After learning about the drinking manner with Jenna and Christi, I started to wonder about the Korean drinking game. It always seems to me that even though there are so many drinking games in Korea, people know about them all. I have heard about some of them, but I want to learn more about the details.
One of the most popular and commonly played is called 아이엠그라운드 (I am ground) game. There are four beats where you clap at different places. People sit in a circle for this game and clap together. The first round is self-introduction when people say their names on the last two beats. After that, one person says his/her name first, and then say another person’s name followed by a number less or equal to four. The person who is called out needs to say his/her name on the beats, and then call out somebody else again. One person is out if he/she is off the beat, calls a wrong name, or if he/she calls somebody who is already out. This is a good way for people to make friends when they are hanging out with a group of people whom they are not yet familiar with, such as friends of a friend.
Another classic drinking game is 눈치 (sense) game. In the game, one person stands up and calls out “one!” out of a sudden. Then, each person calls out the number that is one step bigger than the number called out before while standing up. If two people call out the same number or stand up at the same time, they are out together. If everyone calls out a different number until the last person, then the last person is out. This game is fun because there is always tension in the air when people are trying to be the next one standing up. It is also more convenient for people to play since they don’t have to sit in a circle to play this game.
A game that I have tried with my friends is called 바니바니 (bunny bunny). People sit in a circle and start with one person saying “바니 바니” twice. On the first 바니바니, the person points to himself/herself, and on the second one, point to somebody else in the circle. The person who is pointed at will repeat the “바니바니” and pass it to somebody else again. Also, whoever sits right next to the person who is pointed at should say “당근! 당근!” (carrot carrot) when the person in the middle is saying “바니 바니.” Whoever forgets to do “당근! 당근!” or didn’t catch the “바니 바니” passed on to him/her will drink or even take a shot.
There are many general rules for the drinking game. For example, whoever loses the game is taking a shot. Before the person drinks, other people on the table will sing a drinking song, such as “술이 들어 간다! 쭉, 쭉, 쭉쭉! ” (Here comes the drink! Drink, drink, drink, drink!), which makes the drinking more fun and interesting.
Sources:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XkmqpTNVqyI
https://www.youtube.com/watch?time_continue=3&v=2FBajA_MLWY&feature=emb_logo
https://10mag.com/10-korean-drinking-games-you-have-to-try/
http://whatakdrama.com/best-korean-drinking-games-how-to-play/
Comments
Hey Maggie! I really enjoy reading your post! I find that those drinking games you mentioned are really similar to the Chinese drinking games. I think the similarity is partially caused by the frequent cultural communication between Korea and China. As you know, Korean drama and films are popular in China, and people will definitely learn those drinking games from Korean dramas and films.
These games sound really interesting and fun. Definitely want to try them someday. I find it funny that some of them, like I am ground and sense, are actually a little complex, but that makes them really good drinking games because the worse you are at it the better for drinking, haha.
You got a great post Maggie! I really enjoy reading your post and fortunately I know all of the drinking games you introduced. And I also played the second one when I was traveling in South Korea. Your post reminds me of the fantastic time I had with those Korean people I met for the first time in the club. Especially the drinking song you mentioned at the end of your post, many times I heard them singing that song. It was really fun. Thanks for your post!
Amazing post! There's really endless amount of Korean drinking games. Since Korean culture really integrates drinking, they really have a lot of fun with it. The sense game is not just for drinking game. It is commonly used in any situation to pick out two people for something. You can see this game used in many variety shows as well.
Thanks for your post! I am also very interested in Korean drinking games, it seems that Korean people really have a lot of games. I only know the first two games you mentioned, and in one of the Korean reality shows I watched, I also saw 아이엠그라운드 with eight beats.