In Seoul
Koreans are turning to booze in the economic downturn.
The Korea Alcohol and Liquor Industry Association said that consumption of soju (traditional Korean liquor) increased by 5.1 per cent year-on-year between January and September. The figures for beer and whisky went up by 5.3 percent and 4.4 percent respectively.
In South Korea , the alcohol industry will always do well. When times are good, people celebrate by drinking. When times are bad - like now - they drown their sorrows in booze.
With the plummeting stocks value, the falling Korean won, the fears of retrenchment and the rising cost of living, Koreans find solace in commiserating over the clinking of glasses at a pub. Soju which costs a mere 1,000 won (S$1.30) a glass" is a cheap pain-killer, a stress reliever.
A common phrase that is heard in offices across the nation come dinner time is "han chan hashida" - which literally means "let's go for a glass".
So if you want to comfort a Korean who is suffering the effects of an economic downturn, try that phrase.
Bottoms up!