The Real Korea Behind the Scene
Why do characters in Korean dramas drink soju outside convenience stores?
① The Scene
In Korean dramas and films, characters often sit at the plastic tables outside a convenience store, drinking soju. Squid Game's Seong Gi-hun appears in exactly this scene in episode 1.
② Ordinary to Koreans, but…
It's not a special night out or an expensive bar — just an ordinary way to unwind at the end of the day, so common that Koreans barely notice it.
③ Here's the Real Culture
Korean convenience stores are more than places to buy things — they're open 24 hours and within walking distance almost everywhere. Soju is cheap (around 2,000 won a bottle at a supermarket) and has gotten progressively lighter: about 35% ABV a century ago, then Jinro's Chamisul broke the "soju = 25%" norm by launching at 23% in 1998, and it has kept dropping since — today most brands sit around 16%. That makes it an easy, low-pressure drink, and the tables outside a convenience store become a small, open-to-anyone spot to say "good job today."
④ Is It Still True Today?
Yes — many people still stop by a convenience store after work to grab a soju or beer and chat briefly with a friend or coworker, whether as a quick warm-up before a proper night out or just to unwind alone. It's a genuinely everyday sight in Korea.
