squid, fresh fruit, fried chicken, and snacks of all shapes and sizes that are at every prolonged drinking session to ensure no late-night munchies. So whichever bar you go to, expect anju to be there too.

Noraebang

Karaoke is known as noraebang in Korea and means song room. It’s a private room where you and your friends get to belt out K-pop songs together. And no matter how much soju you consumed beforehand, beer and anju will be there to help loosen up your vocal cords.

Hoesik

Going out for the company happy hour is more than just a perk; it’s a requirement. It’s called hoesik, which happens once a month or even once a week. It’s the perfect opprtunity for co-workers to open up and get to know one another better – conversations may be stilted in a work atmosphere, but throw in dinner and some soju and the mood lightens up.

Haejang-guk

The party can’t last forever, but Korea has the answer for their day after too. With some of the most exciting food in the world, the country is also home to many hangover cures. There’s the traditional haejang-guk (hangover soup), which is a selection of soups that often contain dried napa cabbage, vegetables and meat in a hearty beef broth.

The average Korean consumed 11.4 litres of alcohol in 2016