A person on Feb. 16, 2022, holds an iced Americano despite a frigid winter temperature of minus 11 degrees Celsius while waiting for the signal to change on a crosswalk in Seoul's Jongno-gu District. (Yonhap News)

By Lee Jihae

A foreign wire service has covered Korean affinity for iced Americano even in frigid cold winter of subzero temperatures.

AFP of France on Feb. 10 in the story headlined "Coffee so cold it's hot: South Korea's love of iced Americano" explained the Korean neologism "Eoljuka," an abbreviated form of the phrase "Iced Americano even if I freeze to death."

The video called iced Americano the nation's "unofficial national drink," saying it outsells its hot counterpart even in the depths of winter.

The average Korean drinks 353 cups of coffee per year, more than double the global average, it added.

Office worker Lee Ju-eun grabbed a plastic cup of iced Americano and shivered in the cold while telling AFP, "I only drink this. Iced Americano is easier to drink and also tastier, so I enjoy drinking it even in winter," adding, "I'm cold but it's okay. I can endure it."

Accountant Lee Dae-hee also told AFP that he exclusively consumed iced Americanos  "because it is a faster and more efficient caffeine hit, essential in South Korea's hard-driving 'ppalli-ppalli' -- hurry-hurry -- work culture."

"It doesn't make me cold because I go straight to the office and I don't spend much time outside," he added.

Culinary expert You Seung-bong was quoted as saying in a separate AFP video, "I think the characteristics of Korean food can be described as sweet, salty or spicy. After eating such food, I think iced Americanos provide an easy way to refresh the palate."

Starbucks Korea from Jan. 26-30 held an event for giving free size upgrades for iced Americanos.

The company said iced drinks accounted for 76% of its sales last year.

From November last year to this month, 60% of the drinks Starbucks Korea sold were iced, showing just how brisk sales are of cold drinks in the country despite cold weather.

jihlee08@korea.kr