What is the alcohol law in Korea?

Asked by: Ms. June Jakubowski III  |  Last update: September 29, 2023
Score: 4.4/5 (4 votes)

Objective: In South Korea, individuals are legally allowed access to alcohol from January 1st of the year they turn 19. This study examined the effects of the legal drinking age laws in South Korea on alcohol consumption.

Can people born in 2005 drink in Korea?

However, keep in mind that the Korean age system is kind of different – for Koreans, you are 1 year old as soon as you are born. This means that the drinking age for international visitors is actually 19 years old. Meanwhile, the legal drinking age for the US soldiers based in Korea is 21 years old.

Can you walk around with alcohol in Korea?

There are no open-container laws in South Korea, so you may see plenty of people enjoying their beverages on the beach, picnicking in the park, or walking out of a bar. However, don't even think about driving while intoxicated.

Why do Koreans cover their mouths when drinking?

In Korea, however, it is customary to always pour and receive drinks with both hands or at least have both hands touching the glass as a sign of respect, especially if the person pouring your drink is an elder. Out of respect for an elder, Koreans usually turn their face away and cover their mouth while drinking.

Is drinking alcohol culture in South Korea?

South Koreans love their alcohol. It's a huge part of their lives. It's so important it is almost an obligation to drink.

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Why do South Koreans drink so much alcohol?

The South Korean working culture almost encourages drinking. Many companies hold work dinners called hoesik which means eating and drinking with work colleagues. They are taken seriously and are viewed as a way of getting to personally know each other outside the workplace. Therefore, bailing out isn't an option.

Can Koreans drink a lot of alcohol?

The biggest hard alcohol drinkers on the globe aren't cuddled up somewhere in sub-zero Siberia; they're sipping on Soju, in South Korea. South Koreans drink 13.7 shots of liquor per week on average, which is the most in the world. And of 44 other countries analyzed by Euromonitor, none comes anywhere close.

Why is kissing a big deal in Korea?

In South Korea, passionate kisses and lingering hugs are considered tacky and inappropriate when they occur in public. Rather, they're seen as special, romantic moments that should be shared with your partner in a private setting.

Why do Koreans not look at each other when they drink?

As a sign of respect when drinking with a person who is their senior, Koreans turn their heads when taking a sip (instead of facing the person directly).

What is considered rude in South Korea?

If it's considered rude in your country, it's probably considered rude in Korea. Things such as spitting, shouting, hitting people, swearing, and generally being obnoxious are definitely rude in Korea.

What age can you date in Korea?

According to South Korea's Criminal Act Article 305, the age of consent in South Korea is 20 years old. This is one of the oldest ages of consent in the world.

Can you drink tap water in Korea?

The simple answer is yes, the water is potable. Tap water in Korea is safe to drink. But, if you fill up a glass of water from the sink and start to sip it in front of most Koreans, you might get some weird looks.

Can you drink on the Subway in Korea?

Despite many restaurants and snack shops that can be found in and around the stations, the subway train is just an inappropriate place to have a full meal. Drinks and small scentless snacks are acceptable, but most people will stare at you if you choose to eat next to them, older people may actually yell.

Can you smoke in Seoul?

Smoking is also not permitted inside restaurants, bars, and cafés with an area larger than 150 square meters. Designated smoking areas can also be found around the city and at major transportation hubs. Cigarettes can be purchased at just about every convenience store. The legal smoking age in Korea is 19 years of age.

What age can Americans drink in Korea?

The legal drinking age in South Korea is 20 years old in Korean age. This is also the age that you have to be to enter most night clubs in Korea. What does this mean for you? The legal drinking age in Korea for foreigners is 19 years of age for most people.

What country has no legal drinking age?

This is actually a bit of a trick question, as several European countries including: Armenia, Belgium, Bulgaria, Czech Republic, Denmark, France, Moldova, Netherlands, Norway, Poland, and Russia have no formal laws on what age people are allowed to consume alcoholic beverages.

Why don't Koreans hug?

Even if you've just had the most spirit-kindling noraebang singing session, hugging might make things awkward. Although the culture around hugging is changing, hugging in Korea is generally reserved for couples or for close friends or family that are saying goodbye for a long while.

Why do Koreans sleep on the floor?

Sleeping on the floor became common when ondol floor heating was introduced to the Koreans. When HVAC systems were not a thing, households had to find ways to keep warm and remain cool. Ondol floor heating was a process that used the smoke from fireplaces to warm up the whole house from under the floor.

Why do Koreans have good skin?

Since ancient times, Koreans have only used natural, harsh-free ingredients for their skincare routines: green tea, “snail slime”, bamboo extracts, propolis, and honey are just some examples of the elements they used and have passed through generations.

Are South Korean men circumcised?

Although circumcision in South Korea has been strongly influenced by American culture, it has never been predominantly neonatal. The age at circumcision has continued to decrease and boys are now circumcised at approximately 12 years old.

Why do Korean couples sleep in different beds?

Thus, in Korea, some couples continue living in the same house, but choose to sleep in separate rooms (SSR) for a time period to avoid or resolve extant conflict; this starkly differs from marital conflict strategies in other countries that leads to separation or divorce [6-7].

What is flirting like in Korea?

Flirting in Korean culture is pretty much like what you see in Korean dramas. They use romantic, sweet, and cute phrases to touch the heart of the person they like. Aside from romantic phrases, they also flirt by acting cute, called aegyo (애교).

Which country has the highest rate of alcoholism?

Russia and Australia have the highest prevalence of alcoholism dependence overall, with 2.61 per cent and 2.58 per cent, respectively. According to the World Health Organization, US has the lowest rate of alcohol dependence with only 1.93 per cent.

What is the most consumed alcohol in Korea?

Soju, a clear, slightly-sweet distilled spirit, is the most popular Korean liquor. It is known as "a friend of life" and "the common people's drink." Soju is made from grains (such as rice, barley, and wheat) or starches, such as potatoes, sweet potatoes, and tapioca.

What is the most common alcoholic beverage in Korea?

Soju is a clear, low-alcohol, distilled spirit that is the most popular liquor in Korea. If you haven't heard of it, well then you've got a blind spot, because it's been the best-selling liquor in the world, according to CNN.