An international student came back from a company dinner and asked me a question. "Why do you only drink after everyone clinks glasses together? And why do you turn your head away in front of someone older or senior?" Koreans do these things without thinking, so even I paused for a moment. ## The Rule Nobody Wrote Down It's not written anywhere, but at a company dinner there are rules that everyone follows. For the first glass, everyone says "Cheers!" together and then we begin. The youngest person pours a drink for the elders first. When an elder gives you a glass, receive it with both hands. When drinking with an elder, turn your body slightly and turn your head to the side as you drink. ## Why do we do it that way? In the old days in Korea, the way people spoke and acted differed depending on their age and position. Drinking in front of an elder was a delicate matter, so people turned their heads away to avoid being seen drinking. Receiving a drink with both hands also means "I respect you." Sharing the first glass together is a way of saying "We're a team." If you drink first on your own, you feel like you've been cut off from the team. ## Practical Tips You Can Use Right Away Don't put your lips to your glass before the toast. If you can't drink, you can say, "I can't drink," and just touch your lips to the glass. Many people also toast with a soft drink. Nothing serious happens if you break this rule. It's just that the mood might get a little awkward for a moment.