Just make sure you follow the rules and if you are not of legal drinking age in South Korea, make sure you don`t try to break the rules, follow them and make sure everyone including you is sure you don`t want to have a problem with the government when traveling or studying in South Korea. Otherwise, every South Korean ages a year every day of the Lunar New Year. However, solar New Year`s Day is recognized instead of Lunar New Year for most people living in modern South Korea. Have you ever had a tricky situation when it comes to drinking or entering bars or clubs in Korea? Let us know in the comments below! As in many other countries, you must show that you have reached a certain age before you can buy alcohol or enter certain bars and clubs, whether you are Korean or foreign traveling or living only in South Korea. Of course, there are almost every type of drink in South Korea, especially in big cities like Seoul and Busan. But when visiting the country, wouldn`t it be a shame not to try Korea`s unique drinks? Here are some Korean drinks you might want to try. If you work as a U.S. military in South Korea or are currently stationed in South Korea, the legal drinking age is actually 21, which is your international age. One of the main reasons why the country has a great consumer culture once you are past drinking age in Korea is that it helps people lose their inhibitions and socialize. After a few strokes of soju, even the most shy person is more sociable and talkative. So if an acquaintance suggests going out for drinks with you, it`s probably because they need an icebreaker.
Also, it creates a stronger bond for Koreans to have time around alcohol. This seems to apply to both social and industrial relations. Anyone born in 1998 will be allowed to drink in Korea from January 1, 2017. You must be at least 20 years old at Korean age to drink. Yes, your Korean age is now 19, no matter when it`s your birthday. (In America, you`re 18 on your birthday.) The Korean age system works like this: you are 1 year old right after your birth, and age is added every January 1st. If your birthday is December 31st, you will be 2 years old the day after you give birth. While 19 may seem like a strange age to drink, it`s the same as in many Asian countries – for example, it`s close to the drinking age in Japan. In most countries around the world – with the exception of the United States, where the legal drinking age is 21 – 18 is the norm.
So South Korea is somewhere in the middle. Soju, beer and drink culture is immersed in almost all Asian countries such as China, Japan, and South Korea. Almost all ages like to eat their meals with soju or maekju as a drinking companion, except coffee of course. As you see in Korean drama or Korean movie, they almost always drink soju or maekju as a drink for everything they eat during lunch or especially dinner. Beer really helps us relax, especially after our hectic and stressful time at work, it really helps us sleep better and let go of our anxiety and problems. South Korea has developed many hangover remedies. From drinks drunk before your first glass of alcohol to soups or even grapefruit ice cream, Koreans can offer you several ways to cure your hangover. Some of the most common are haejjunguk or hangover soup, chocolate milk, Asian pear juice and jjimjilbangs or Korean spa. If you are still wondering about the legal drinking age using the international age, then the legal drinking age in Korea for foreigners who use the international age counting system is about 19 for most people. However, keep in mind that the Korean age system is slightly different – for Koreans, you have 1 year old once you are born. This means that the drinking age for international visitors is actually 19. Meanwhile, the legal drinking age for U.S.
soldiers stationed in Korea is 21. Drinking laws – The legal drinking age is 20 (or more precisely, January 1 of the year the person turns 20, as everyone is considered to be one year older when the year turns). Bars and nightclubs are usually open daily from 6pm to midnight, with longer opening hours (some are open from noon until the wee hours of the morning) on Friday and Saturday. In some areas of Seoul (such as Itaewon or Hongik) and other major cities, some bars remain open 24 hours a day. Beer and soju (South Korea`s infamous vodka-like liquor) are widely available in grocery stores and convenience stores, while wine is more likely to be found in specialty wine stores.