Here's How To Play Korea's APT Drinking Game

Korea's APT drinking game is perfect for bringing social gatherings to life while also bringing people together. Also known as the "Apartment Game," this activity gets its name from the chant shouted at the beginning of each round; after picking a leader, all players repeatedly chant "apateu," meaning "apartment" in Korean.

After the "apateu" chant, the leader shouts out a number representing the floor of an apartment. The players then rush to stack their hands on top of each other in the center of the circle. Next, players remove their hands from the bottom of the stack one at a time, counting up from "one" as they do so. After saying the next number in the sequence, the player then places their hand at the top of the pile. 

Players drink if they repeat a number or if their turn lands on the floor number the leader declared beforehand. Once a player drinks, a new round begins! Grab yourself and some friends a chilled bottle of soju, and the Apartment Game can easily join your own repertoire of party fun. There are other Korean drinking diversions, such as the 3-6-9 game and the nunchi game, that will also liven up the atmosphere of any social gathering should you learn how to play them!

Similar to how Squid Game Season 3's dosirak feature brought attention to a popular Korean lunch, BLACKPINK's Rosé's "APT." brought international attention to Korean drinking games. Considering the energetic beat and catchy chorus of this song, it might come as a surprise to learn that it was actually during a casual night at the studio that the creative itch struck.

In Rosé's variation of the game, all participants kick off the "apateu" chant by announcing that this is the leader's favorite game. If the leader was Rosé, for example, the participants would say in unison, "Rosé's favorite game. Game, start!" They would then chant "apateu" six times before stacking hands in the middle. 

It was during the "apateu" chant that Rosé and her crew experienced a spark of creativity; Rosé realized they should draw on this game for musical inspiration. The Apartment Game itself reminds Rosé of nights spent with friends, such as the night of her 20th birthday when she celebrated with other members of BLACKPINK by playing this game. 

The details of the Apartment Game, such as how many times to chant "apateu," might vary from group to group, but the exact details of the game are less important than the fun found while playing with friends. While it might not take over the U.S. college party scene like borgs did (or maybe it will!), the Apartment Game holds its place as a classic Korean drinking game.