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Drinking soju in South Korea? This English guide will teach you the rules you may not know
‘Soju artist’ Kim Wan-jun has published the English translation of his book on the drink’s history, etiquettes and social rituals
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By Bereket Alemayehu
Kim Wan-jun, who calls himself a “soju artist”, published the English translation of his book, How to Drink Soju: A Guide to K-Drinking Culture & Games, last month. The 300-page book provides an in-depth look at the history of soju, a Korean distilled alcoholic drink, while exploring its cultural significance and the customs surrounding it.
Kim, a self-proclaimed upcycling artist known as Funnyjun, has been documenting South Korea’s drinking culture since 2014 and sharing his insights with audiences at home and abroad.
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The Korean version of the book sold out quickly upon its 2021 release. Now the first English print run of 1,000 copies is available in bookstores in Korea as well as distributed directly from him.
Kim did almost all the work in creating the book himself. He wrote the text, illustrated more than 200 drawings, designed the layout and edited the book using digital tools. The result is a visually rich guide to Korean drinking culture, offering simple illustrations and detailed instructions.
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One section outlines 10 steps on drinking soju properly and socialising with others, highlighting traditional etiquette such as pouring drinks with two hands and showing respect to elders at the table.
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