"They don't have it here," Sungmin replied. He'd tried translating soju to English already, which had worked when he was back on the West Coast, but had only earned him blank stares here. Still, it was the easiest explanation. "It's a kind of rice wine from South Korea."
He waved a hand - a bit unsteadily, though that was more due to tiredness than the alcohol tonight - at the rows of bottles lined up on shelves behind the bartender. "A little like vodka, but better tasting."
And then, because it seemed polite to not be the only one talking, he asked, "What did you ask for? I'm surprised a bar like this wouldn't have it."