Makgeolli, Soju or Somaek? Korean Drinks for a First-Timer

Makgeolli, soju or somaek: my pick for your first night

It's your first night in Korea. You walk into a convenience store, open the fridge, and there's a wall of soju bottles, milky makgeolli bottles and beer cans. Makgeolli, soju or somaek? And if it's soju, which one, and what do you eat with it?

Here's my answer as your friend. Start with a classic makgeolli and real food. Drink soju only with food. If you still feel good, finish with one small somaek, my way. Below: what each drink is, what to eat with it, where to buy it at night, and the few rules that actually matter.

First, how strong these are. The numbers come from the official brand pages and VisitKorea (checked October 13, 2026).

The takeaway, by rough math from those labels: soju is about three to four times as strong as the beer next to it, so it's the one to pace.

Start with classic makgeolli (and something to eat)

Makgeolli is a Korean rice wine. It's made by fermenting rice with nuruk, a natural fermentation starter, and the rice that stays in it makes it milky and a little thick. VisitKorea puts makgeolli at about 6 to 8% alcohol. Brands differ, so check the label.

There are a lot of ways to drink makgeolli, and trendy makgeolli is everywhere now. Fruit flavors, new styles. Honestly? The classics are cheap, easy and taste good. For a first-timer, I don't think you need a fancy bottle to get it.

Here's what I actually do. At night, I go to a convenience store and pick up Jipyeong (지평) makgeolli or Seoul makgeolli (서울막걸리), plus a snack: dried squid or a bag of Saeukkang, the shrimp-flavored crackers. That's it. That's the whole plan.

If you're sitting down at a restaurant or pub instead, we Koreans usually drink makgeolli with dubu-kimchi (tofu with kimchi) or jeon (savory pancakes). If you only learn two food words for makgeolli, learn those two.

Soju: Chamisul or Jinro, and never on an empty stomach

There are many sojus on the shelf. But in the end, Chamisul and Jinro are the standard. If you want the standard Korean soju, start there.

From the HiteJinro brand pages (checked October 13, 2026): Chamisul fresh is 15.7%, Jinro is 15.7%, and Chamisul Original is 20.1%. The regular glass bottle is 360 mL. If you're new to soju, pick fresh or Jinro, not Original. That's my opinion, but those 4.4 points add up fast.

Now, a little Korean humor. We have a saying, "kkang-soju." It means drinking soju with nothing but Saeukkang. The joke is about someone with no money for food, so they just drink soju with a bag of crackers. It's a funny story. It's not a plan for your trip.

To me, soju is meant to go with food. VisitKorea notes that its light taste works well with rich or greasy dishes. So order the food first, then the bottle.

How to make somaek: my 1:2 "Teslla"

Somaek is soju plus beer. The name comes from "so" in soju and "maek" in maekju, the Korean word for beer. The ratio you'll often hear is 3 soju to 7 beer; Korea.net calls it the "golden ratio."

My version has its own nickname. We call Terra plus Chamisul "Teslla." And my favorite ratio is 1 part Chamisul to 2 parts Terra. Here's the important bit: I fill only half a beer glass, then drink it in one go. No regrets. That's my way, and it's a little stronger than the 3:7 ratio.

To mix it, put a chopstick in the glass and tap it with another chopstick, or just stir with a spoon. Both work.

Two honest notes. First, by rough math from the labels, a 1:2 Teslla lands around 8% alcohol. That's stronger than a beer. Second, Korea.net says drinking in one shot should depend on your own tolerance, and I agree. Half a glass is the whole point. After that, drink water, eat something, and say "no more for me" whenever you want.

Convenience-store night: what to grab and the rules that matter

Your shopping list, if you're doing it my way:

• One classic makgeolli (Jipyeong or Seoul makgeolli), or one Chamisul or Jinro plus a Terra for somaek
• Dried squid or a bag of Saeukkang
• If soju is in the basket, add real food too

Now the rules. These are from Korean law (English versions at the Korea Legislation Research Institute, checked October 13, 2026).

Drinking age: 19, counted by birth year. Korean law treats anyone under 19 as a "youth," except people who turn 19 during the current year. Those people are fine from January 1. In 2026, that means you were born in 2007 or earlier. Sellers have to check age and ID, so carry your passport or another photo ID.

Watch for no-drinking signs. Local governments can mark busy public places as no-drinking areas, and they put up signs. Drinking in one can mean a fine of up to ₩100,000. If you see the sign, take your bottle somewhere else.

Never drive, and don't ride a bike. The drunk-driving threshold is 0.03% blood alcohol, and the same article bans riding a bicycle while drunk. After a drink, take the subway or a taxi.

Rather not order alone? A guided food-and-drink night in Jongno

Maybe the convenience store is easy, but a pub menu in Korean feels like a lot for night one. That's fair. Then I'd look at Drinking and Eating through the Alleys of Seoul (opens in a new tab). I haven't done this walk myself. I'm going by the listing (checked October 13, 2026), because it matches how I think you should drink here: with food, step by step.

How the evening goes, from the listing:

• Meeting point: outside Exit 8 of Jongno 5-ga Station (Line 1). It's the staircase exit, not the elevator.
• Flow: about two hours of food and drinks at a market, about two hours of small alley stops, and a Korean rice wine tasting.
• Money: food and drinks are not included. You split the cost with the rest of the group. The guide buys one round at the last stop.
• Cancellation: full refund if you cancel at least 24 hours before the start.

Who should skip it: families with kids (the supplier says it's not for kids) and vegetarians (there aren't many non-meat options). Compared with doing it on your own, you trade some freedom for not having to guess which dish to order.

Your first move tonight

Keep it simple. Go to the nearest convenience store, grab one classic makgeolli and something to eat, and sit down somewhere without a no-drinking sign. If you'd rather have someone order for you on night one, check dates for the Jongno alley walk above. Craft makgeolli and regional drinks can wait for another evening, when you know what the classics taste like. Only have one night in Seoul? Here's how I'd plan one free evening in Seoul.