Soju is a popular local spirit that has comforted people's hearts for many years. No matter whether people feel happy or sad, it has remained Koreans' best friend for a long time. Some people would say they feel something is missing without soju when there is a bowl of hot, boiling kimchi stew on the table or a large plate of pork belly in front of them. Soju is something that many people cannot live without. 

There are many reasons that people drink soju. Some enjoy getting drunk with close friends. Others drink soju to wash away their fatigue and stress. The liquor is also popular because it also goes well with many dishes.

Soju accounts for nearly 40 percent of the total alcohol consumed by people in Korea each year, according to a recent study. Though Koreans drink more beer than soju in terms of absolute volume, soju remains the most popular liquor when comparing volume and alcohol percentage.