A fast-paced card game played with traditional Korean cards, Seotda combines gambling elements with drinking penalties. Players compete by forming specific combinations to beat their opponents. While primarily enjoyed by older participants, younger players often learn it during family gatherings, creating natural opportunities for mentorship and story-sharing.

A counting game where players must clap instead of saying numbers containing 3, 6, or 9. The player who says 3, 6, or 9 must drink. This simple yet engaging activity appeals to all ages. Its straightforward rules make it particularly effective at breaking the ice between different generations.

One of the simplest yet most competitive Korean drinking games, the Bottle Cap game is a game of skill that requires a player to take the soju cap and twist the loose part until it’s straight without breaking it from the cap then flick it with his/her finger. The cap is then passed around until someone eventually breaks it and whoever breaks it will make everyone else drink. Older players often surprise younger ones with their precision, leading to amusing intergenerational rivalries.

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A good game for slower groups, the Spoon Game is played using the traditional Korean metal spoon. Players sit in a circle with a spoon in front of them and they either flip it or leave it as it is after counting down from three. The person in the minority group has to drink. This game tests coordination while incorporating traditional Korean dining implements, making it relatable across age groups.

Players sit on the floor in a circle, and each takes a turn pouring soju into a shot glass in a glass of beer and must pour at least one drop. The trick is to attempt to pour as little as possible so that the shot glass doesn’t sink. The person who sinks the ‘Titanic’ has to drink the mixture in one shot. Despite its Western name, this game has become a staple at Korean gatherings, particularly popular among university students and young professionals.

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A relaxed game where players associate what they think of other players with images and other players point to the person they think fits the description of the image. The player with the most “votes” drinks and describes the next image. Often, the Image Game leads to hilarious misunderstandings between generations and creates opportunities for cultural exchange about changing social norms. It’s best played with three or more people.

Baskin Robbins 31, though named after the ice cream brand, has nothing to do with ice cream. It’s a game where players count from 1 to 31 in a clockwise fashion and each player can say up to three numbers at a time. The player who says 31 drinks and the game then continues with players being eliminated until there’s one winner. A nationwide favourite, the game brings together people of all ages through its simple yet strategic gameplay.

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This Korean drinking game involves players making eye contact and confessing “saranghae” (which means “I love you” in Korean) to the person on their right. If the ‘love’ isn’t reciprocated, said person will have to say “saranghae” to the person in the opposite direction. Players need to refrain from laughing to pass, and the first person who laughs loses.

These games create natural opportunities for cross-generational dialogue, helping participants develop adaptable communication styles both in professional settings and by way of family dynamics. In corporate environments, drinking games serve as informal team-building exercises. Junior employees (hoobae) can interact more freely with senior colleagues (sunbae) and temporarily suspend strict workplace hierarchies while maintaining respectful boundaries.

On the other hand, during holidays and family gatherings, these games create opportunities for different generations to interact on an equal footing. Grandparents teach traditional games to grandchildren, while younger family members introduce modern variations, creating a two-way cultural exchange.

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