You may notice quite a few homeless people around Seoul Station. A lot of visitors ask me, “Why are there so many homeless people here?” One of the biggest reasons goes back to 1997, during the Asian Financial Crisis. In Korea, we usually call it the IMF Crisis . A lot of companies went bankrupt, unemployment rose very quickly, and many people suddenly lost their jobs and income. Some people eventually lost their homes as well. And many of them came to Seoul Station . Why here? Because this was one of the main places to find day labor and temporary jobs , and it was also the main railway station if they wanted to go back to their hometowns. But some had no money left and nowhere else to go, so they stayed around the station. That is one reason Seoul Station became one of the main gathering places for homeless people after the 1997 crisis. Then another thing happened. Once many homeless people were here, churches, charities, NGOs, and the government started providing help here. Th...
"Hoesik" refers to company dinners or gatherings, often held after work, where colleagues eat, drink, and socialize together. When having a hoesik, people often go to barbecue restaurants, especially places that serve samgyeopsal (pork belly). During these gatherings, they eat and drink together. In Korea, there are complex etiquettes to follow when drinking alcohol. It’s important to participate actively but also know your limits when it comes to drinking.
In Korea, it’s important to pour drinks for others with both hands, receive drinks with both hands, drink the first shot together with a toast, and always respect elders by waiting for them to drink first.
To drink soju properly, pour for others using both hands, receive drinks with both hands, take the first shot in one go, and say 'geonbae' for cheers."
Drinking Etiquette in Korea
- Pouring Drinks:
- When pouring drinks for others, always use both hands. This shows respect, especially to someone older or of higher status.
- It’s considered rude to pour your own drink.
2. Receiving Drinks:
- Hold your glass with both hands when someone pours you a drink. This gesture shows respect and gratitude.
- Turn your head slightly away from the person who poured the drink when taking your first sip.
3. First Drink:
- It is customary to drink the first shot of a new drink all at once. This is often done together with a toast.
- After the first shot, you can sip it at your own pace.
4. Refilling Drinks:
- Keep an eye on the glasses of your companions and refill them when they are empty. This shows attentiveness and good manners.
5. Making a Toast:
- Common phrases for toasting include "건배" (geonbae) which means "cheers" and "위하여" (wihayeo) which means "for the benefit of."
6. Respecting Elders:
- Always wait for the eldest person to start drinking before you take your first sip.
- Show extra respect to elders by turning your head away when drinking in front of them.
