On February 23 2011 01:26 MightyAtom wrote:On February 23 2011 00:55 StorkHwaiting wrote:
So what would be the impact socially if you were a guy that does not drink whatsoever and lived in Korea? Would other guys consider you less manly? Think you are queer? Think you have some devious plan that you need to be sober for? I ask this because I don't drink at all, yet I find that the vast majority of people in America seem to need it like a baby needs their mother's teat.
Is it really that bad to enjoy my sober state and have fun without the need to numb my mind? I have no inhibitions or trouble letting loose without alcohol, so I find it kind of pointless to drink. Plus the health detriments of alcohol.
This situation need to be clarified:
if you can't drink but try, you are pitied and accepted for your effort.
if you don't want to drink or can't drink in a corporate situation, you will never be anything than a team manager and never a VP unless your organization is a Christian organization.
You are approaching drinking from a Western point of view, as the purpose is to enjoy and get drunk with friends.
In Korea the approach is very different, it is a way to show your true face to your friends without any ability to hide yourself in both the good and the bad. In Korea, saying that because you were drunk you did something bad would not be an excuse, in fact, we would think that that is actually the true thoughts/mind that you have when you are sober but didn't express it.
In Taiwan, drinking a lot is considered a macho act, in Korea, drinking a lot has nothing to do with being manly or not, because women are expected to drink as well to the their own relative limits, rather, drinking is to share friendship in Korea in social situations.
In business situations: drinking is to measure the control and character of a man, in not how much he can drink, but how much can he drink while remaining to be sober, rational and in control. Also, it allows both parties to glance at each others character. Once this phase of the drinking is concluded, then the parties are allowed to now just get drunk and enjoy themselves if they choose, but most of the time at this point, the older CEO will excuse himself with this much drink and let the lower levels get drunk. Why? Because drinking was for business.
So you need to first understanding that drinking is a very deep cultural aspect of Koreans, not just for having fun. Now if you refuse to drink, its like refusing the first step in really getting to know one another. Of course, over time you will get to know each other without drinking, but this is the normal and faster way to do it, and the other way, is actually not the normal way, unless you are in high school.
TO BE SOBER and maintain it Guide in Korea (for those who do not enjoy drinking):
1. eat lots before you go.
2. drink either a Dawn 88 or Condition F BEFORE drinking.
3. if you don't have those, then a slug of commercial heart burn stomach coating is a good substitute.
4. you dictate the pace of drinking, if you can't drink much, drink a couple of shots first and make everyone cheers with you, there will be others who can't drink well either, so then they will try to slow things down and be your buffer
5. always be sipping your drink, look active and so people think you really enjoy drinking so they won't force you to one shot as often (the one shot is forced on people who don't look serious to drink)
6. When you drink, look happy, don't complain and you won't be noticed much.
7. After every shot or one shot, chase it with water and with food (anju) Koreans always eat when drinking
8. Koreans drink from 7pm dinner to 3am in the morning continually, so its marthathon, in between drinking places try to sober up as much as possible, I have been drunk sober drunk sober many times during long nights and when you are sober again, go on the attack and force people to drink at your own pace thus putting other over the edge.
9. Duck out when you have a chance, bu don't say goodbye, just go quietly, and don't wait until its the time for the next destination, or else others will make scene.
10. REMEMBER TO NEVER STOP CHASING AND EATING THROUGOUT.
Personally I drink and love to drink, but sometimes after 2 weeks of corporate drinking i will duck out of some social drinking for the sake of liver and with people I know well.
I agree, you don't need to drink to have fun, but I guarantee if you did drink with Koreans, you'd expose a different side of your character. And with the health reasons, I completely agree, but just remember, drinking in Korea is cultural interaction, not just fun.
EPT
