In Ohio, when work ends at 6 PM, you go home. You watch Netflix. You relax. In Seoul, when work ends, the real work begins. It is called Hoesik (Company Dinner).
To a foreigner, it looks like a party. Free BBQ! Free alcohol! Do not be fooled. Hoesik is a battlefield disguised as a dinner. Every shot of Soju is a test of your loyalty. Every piece of pork belly is a test of your “Nunchi” (social awareness).
Welcome to Level 1. Let me tell you how I committed the ultimate sin: I poured my own drink.
The Level 1 Logs: The “Self-Pouring” Sin
Flashback: 3 years ago. My first week at a startup.
The CEO yelled, “Let’s go for Hoesik!” We went to a BBQ place. I was thirsty. A bottle of Soju was right in front of me. So, being an independent woman, I grabbed the bottle and filled my own glass.
Suddenly, the table went silent. The music seemed to stop. My coworker whispered, “Alice… what are you doing?” The CEO looked at me with cold eyes. “In Korea, you never pour your own drink. It brings bad luck to the person sitting across from you.”
I had essentially cursed my boss with bad luck on my first week.
Enter “Ssam” (The Somaek Master)
I met Ssam later for a debriefing (and a hangover soup). “Ssam, I hate Hoesik. I can’t relax. It’s too many rules!”
Ssam nodded. “Hoesik is not about relaxation, Alice. It’s about Hierarchy.”
He taught me the two pillars of Korean office drinking:
- The Pour: You pour for others to show respect. They pour for you to show care. It’s a circle of trust.
- The Kkondae: The old boss who says “Latte is Horse” (Back in my day…). Your job is to nod and smile.
Level 3 Wisdom: The 3 Rules of the Table
Ssam gave me the survival kit. Follow these, and you might even get a promotion.
1. The Two-Hand Rule (Respect)
When you pour a drink for a senior (or receive one):
- Use Two Hands: Right hand holds the bottle/glass, left hand supports your right elbow (or wrist).
- The Angle: Turn your head slightly away from the boss when you drink. Do not make eye contact while chugging Soju. It’s considered aggressive.
2. The Golden Ratio: Somaek (Soju + Beer)
The boss might ask you to mix a drink. Do not fail this. Somaek is the fuel of Hoesik.
- The Ratio: 30% Soju + 70% Beer.
- The Technique: Pour the Soju first, then the beer. Stick a spoon inside and hit the bottom of the glass to make it fizz. (This is a party trick that makes you a hero).
3. The Escape Plan (Don’t Be the First to Leave)
Can you go home after dinner? No. Usually, there is “Round 2” (Fried Chicken) and “Round 3” (Karaoke/Noraebang).
- Rule: You can only leave when the boss leaves.
- Alice’s Cheat: If you really need to leave, pretend you are dead drunk (fall asleep at the table) or say your mom is in the hospital. (Use sparingly).
Alice’s Bottom Line: It’s a Marathon, Not a Sprint
Hoesik can be brutal, but it’s also where you bond with your team. Don’t drink too fast. Eat a lot of meat. And always keep your boss’s glass full.
If you survive until Round 3 Karaoke? Sing “Gangnam Style.” You will be a legend.
Survival Hangul: Hoesik Edition
- “위하여! (Wi-ha-yeo!)”
- Meaning: “Cheers!” (Specifically used in business settings. Literally: “For the sake of!”).
- “라떼는 말이야… (Latte-neun Mariya…)”
- Meaning: “Back in my day…” (Sounds like “Latte is horse”). This is a slang used to mock old-fashioned bosses (Kkondae) who preach about the past. Don’t say this TO the boss, say it ABOUT him.
- “제 잔이 비었습니다. (Je jan-i bieot-seumnida.)”
- Meaning: “My glass is empty.” (A polite hint for a refill).
Read This Next (Before You Make Another Mistake)
Did you survive the office dinner? Good. Now check these out.