{
  "id": 2163249,
  "title": "Drinking trend shift: Why more young Koreans are avoiding company dinners",
  "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/08/20/drinking-trend-shift-why-more-young-koreans-are-avoiding-company",
  "topic": "culture",
  "section": "Culture",
  "published": "2026-08-20T15:32:03.000Z",
  "source": {
    "name": "The Korea Times",
    "slug": "the-korea-times",
    "url": "https://www.koreatimes.co.kr/southkorea/20260821/drinking-trend-shift-why-more-young-koreans-are-avoiding-company-dinners"
  },
  "original_language": "en",
  "account": "The traditional practice of pressuring young Koreans to drink alcohol at company gatherings and social events is slowly fading away. However, in certain workplaces and social groups, this habit remains prevalent. Younger generations are consuming less alcohol compared to their predecessors, and the customary progression from soju at the initial dinner round to draft beer in the second round is also losing popularity.\n\nFor some young professionals, particularly those struggling with a challenging job market, being forced to drink at company dinners can be detrimental enough to contemplate leaving their positions even after being hired by smaller firms. Korea's drinking culture is increasingly becoming a source of generational conflict.\n\nOlder Koreans continue to consume alcohol heavily, as evidenced by the 2025 Community Health Survey conducted by the Korea Disease Control and Prevention Agency. The survey revealed that monthly binge-drinking rates among men aged 60 and 70 have risen over the past six years. Among women, the rate has increased across all age groups in their 30s and beyond. Additionally, OECD data indicates that Korea's monthly binge-drinking prevalence remains high.",
  "summary": "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…",
  "key_points": [
    "Younger Koreans drinking less alcohol than previous generations.",
    "Company dinners with alcohol becoming less common among younger workers.",
    "Korea's drinking culture causing generational conflict."
  ],
  "editors_take": null,
  "illustration": null,
  "coverage": {
    "outlets": 2,
    "also_reported_by": [
      {
        "outlet": "The Korea Times",
        "title": "Drinking trend shift: Why more young Koreans are avoiding company dinners",
        "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/08/20/drinking-trend-shift-why-more-young-koreans-are-avoiding-company-2165148",
        "published": "2026-08-20T15:42:03.000Z"
      }
    ]
  },
  "ai_generated": true,
  "disclaimer": "Summaries, key points and the editor’s take are written by software from other outlets’ reporting and may contain errors — always check the linked original."
}