Drinking trend shift: Why more young Koreans are avoiding company dinners
com. The culture of pressuring people to drink alcohol at company gatherings and social events is gradually disappearing. Yet in some workplaces and social groups, the practice still persists. Younger Koreans are drinking less than previous generations, and the traditional pattern of moving from soju at a first-round dinner to draft beer at a second round…
The trend of drinking at company dinners among younger Koreans is shifting, as more young people are opting to avoid such gatherings. Despite this cultural change, some traditional practices still persist in select workplaces and social circles. Among younger Koreans, alcohol consumption has decreased compared to previous generations. The customary progression from soju at the initial dinner round to draft beer in the second round is becoming less prevalent.
For many young workers, particularly those facing challenges in the job market, the pressure to drink at company dinners can be so severe that it may prompt them to consider leaving their positions even after joining smaller companies. The cultural landscape in Korea is increasingly marked by generational conflict surrounding drinking habits.
According to the 2025 Community Health Survey published by the Korea Disease Control and Prevention Agency, monthly binge-drinking rates among men aged 60 and 70 rose over the past six years. Among women, the rate increased across all age groups starting in their 30s. Additionally, OECD data highlights that Korea's monthly binge-drinking prevalence is on the rise.
Written by urgent.news from The Korea Times's reporting — not their text. Machine-written — may contain errors; check the original before relying on it.
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