Social events that involve drinking are often featured in k-dramas. Whether it's a celebration after work or a first meeting with a prospective father-in-law, you can expect k-drama characters to share a few glasses of some alcoholic beverage.
Are the dramas accurate in portraying how much people drink?
Yes, says a recent Euromonitor survey. South Koreans drink on average more than people of any other nationality. And while soju is the most popular drink in k-dramas, other varieties of alcohol are consumed.
Someone drinks soju in almost every k-drama and we've written about soju scenes before. This clear colorless drink serves as a vehicle for the kind of confessions a character might not make when sober or as an excuse for a piggyback ride. You may remember the scene in "Personal Taste" when a very drunk Son Ye Jin announces very loudly to everyone in the restaurant that Lee Min Ho's character is gay. He's not and yet he winds up having to give her a piggyback ride.
Park Yoochun's character can't even have one drink in "Missing You" without having to sing karaoke. In "The Master's Sun," Gong Hyo Jin can't drink because when she does, spirits take over her body. So Ji Sub hated it when that happened.
One reason soju is such a prevalent drink in k-dramas and in Korea is that it's inexpensive.
Another popular drink is makgoli, which is made from wheat and rice. Quite popular among farmers the drink became known as farmer's liquor.
Making makgoli is the subject of the drama "Cinderella's Sister," which stars Moon Geun Young, Chun Jung Myung and Ok Taecyeon. Moon Geun Young's stepfather owns a traditional makgoli brewery.
It's also seen in "Flower Boy Next Door." Park Shin Hye watched Yoon Si Yoon enjoy a glass of the milky liquor.
Characters do drink beer or maegju in k-dramas, which is a popular but relatively new drink in Korea. It was first introduced about a century ago and Korea now has a few popular domestic brands. In the final episode of "I Hear Your Voice," you can see Lee Jong Suk and Lee Bo Young drinking beer from a strange headgear contraption while watching sports. Kim Hee Ae and Yoo Ah In share an intimate beer in his loft in "Secret Love Affair."
Mixing a shot of soju with beer is called poktanju. You can see Jun Ji Hyun's character Gyun Woo drink one of these soju bombs in the film "My Sassy Girl."
Characters also drink wine and whiskey in k-dramas, but it generally implies a level of sophistication and some deep pockets. While Korea has traditional fruit, flower and medicinal wines, characters that drink imported wines are generally rich and well traveled.
Wine can also be a little magical in k-dramas. In "Secret Garden" it's wine that results in Hyun Bin and Ha Jin Won switching bodies.
And whiskey seems to be reserved for moguls, chaebols and gangsters making serious deals
What do you think of the drinking scenes in k-dramas and have you tried soju or makgoli? Let us know what you think.
