Seoul: Korean Drinking Games Night & Somaek with Local Guide

Korean Drinking Games Born in Seoul Dorms: Now You Play Them

You'll play Korean drinking games invented by university students, learn to mix somaek and soju bombs, eat cheese potato pancake, and spend the night with a local guide in Seoul's Hongdae neighborhood. Non-drinkers join in without pressure. Small groups mean you'll meet other travelers and locals in a real Korean drinking setting, not a tourist one. The guide speaks English clearly and keeps the pace moving so language never gets in the way.

Step-by-step itinerary

Experience Korean drinking games night

• Join Korean drinking games
• Learn games from local guide
• Play games with other guests
• Learn to make Somaek and Soju Bomb
• Enjoy Cheese Potato Pancake starter

The experience

Somaek (that's beer mixed with soju poured straight into the glass) arrives at your table, and your guide Hongdae Boy explains the first game in plain English. The rules are simple enough that language doesn't matter. You're in the hottest part of Seoul's nightlife, surrounded by locals who've been playing these games since university, and the whole point is that they invented them to blow off steam between exams. No fancy cocktails here, no pretense. Just the drink that gets passed around Korean offices and college campuses, and the games that go with it.

The games themselves came from stressed students looking for a way to bond and forget about grades for a night. Your guide walks you through each one: how to play, what the stakes are, why Koreans find them hilarious. You'll learn to make a Soju Bomb (soju dropped into beer) the way it's done in K-dramas, and you'll taste Somaek mixed properly, not guessed at. Between rounds, cheese potato pancake shows up: crispy, loaded, exactly the kind of food that keeps a drinking night going. If you're not drinking, you're still in the games. The guide makes sure everyone plays, alcohol or not, because the fun is in the competition and the laughter, not the drink itself.

Solo travelers often worry they'll feel out of place, but these nights have a way of turning strangers into a table of people who came alone and leave as a group. The guide keeps the energy moving, the games rotate fast enough that nobody gets bored, and by the time you're two hours in, you've learned something about how Koreans actually unwind that you wouldn't get from a bar crawl or a club. Public transport is close by when the night ends, so getting back to your hotel is straightforward.

What’s included

• Your night includes a local guide (Hongdae Boy), beer and soju, instruction in Korean drinking games, a lesson in making somaek and soju bombs, and cheese potato pancake.
• Non-drinkers get the same games and food without alcohol.
• The guide speaks English and keeps groups small so everyone can play and talk.

Before you book

Days and timesThursday to SaturdayDeparts at 20:00

Book up to1h before

AgesAdult (19 and older) · Under 19: can't be booked

GroupUp to 10

Live guideEnglish

Meeting point and pickupNo hotel pickup: you go to the meeting point. Ends back at the starting point.

Cancellation and refundsFree cancellation up to 24 h before the start. After that, no refund.It may be canceled due to bad weather or if the minimum number of travelers isn't reached. If that happens, you're offered another date or a refund.

Prices and times updated 6 days ago

Good to know

Low physical effortPublic transport nearby

Operated by Korean Drinking Games Night

Is this one for you?Book this if you want to learn how Koreans actually drink and bond, not through a filtered tourist lens, but through the games university students invented to survive stress. The small group and English-speaking guide mean you'll understand what's happening and feel part of it, whether you drink or not.

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Top questions

What happens if it rains?

It may be canceled due to bad weather. If that happens, you're offered another date or a refund. Free cancellation up to 24 h before the start.

Do I have to drink alcohol to join?

No. Non-drinkers are welcome and play the same games without pressure. The guide includes you in every round.

What's Somaek?

Beer mixed with soju (Korean spirit), poured into one glass. You'll learn to make it and taste it the way Koreans do.

Will I understand the games if my English isn't great?

Yes. The guide says these games don't need advanced English. The rules are visual and simple, so language won't be a barrier.

Is this in a club or a bar?

It's in Hongdae, Seoul's hottest nightlife area. The exact venue is part of the local experience your guide chooses.

Can I come alone?

Yes. Solo travelers often come and end up part of a group by the end of the night. The guide makes sure everyone feels included.

What food is included?

Cheese potato pancake (Korean pizza). It arrives between game rounds to keep the night going.

How do I get back to my hotel?

Public transportation is available nearby, so you can take the subway or a taxi back whenever the night ends.