Eol-Juk-Ah: Why Koreans Drink Iced Coffee in -10°C

In Ohio, when it snows, we drink Hot Chocolate. We wrap our hands around the warm mug and sit by the fire. In Korea, when it snows, they drink Iced Americano.

You will see it everywhere. People wearing giant puffer jackets (Long Padding) that look like sleeping bags, shivering in the biting wind, but clutching a plastic cup filled with ice cubes.

Are they crazy? Are their nerves dead? No. They are practicing the national spirit of “Eol-Juk-Ah.”

Welcome to Level 1. Let me explain why I stopped ordering Hot Lattes and joined the frozen coffee cult.

The Level 1 Logs: The Burnt Tongue

Flashback: 2 years ago. Gwanghwamun, January.

It was -10°C (14°F). My face hurt from the cold. I went into a cafe with my coworkers. Naturally, I ordered a Hot Vanilla Latte to survive. My coworkers? All four of them ordered Iced Americanos.

We had 10 minutes before the meeting. They chugged their cold coffee in 3 minutes like it was water. They were refreshed. Me? I was trying to sip my boiling lava drink. I burned my tongue. I couldn’t finish it. I had to run to the meeting holding a hot cup, sweating inside my coat.

I was the slow one. Again.

Enter “Ssam” (The Ice King)

I asked Ssam later. “Ssam, are you a polar bear? Why do you drink ice water in winter?”

Ssam took a sip of his Ah-Ah (Iced Americano). “Alice, it’s not about the temperature. It’s about survival.”

He explained the logic:

The “Hwa” (Internal Fire): Koreans live stressful, high-pressure lives. We have “fire” inside our chests. We need ice to cool it down.
The Speed: Hot coffee takes too long to cool. We need caffeine NOW. We drink to wake up, not to enjoy the flavor.

Level 3 Wisdom: Cafe Survival Guide

Now I am an Eol-Juk-Ah convert. But the coffee is only half the story. The Cafe Culture is even wilder.

1. What is Eol-Juk-Ah? (얼죽아)

It is an abbreviation for “Eol-a Juk-eodo Americano” (Even if I freeze to death, Iced Americano).

The Taste: It’s clean, it’s fast, and it doesn’t leave a milk aftertaste.
The Slang: You can order it by saying “Ah-Ah” (A-A).

2. The K-Safety Miracle (Laptop Culture)

This shocks every foreigner. In a crowded cafe, you will see a $2,000 MacBook sitting alone on a table. The owner is in the bathroom. Nobody steals it.

The Rule: You can leave your phone, laptop, and purse on the table to save your seat.
Alice’s Warning: Koreans don’t steal laptops, but they will steal your bicycle. Don’t ask why. It’s a mystery.

3. The Vibrating UFO (Buzzer)

When you order, they give you a round, vibrating disc. Do not stare at it. Put it on the table. When it starts buzzing and flashing lights like an alien spaceship, take it back to the counter to get your coffee. Don’t wait for a waiter.

Alice’s Bottom Line: Join the Cold Side

Hot coffee is for relaxing. Iced coffee is for living. If you want to survive the fast-paced Seoul life, put down the mug and grab the plastic cup.

Yes, your hands will be cold. But your brain will be fast.

Survival Hangul: Ordering Coffee

“아이스 아메리카노 한 잔 주세요. (Ice Americano han-jan juseyo.)”
- Meaning: “One Iced Americano, please.”
“아아 주세요. (Ah-Ah juseyo.)”
- Meaning: “Give me an Ah-Ah.” (Use this to sound like a local).
“영수증 버려주세요. (Yeong-su-jeung beoryeo-juseyo.)”
- Meaning: “Please throw away the receipt.”

Read This Next (Before You Make Another Mistake)

Did you get your caffeine fix? Good. Now keep surviving.