Soju is the number one spirit in South Korea. It is a low alcohol spirit, generally around 22 percent. Soju is made by distillation of grain or sweet potatoes.
Last year 3.000.000.000 bottles were sold in the morning calm country, it means 87 bottles per peoples over 20 years old. This is only numbers; to be precise I should add that the bottle of Soju is usually 375ml. Is it a lot? I don’t know, but sure I know some fellows who are drinking more than 2 bottles per week.
As strange it can be, I got my first experience with soju in India 6 years ago. It was a party organized by the project and 3 Korean guys whom came for the heating-up were with us. I got a glass of this drink pouring from a carton box by a fellow who became later one of my good friend. No strong filling from this first try, no colour, almost no smell and tasteless as well. I quickly forget this beverage for this time.
A coupe of years later I got a project in Korea. I did my best to keep as far as possible from the Soju. I allowed one or two glasses per dinner. But it is almost impossible to avoid totally the Soju when living in Korea.Little by little I got use to the Soju. Now I can’t imagine a sangyupsal without Soju.

When writing these lines, the remember of the incredible diners, table cover by tens of dishes, the glasses of soju changing hands, the so friendly atmosphere, all of this put me to miss this time and to really hope to have a new project with all my friends.

Some rules have to be followed, you should never fill your own glass (anyway you have never time to do that), when you pour the liquor you should use your two hands. Normally the Soju is drunken by one shot. When you empty your glass, you can offer it to some of your companions and fill it for him.

Michel Henry,
http://michelhenry.blog.lemonde.fr