At a Korean company dinner, my glass is running empty, but nobody passes me the bottle. So when I try to pour for myself, the person next to me says, "Oh, wait a moment!" and stops me. A foreign student once went through this and asked, "Did I make a mistake?" That's what they asked me. ## Here's what to do First, check whether the glass of the person next to you is empty. If it is empty, hold the bottle with one hand and support that arm with the other hand as you pour. When you receive a drink in your own glass, hold the glass with both hands. When you drink with an elder, turn your head slightly away as you drink. If you can't drink alcohol, say with a smile, "I can't drink." Even just accepting a little in your glass will lift the mood. ## Why is that? In Korea, drinking is not something you do alone, but something you do together. If you fill your own glass yourself, it may look like you aren't looking after the person next to you. So people pour for each other, conveying the feeling, "I'm looking out for you." Keeping an eye out so that someone else's glass never runs empty is what consideration means. Using both hands is a sign of respect. Since long ago, people have used both hands when giving something to or receiving something from an elder, and it's the same with drinks. Turning your head away is also a courtesy, so you don't show your elders your face as you drink. These days, there are also many gatherings among young people where they say, "Let's just pour for ourselves, no pressure." So first read the mood, and if you're not sure, just do what the person next to you does.