Korean Drinking & Social Culture · Part 2
Essential Soju and Hoesik Vocabulary
Essential Soju and Hoesik Vocabulary. Soju and the company dinner culture built around it are a genuine part of Korean social and work life. Here’s the vocabulary you’ll need. Tap any word below to hear it spoken.
Korean BBQ and soju are a classic pairing at both casual get-togethers and company dinners.
소주 (soju) is Korea’s most iconic spirit — a clear, mild liquor usually around 16–20% alcohol, drunk socially rather than sipped slowly. It’s deeply tied to Korean work and social culture, especially through 회식 (hoesik), the company team dinner that’s a genuine institution in Korean workplaces.
The Basics
The Drink Itself
soju
Korea’s iconic clear spirit
The Occasion
hoesik
Company dinner / team dinner
The Food That Comes With It
anju
Food eaten alongside drinking — essentially never optional
Hoesik dinners often move between venues over the course of an evening — each stop is its own tradition.
How the Night Moves
Bottoms Up
wonshot
One shot — drink the whole glass at once (from English “one shot”)
The Second Stop
icha
“Second round” — moving to a different venue after the first
A Strong Combination
poktanju
“Bomb drink” — a soju-and-beer mix, popular at hoesik dinners
It’s genuinely common for a hoesik night to move through two or even three venues — dinner and drinks first, then a second stop for more drinks or noraebang (karaoke), sometimes a third for coffee or dessert. Each stop is called by its number: 1차, 2차, 3차.
Understanding the Culture Makes the Words Stick
Vocabulary like this lands so much better once you understand the social context around it. Here’s the step-by-step system we recommend for building both together.
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