Drinking Water in South Korea

There were surprisingly few culture shocks when I came to South Korea, but one that stood out the most to me was how water was served and accessed. It may seem like a tiny detail, but it’s something I’ve encountered every day. It also reveals information about everyday life in South Korea.

In the US if you go to a restaurant, one of the first things you are given is a large cup of ice water. However, in South Korea, you are either given a pitcher of water and small cups, a pitcher of barley tea, or no water at all. If you’re not given water, make sure to look around the restaurant because there is often a self-serve water station, also with tiny cups. Interestingly, I noticed when eating out with Korean friends, they often don’t even use the self-serve water. Even worse, in the dining halls on campus there is self-serve water, but with teeny-tiny paper water cups that contain maybe two gulps of water. At first, I was shocked at how tiny the cups were, but I slowly adapted by making sure to bring my own water with me. I have learned it’s best to bring my water bottle everywhere I go!

I started to question why Koreans use such small cups compared to the US. One explanation could be that soups make up a large portion of Korean meals. Most meals either include soup as a main dish or as a side. It seems like Koreans get most of their hydration from soup rather than water.

Another thing that surprised me was the kind of cups Koreans use. Instead of plastic or glass, usually water is served in stainless steel or paper cups. This reflects South Korea’s sustainability efforts. Steel cups are also kept in a sterilizer, which is something not commonly seen in the US.

However, there is no shortage of water in South Korea. But even though tap water is safe to drink in Korea, many people prefer bottled water. 2-liter bottles of water are sold at stores for convenience. With Korea’s strict recycling system the plastic bottles aren’t seen as a problem. There are also water refill stations on campus, but they are a bit less common than on my campus in the US. Additionally, on each floor of my dorm there is a water machine with cold and hot water, which comes in handy for early morning tea and late night ramen!

While this topic is a bit obscure, hopefully this blog brings some insight into drinking water in South Korea!