The collaborative song “APT”. by BLACKPINK Rosé and Bruno Mars is causing an unprecedented sensation. Foreign fans are not only singing and enjoying the song, but are also enthusiastically learning and participating in unique Korean drinking customs, including drinking games and “somaic” (a mixture of soju and beer).
Upon its release, “APT.” dominated national music platforms such as Melon, Genie, Bugs and Vibe, securing first positions in real-time charts, daily charts and the TOP100. Additionally, the song reached number one on Spotify’s global chart and the US chart, as well as topped the iTunes charts in 40 different regions. Notably, reaching #1 on Spotify’s US chart marks a historic achievement as Rosé becomes the first Korean female solo artist to do so.
The Independent, a British news outlet, praised the song, stating: “BLACKPINK’s Rosé and Bruno Mars’ new song “APT”. it is perfect in every way.” In the meantime, Sportskeeda also reported this “BLACKPINK’s Rosé celebrated by becoming the only female artist, after Ariana Grande and Lady Gaga, to reach #1 on iTunes worldwide with APT.”
“APT.” draws inspiration from “apartment game”, a popular drinking game in Korea. Rosé, who participated in both the composition and writing of the lyrics, presented it as her favorite game. He said the game’s simplicity and entertainment value make it perfect for spicing up drinking sessions. Despite being deeply rooted in Korean drinking culture, the song has garnered considerable popularity both domestically and internationally.
On social media platforms like YouTube, TikTok and Instagram, videos of people singing “APT.” together and recreating the “apartment game” are constantly loaded.
A viral video from a club in Germany showed customers singing together “APT.” with enthusiasm. On October 20, social media was abuzz with footage of the audience at Bruno Mars concert in Brazil singing “A-pa-teu A-pa-teu” in unison. The song even became a late-night anthem in Manhattan’s Koreatown.
THE “APT.” The phenomenon has fascinated not only the general public but also global stars. American pop star Charlie Puth shared a video on TikTok in which he speaks with his mouth “A-pa-teu A-pa-teu,” commenting, “This is permanently stuck in my head, I think it’s an excellent song.”
Like the “APT.” fever continues to spread, foreigners show increasing interest in Korean drinking culture, including somaek, drinking etiquette and other drinking games. The comments section of the music video is full of people eager to learn more about Korean drinking games.
A user named solitarytoixki commented, “Seeing how they have fun playing games while drinking shows that Koreans really know how to have fun” and expressed interest in learning more “more korean drinking games.”
After the song’s release, Rosé’s interview with Vogue, where she demonstrated how to make kimchi fried rice, enjoying dried calamari with mayonnaise and hot sauce, and mixing somaek, gained worldwide attention.
On Reddit, America’s largest online community, rosé kimchi fried rice, dried calamari and somaek have become hot topics. User augustine05 shared, “I tried somaek for the first time after watching Rosé’s video” and added, “Even though I can recreate fried rice with kimchi, I’m still hesitant to try dried calamari.”
Those who have already experimented with somaek share their recipes. User xalexaxanax commented, “I tried making somaek with red cap soju exactly as shown in the Vogue video, but it was too strong for me” and I asked for information “what ratio do others use for their somaek.”
People are increasingly intrigued by Korea’s unique drinking etiquette, which differs from that of other countries thanks to the song. Customs such as covering the label with one’s hand and turning away while drinking with elders are seen as fascinating cultural differences.
Questions about unique Korean drinking customs are still trending on Reddit. User moomumoomu explained: “In Korea, when drinking with the elderly, it is polite to cover the label and support the bottle with one hand while pouring” and added that “You should receive a drink with both hands and turn your head while drinking as a sign of respect. “
Source: Daum
