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South Korea · age 19

Legal Drinking Age Checker for South Korea

The legal drinking age in South Korea is age 19.

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Frequently asked questions

What's the legal drinking age in South Korea?

The legal drinking age in South Korea is 19. Uses Korean age reckoning, which can effectively mean 18 in international terms depending on birth month — 19 by Korean count is the standard reference.

Will I be asked for ID in South Korea?

Yes, especially if you're close to the minimum age of 19 — carry a valid passport, since a foreign driver's license isn't always accepted as proof of age.

Is the drinking age the same everywhere in South Korea?

Rules can vary between regions/states within a country — this reflects the national or most common standard for South Korea, so check locally if you're near the threshold.

Is this different from whether South Korea is a "dry" country?

Yes — this is specifically about the minimum legal age, not general alcohol availability or dry regions, which is a separate consideration.