Will Blackpink’s Rose and Bruno Mars’ new song Apt. revive Korean drinking games?

SEOUL – “Apateu, apateu.” This catchy chant over a bouncy beat has been propelling K-pop girl group Blackpink’s Rose and American singer Bruno Mars’ collaboration, Apt., to massive global success.

For many South Koreans, the tune and its themes feel all too familiar, mirroring a drinking game of the same name that they have nearly grown out of.

“Drinking games are kind of over,” said Ms Lee Ji-won, 22, a university student in Seoul. “People who bring them up seem old-fashioned. The days of pressured drinking are fading as everyone’s tolerance for it wears thin,” she added.

Drinking game that inspired Apt.

Before diving into the mixed views of Koreans about what is now in South Korea considered the somewhat passe drinking game that inspired the chart-topper, here is what this game is and what Korean drinking games in general entail.

Korean drinking games, once a staple of college parties, are quite varied. In 2016, local media outlet Money Today noted that while classics like I Am Ground and 007 Bbang once dominated the scene, the list of games had at that point grown so extensive that it became difficult to count.

Apt. is one of the time-worn classics. This is how the the game is played, according to Rose’s own tutorial on TikTok.

A group of people gather in a circle facing one another and, with their arms bent at the elbows and palms facing down, move their hands horizontally in a criss-cross fashion. The participants perform this movement while chanting “apateu, apateu”, as in the song’s chorus.

After chanting the phrase three times, everyone piles their hands up on top of one another in the centre of the circle.

One person, designated at the beginning of the game, yells out a number.

Each hand in the stack represents a floor in the “apartment building” of hands they have symbolically “built”. The players begin counting, and the person whose hand is at the very bottom must move his or her hand to the top of the stack until he or she reaches the number that was called out. Whoever’s hand ends up on the top of the stack must drink a shot of alcohol.

Typically lasting just a few minutes, the game can easily leave the unlucky players wasted after an hour of play.

Korean drinking games stand out for their simplicity, requiring no special equipment such as dice, ping-pong balls or card decks. All that is needed are memory skills, rhythm and a willingness to chant some playful songs.

Most of these games are just for fun, though some reflect aspects of everyday Korean life.

The Apt. drinking game is tied to Koreans’ familiarity with apartment living – by 2022, more than 51.9 per cent of Koreans resided in apartments.

Another one, the “subway game”, starts when a player calls out a Seoul subway line, and the others take turns naming stations on that line.

There is also Hunminjeongeum, named after the Hangeul writing system created in 1443 by King Sejong. In this game, the leader calls out two consonants of their choice, and players must quickly shout words that contain the two consonants while forming a chain with their thumbs up stacked one on top of the other in the centre of a circle. The player who cannot think of a relevant word is penalised by having to drink.

College ice-breaking ritual

As in other countries, these drinking games inevitably lead to many shots being downed as penalties. Because of this aspect, they are not as popular as they used to be in the past, according to Mr Kim Min-soo, 20.

“We’re drinking less and playing fewer games,” he said. “Today’s generation sees alcohol as something to savour, like a delicacy – not just a way to get drunk.”

Ms Kim Ga-eul, 24, said drinking games are mostly a ritual among college first-years to break the ice. “I rarely play drinking games with close friends unless we’re super drunk and really bored,” she added.

A survey conducted earlier in 2024 by South Korean pharmaceutical company Handok, which produces hangover cures, also reflects this trend, showing students’ reluctance towards drinking games.

Conducted online over two weeks starting Feb 26, the survey involved 475 college students from across South Korea, from first- to fourth-year students.

It found that people students most wanted to avoid at new-semester gatherings were those who persistently encouraged drinking – 29.9 per cent. This type of person was followed by people who disappear when it is time to pay (28.2 per cent) and those focused solely on drinking games (26.5 per cent).

An advertising industry insider echoed this shift, noting that Gen Z drinkers – those under the age of 27 – favour variety and moderation in their drinking habits.

“When we pitch for alcohol ads, we keep in mind that Gen Z drink less and enjoy a wider selection,” the insider said. “This phenomenon was gradually occurring, but Covid-19 restrictions on large gatherings really sped up the change.”

A local liquor industry insider added: “The drinking culture has shifted dramatically due to Covid-19’s influence. It’s moved away from the old ‘pour it, drink it up’ culture to one where you drink a little and savour that.”

For some, trip down memory lane

Those who experienced the heyday of Korean drinking games up until the pandemic outbreak have mixed feelings about their impact.

Drinking games in South Korea are often seen as an effective way for strangers to bond quickly.

“They bring everyone together; it really works,” said 30-year-old Kim Joo-eun. “One of the games, in which people take turns trying to remember a growing list of participants’ names, is a great way not only to break the ice, but also to remember everyone’s name.”

Mr Kim Hyun-jun, now in his 30s and a former high school and university student in the United States, agreed. “I studied in the US and, honestly, I haven’t seen anything quite like Korean drinking games. They’re a fantastic way to break the ice.”

However, not everyone has fond memories of these games.

“Drinking games force you to drink too quickly,” said Ms Park Kyu-jin, in her 30s. “I don’t handle alcohol well, so I always feel guilty when friends take my penalty shots.”

Ms Min Jung-a, in her 30s, said: “In Korea, it seems we enjoy the culture of getting drunk together more than the drinks themselves. It’s less about savouring a drink or having a good conversation and more about playing games and getting drunk quickly, which I don’t prefer.”

Ms Kim Yoo-jung, 32, echoed this sentiment. “I definitely drink more when I play drinking games, and I’ve seen so many friends throw up while playing. I don’t think it’s healthy at all.” THE KOREA HERALD/ASIA NEWS NETWORK