Today in 1919, South Korea gained their Independence from Japan.

South Korea

South Korea Breweries

• Hite Brewery Company Limited
• Hotel Ariana
• Jinro Coors Brewing
• O’Kim’s Brauhaus
• Oktoberfest
• Oriental Brewery Company
• Rosenbrau

South Korea Brewery Guides

• Beer Advocate
• Beer Me
• Rate Beer
• Wikipedia’s Beer and breweries in South Korea

Other Guides

• CIA World Factbook
• Official Website
• U.S. Embassy
• Wikipedia

Guild: Korea Microbrewery Association

National Regulatory Agency: Korean Food and Drug Administration

Beverage Alcohol Labeling Requirements: Labels must include the following information:

• Name of the product
• Country of origin
• Type of product
• Importer’s name and address
• Importer’s business license number
• Date of bottling
• Alcohol percentage and product volume: Tolerance of +/- 0.5% with regards to accuracy of alcohol content
• Location where product may be exchanged or returned in the instance of a defective product
• Instructions for storage, if applicable
• Mode of distribution, must specify one of the three: “Discount store sale only,” “Restaurant sale only,” or “Sale for home use only” (taxes on beverages vary depending on the mode of distribution)

Drunk Driving Laws: BAC 0.05%

• Full Name: Republic of Korea
• Location: Eastern Asia, southern half of the Korean Peninsula bordering the Sea of Japan and the Yellow Sea
• Government Type: Republic
• Language: Korean, English (widely taught in junior high and high school)
• Religion(s): Christian 26.3% (Protestant 19.7%, Roman Catholic 6.6%), Buddhist 23.2%, other or unknown 1.3%, none 49.3%
• Capital: Seoul
• Population: 48,860,500; 25th
• Area: 99,720 sq km, 109th
• Comparative Area: Slightly larger than Indiana
• National Food: Kimchi and Bulgogi
• National Symbols: Korean Tiger; Hibiscus; Pine tree; Taegeuk, Namdaemun
• Nickname: Hanguk; Choson, the Land of the Morning Calm
• Affiliations: UN, African Union, Commonwealth
• Independence: From Japan, March 1, 1919 / Liberation Day, August 15, 1945, regained independence from Japan after World War II

• Alcohol Legal: Yes
• Minimum Drinking Age: 19 (If a person is at least 20 according to Korean age reckoning, that person may drink alcohol)
• BAC: 0.05%
• Label Requirements: N/A
• Number of Breweries: 21

• How to Say “Beer”: mek-ju (maek-joo) / 맥주 / 발포성 음료
• How to Order a Beer: 맥주 한 병 더 주세요 / Mekju han byung du juseyo (in a bottle) [Mayk-joo hahn-jahn, joo-se-yoh]
• How to Say “Cheers”: Chukbae / Kong gang ul wi ha yo / Konbe
• Toasting Etiquette: The most common toast is “gonbae,” which is the equivalent of “cheers!” If the toast is proposed as “wonshot” (one shot), guests are expected to empty their glasses in one drink. Formal toasts are usually made only by the host. Visitors may offer to pay for the bill, but the host will usually decline the offer.

  The most common South Korean toast you will hear is ‘Gun-bae.’ When you raise your glass, be sure to do so with your right hand. To confer extra respect toward the person being toasted, support your right arm with your left hand. Be aware that the minute you drain your glass, it is a cue to your host that you would like a ‘refill.’

Alcohol Consumption By Type:

• Beer: 18%
• Wine: 1%
• Spirits:81%
• Other: <1%

Alcohol Consumption Per Capita (in litres):

• Recorded: 11.80
• Unrecorded: 3.00
• Total: 14.80
• Beer: 2.14

WHO Alcohol Data:

• Per Capita Consumption: 11.8 litres
• Alcohol Consumption Trend: Stable
• Excise Taxes: Yes
• Minimum Age: 19
• Sales Restrictions: No
• Advertising Restrictions: Advertising
• Sponsorship/Promotional Restrictions: No

Patterns of Drinking Score: 3

Prohibition: None