The collaborative song “APT.” by BLACKPINK Rosé and Bruno Mars is causing an unprecedented sensation. Overseas fans are not only singing and enjoying the song but are also eagerly learning and participating in uniquely Korean drinking customs, including drinking games and “somaek” (a mixture of soju and beer).
Upon its release, “APT.” dominated domestic music platforms such as Melon, Genie, Bugs, and Vibe, securing the top position in real-time charts, daily charts, and TOP100. Furthermore, the song reached #1 on Spotify’s Global Chart and U.S. Chart, while also topping iTunes charts in 40 different regions. Notably, reaching #1 on the U.S. Spotify 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.” is perfect in every aspect.” Meanwhile, Sportskeeda also reported that “BLACKPINK’s Rosé celebrated becoming the only female artist, following Ariana Grande and Lady Gaga, to reach #1 on iTunes worldwide with APT.”
“APT.” draws its inspiration from the “apartment game,” a popular drinking game in Korea. Rosé, who participated in both composing and writing the lyrics, introduced it as her favorite game. She mentioned that the game’s simplicity and entertainment value make it perfect for livening up drinking gatherings. Despite being deeply rooted in Korean drinking culture, the song has garnered significant popularity both domestically and internationally.
Across social media platforms like YouTube, TikTok, and Instagram, videos of people singing “APT.” together and recreating the “apartment game” are constantly being uploaded.
A viral video from a club in Germany showed patrons singing along to “APT.” enthusiastically. On October 20th, social media was abuzz with footage of audience members at Bruno Mars’ concert in Brazil chanting “A-pa-teu A-pa-teu” in unison. The song has even become a nighttime anthem in Manhattan’s Koreatown.
The “APT.” phenomenon has captivated not only the general public but also global stars. American pop star Charlie Puth shared a TikTok video of himself mouthing “A-pa-teu A-pa-teu,” commenting, “This is permanently stuck in my head, I think it’s an excellent song.”
As the “APT.” fever continues to spread, foreigners are showing increasing interest in Korean drinking culture, including somaek, drinking etiquette, and other drinking games. The music video’s comment section is filled with people eager to learn more about Korean drinking games.
A user named lonelytoixki commented, “Seeing how they enjoy games while drinking shows that Koreans really know how to have fun” and expressed interest in learning about “other Korean drinking games.”
Following the song’s release, Rosé’s interview with Vogue, where she demonstrated how to make kimchi fried rice, enjoying dried squid with mayonnaise and spicy sauce, and mixing somaek, has gained worldwide attention.
On Reddit, America’s largest online community, Rosé’s kimchi fried rice, dried squid, and somaek have become hot topics. User augustine05 shared, “I tried making somaek for the first time after watching Rosé’s video” and added, “While I can recreate the kimchi fried rice, I’m still hesitant about trying the dried squid.”
Those who have already experimented with somaek are sharing their own recipes. User xalexaxanax commented, “I tried making somaek with the red-capped soju exactly as shown in the Vogue video, but it was too strong for me” and inquired about “what ratio others use for their somaek.”
People are getting more and more intrigued by Korea’s unique drinking etiquette, which differs from other countries thanks to the song. Customs such as covering the label with one’s hand and turning away while drinking with seniors are viewed as fascinating cultural differences.
Questions about unique Korean drinking customs are still trending on Reddit. User moomumoomu explained, “In Korea, when drinking with seniors, it’s polite to cover the label and support the bottle with one hand while pouring” and added that “You should receive drinks with both hands and turn your head while drinking as a sign of respect.”
Source: Daum
