The most famous bomb, Somaek
The culture of mixed drinks (bomb drinks) existed in the past as well. This is likely true not only in Korea but in other countries too. However, Korea has a particularly diverse culture of mixed drinks, and among them are Soju, which frequently appears in K-dramas, and Somaek that always accompanies it. Somaek didn't just naturally become popular among people – there are specific reasons behind it. In this article, I'd like to explore more about somaek.
Bomb Drinks in Korea
In Joseon Dynasty literature, which contains recipes for both Korean and foreign cuisines, there appears something called "Hondonju" (meaning "a drink that takes you to a world of confusion"). This shows that "bomb drinks" (mixed alcoholic beverages) like mixing makgeolli and soju existed even in that era. Since diluted soju didn't exist at that time, people mixed strong distilled soju with makgeolli.
Later in the 20th century, there was a culture of mixing beer with makgeolli. Beer was extremely expensive at that time, so rather than drinking beer itself, people mixed it with makgeolli to make it more affordable.
Many other bomb drinks emerged over time, such as mixing soju, baekseju(Korean rice wine with hurbs), sansachun(one of Korean alcohols made from fermented hawthorn berries), and beer together; combining soju, beer, and cola; or mixing soju and soft drinks with ice cream etc. However, the most representative Korean bomb drink remains "somaek" (soju and beer).
Korea had a strong tendency to mix various alcoholic beverages even before cocktails became popular. This is similar to Korean food culture, comparable to how people wrap various side dishes and sauces in "ssam" (vegetable wraps) according to personal taste.
The beginning of Somaek
In 1980, President Chun Doo-hwan carried out a media consolidation event. After seizing power through a military coup, he feared that media companies would create anti-government public opinion, so he merged and consolidated the press under government control. As a result, many media outlets that lost their autonomy were shut down, and journalists who opposed this reportedly began drinking "somaek" during this time.
It's somewhat ironic that both the history of soju and the history of somaek were created through forced standardisation by the privileged class, yet have now become a reality where almost all citizens enjoy them. While traditional home brewing culture was about enjoying good rhythms with neighbors while savoring delicious food and drink, modern Korean alcohol culture seems to have a stronger sense of releasing emotional burdens through drinking.
The Somaek and the Sales Volume of Soju
As people began to enjoy somaek widely, soju sales volume increased tremendously. The decrease in soju's alcohol percentage is certainly a significant reason for the increase in sales. However, for people who don't enjoy alcohol, soju is still too harsh and unpleasant despite having a lower alcohol percentage compared to whiskey or vodka. This is because soju is colorless, odorless, and flavorless. On the other hand, beer alone fills you up too much without getting you drunk. By mixing the two, people could reduce soju's harsh taste while still feeling the effects of alcohol, which is why it became popular among people of all ages and genders. Similar to how whiskey companies saw increased sales when they began marketing highballs, the emergence of somaek boosted soju sales.
The Ratio of Somaek
Just as Korea has a diverse culture of "bomb drinks" (mixed drinks), the ratios used also vary greatly. Some people mix soju and beer 1:1, others prefer 1:2 or 1:3, and some even use more soju than beer. Some people shake the beer to utilize the foam, while others use the label on beer glasses to create their own personal ratio.
Personally, I fill a soju glass completely with soju and then add two full soju glasses of beer to mix it. This 1:2 ratio creates just the right amount to drink in one gulp without being overwhelming. If you ever have the chance to drink somaek with someone, asking "What's your somaek preference?" can be a great question to make the gathering more enjoyable.
