Korean drinking games are an essential part of the drinking culture in Korea, where socializing over drinks is a popular pastime among young people. Koreans typically start enjoying alcohol as soon as they reach adulthood, and it quickly becomes a big part of their social life.
After high school graduation, when they enter college or university, events like freshmen orientation (OT), Membership Training (MT : a group trip where university students book a pension or a small resort, spending time together indoors to build friendships through various activities.) and other parties are filled with drinking.
When I was in university, we had drinking gatherings almost every day. I have so many memories of playing different drinking games with friends almost daily. The games we played during those times were so much fun that they still stick with me, and they helped me bond with my friends in ways that words couldn’t describe.
After getting hired, this culture continues in the workplace, where colleagues often gather for drinks, particularly on Friday nights. This drinking culture is so deeply ingrained that it’s even reflected in popular songs, such as the well-known “Friday Night.”
In this post, I’ll share some of the most popular Korean drinking games that I personally experienced and enjoyed.
APT Game: Korean drinking game in Rosé’s song
Let’s first take a look at the APT game mentioned in Rosé’s song “APT.” The game is named after the word “apartment” (APT), a common living arrangement for many Koreans. In Korea, the word “apartment” is referred to as “아파트” [A-pa-teu]. So, when playing the game, people shout [A-pa-teu] rather than “APT.”
How to play:
- Everyone participating in the game places their hands on top of each other, like an apartment.
- When one person calls out a random number, everyone stacks their hands in the middle.
- Starting from the bottom, they begin to remove their hands one by one while counting from 1, and the person who reaches the called number has to drink.
Bunny Bunny Carrot Carrot: A Rhythm Game with Cute Movements
This game involves making gestures of eating carrots with both hands and tossing “Bunny Bunny” to another person. The people on the sides of the target player then act out digging for carrots. The key elements of the game are targeting and rhythm.
How to play :
1. Start with an introductory song for the “Bunny Bunny Carrot Carrot” game.
One person makes a gesture of eating a carrot with both hands and says “Bunny Bunny Bunny Bunny.”
- The first “Bunny Bunny” is said while the person does the carrot-eating motion.
- The second “Bunny Bunny” is said while the person gestures as if they are feeding someone else a carrot.
2. The person who is targeted by the second “Bunny Bunny” then repeats the process
- They do the carrot-eating gesture and say “Bunny Bunny” for the first time.
- While they are saying the first “Bunny Bunny,” the people next to them shout “Carrot Carrot” and shake their arms up and down as if they are digging for carrots.
3. A player loses the game if
- They say “Carrot” when they should say “Bunny,” or vice versa.
- They fail to perform the necessary motion.
- They miss the rhythm or timing.
Nunchi Game: Game of Wits
The “Nunchi Game” refers to a “Game of Wits” and is based on the Korean concept of “Nunchi”, which is the ability to read the room, sense others’ thoughts, or understand the atmosphere to act accordingly. This game involves participants observing and deciding when to act as others hesitate or delay in making decisions. The tension arises from the collective hesitation or quick decisions based on what others might do. The game tests how well you can judge the timing and actions of others while balancing your own hesitation or quick decisions!
How to play:
- To start the game, the person who wants to begin says, “Nunchi game, one!” and the game starts.
- Participants then take turns shouting numbers in order, but the catch is that if two or more people shout the same number at the same time, those players have to drink.
- Alternatively, if players keep hesitating and fail to shout a number until the last number (the total number of players), the person who has not spoken a number have to drink.
Son Byeong Ho game: The Image Game
The “Son Byeong Ho Game” is named after an actor, Son Byeong Ho, who popularized it on a TV show. It’s also known as an “Image Game” because players are asked to follow specific instructions based on their characteristics or actions.
How to play :
- Everyone starts with their fingers spread out.
- One person takes turns giving a command (e.g., “People wearing glasses, fold one finger”)
- Those who match the command must fold one of their fingers.
- The person who folds all five fingers first has to drink.
San neo meo San: Mountain over Mountain : A 19+ game
“산 넘어 산[san-neo-meo-san]” is a Korean proverb that means encountering increasingly difficult situations as one moves forward.
“산넘어산” (Mountain Over Mountain) is a drinking game that often involves escalating physical actions and touches between participants. It’s considered a more mature or ’19+’ game because it can involve intimacy and physical contact, which is why it is usually played in adult settings.
How to play :
- Decide the direction in which the game will proceed.
- The first player performs a specific action towards the person sitting next to them.
- The second person must repeat the action and add another one, which they then pass on to the next person, who also repeats the actions and adds something new.
- The main point of the game is that the physical actions and contact become increasingly intimate or daring as the game progresses.
- The person who can’t bring themselves to do the action has to drink.
Korean drinking games are not just about the fun and excitement they bring, but also about the bonds they help form. Whether it’s with old friends in university or new colleagues at work, these games create a unique way for people to connect and share moments of laughter and camaraderie. While they may seem lighthearted, they are deeply embedded in the social fabric of Korean culture, offering an opportunity to understand the dynamics of relationships and socializing in a fun and playful way. So, if you ever find yourself in Korea or with Korean friends, don’t be surprised if a drinking game is on the agenda—it’s all part of the experience!
We can also bond with Koreans is by sharing your favorite K-pop group.
