The legal drinking age in Korea is set at 19, which applies to both non-Korean residents and travelers. It is important to note that this age requirement does not change based on one’s nationality, so international visitors need not be concerned. Additionally, it is worth mentioning that the Korean age system is unique, as individuals are considered to be one year old at birth and age another year on New Year’s Day. This may be different from what people are accustomed to in their home countries.
Drinking underage is strictly not enforced in Korea, which means there are no means to prevent it. However, drinking underage is not tolerated in Korea. In recent years, the police have made efforts to ensure that people conform to the law. They closely monitor places such as clubs and bars that deal with alcoholic beverages. In order to discourage young people from serving alcoholic drinks to them, and to deal more closely with alcoholic beverages, they have stepped up their efforts. They are ensuring that people conform to the law by introducing heavy punishments and fines.
Foreign customers who are looking to enjoy the vibrant nightlife and cultural scenes of Gangnam and Hongdae tend to have stricter ID checking policies. While some restaurants and local drinking establishments may accept other forms of identification or foreign student IDs, it is advisable for temporary visitors to have their passports or valid ARC (Alien Registration Card) on hand, especially if they plan on going out at night. It has been observed that almost all bartenders in Korea have been checking IDs before serving alcoholic beverages, particularly if you have been living in Korea for a few years and can prove your age with your ARC. If you are a long-term resident, you can simply present your ARC to order alcoholic drinks on their premises.
Public drinking is permitted and is actually a widely practiced activity among both young and old individuals, indicating that open-container laws are not enforced in Korea. If you decide to venture out to Seoul’s iconic Han River at night, you will often come across numerous groups of students enjoying a beer while chatting. However, please ensure that you are of legal drinking age when purchasing alcoholic beverages at a supermarket or convenience store, and even more so when engaging in outdoor drinking.
You can download the Kakao Talk app on Google Play or iOS. With this app, you can easily find and hire a chauffeur who can drive your car and take you back home.
Make use of Korea’s convenient and affordable public transportation system, ‘daeri unjeon’ (대리운전), to safely and securely get you back home if you plan on drinking with your friends at an important birthday party. In Korea, laws regarding drunk driving are strictly enforced and the legal drinking age is higher than in many other countries. It is crucial that you do not even consider driving under the influence.