5 Korean Drinking Games for a Fun Night Out with Friends

Koreans know just how to have fun and let loose after a day of hard work. Apart from its vibrant drinking culture, the country also boasts a collection of drinking games designed to break barriers and bring people together. After all, where’s the fun in drinking if there aren’t games, right? If all of this sounds fun to you, you can immerse yourself in this cultural experience too! Simply grab a few friends, some soju or makgeolli, and engage in a night of fun with these five games.
 

1. 3-6-9 | 삼육구 (sam-yuk-gu)

3-6-9 is a counting game that rose to popularity following its appearance on the Korean sports variety programme 출발 드림팀 (chul-bal deu-lim-tim)—Let’s Go! Dream Team. No equipment, apart from your hands, are required.

During the game, players take turns to call out numbers beginning with one. The people who're supposed to say three, six, and nine, will need to replace it with a clap. This includes any double or triple digits with the numbers three, six, and nine. For example, one > two > *clap* > four > five > *clap*.

Participants who come across digits containing two or more of the numbers three, six, and nine (e.g. 33, 66, 999) will have to clap according to how many times the number appears. For instance, clap twice for 33 and 66, and thrice for 999. Whoever makes a mistake drinks and the round will restart.

Learn More: Korean Counting System: Sino-Korean and Native Korean

2. High-Low | 하이-로우 (ha-i-lo-u)

Source: Creatrip

Did you know that soju bottle caps can be used for drinking games too? Once you’ve opened the bottle, don’t throw the cap away, flip it over and take a look inside and you’ll see a number on it.

This number will facilitate your next game—high-low. Assign someone to take a look at the number and tell everyone a range (e.g. if it’s the number 30, the range could be between 1 and 80). Players will start guessing what number it is, with the person holding the cap hinting whether they should go higher or lower. Whoever guesses the number correctly is safe, while the people on his left and right must drink.

3. Bunny Bunny | 바니바니 (ba-ni-ba-ni)

To play this game, you’ll need to assign one person (player one) to start. Player one will put their hands together as though they’re eating like a bunny and chant “bunny bunny” until they wish to pass the “responsibility” on to player two. To pass, point at the chosen person. At the same time, the players next to player one will have to shout 당근 (dang-geun), which means carrot. Whoever fails to follow through with the rhythm and chants will have to drink.

4. Timing Game | 눈치게임 (nun-chi-ge-im)

Source: Koreaboo

Another game that fans of the Running Man variety show will be familiar with is the Timing Game. This game requires all players to shout a number and perform an action, usually by standing up or sitting down, without anyone else calling out the same digit. If two or more people say the same number, they lose and must drink. The last person loses and drinks too.

5. Bottlecap Game | 병뚜껑 치기 (byeong-ttu-kkeong chi-gi)

Source: The Smart Local

The last game on our list is a relatively simple one that requires a soju bottle cap. These caps, when opened, come undone together with a long thin strip of metal attached to them. What you’ll have to do is carefully twist the strip into a straight and sturdy piece that can be flicked with the finger. All participants will take turns to flick this metal strip once until someone flicks it off entirely. This person loses and must drink.

Love these drinking games? The next time you’re out for drinks with your friends, try playing one of these games to add more fun to your night!

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