Objectives: This study seeks to understand social and cultural characteristics of users of harmful levels of alcohol, with a comparison between Korean men and women being the focus of analysis. Methods: The 11th wave of the Korean Welfare Panel study, a nationally representative dataset, was used. The sample included 5,671 male and 7,346 female Koreans who were 16 years old or above in 2016. Those who reported 8 or more points for the AUDIT (Alcohol Use Disorders Identification Test) were considered to be users of harmful levels of alcohol. Univariate analysis and multiple logistic regression were conducted, with individual characteristics, socioeconomic status, interpersonal relationships, and social norms as independent variables, and whether one is a user of harmful levels of alcohol as a dependent variable. Results: Those who were 65+, who had more depressive symptoms, higher self-rated health, who were economically active, separated/divorced, who had experienced conflicts due to alcohol-related problems of other family members, whose spouse was verbally abusive, who were satisfied with social relationships, and who did not have a religion, were likely to be a user of harmful levels of alcohol among men. In contrast, females were more likely to be such alcohol users if they were less than 35 years old, had more depressive symptoms, had higher self-rated health, were economically active, high school graduates or less, experienced negative life events owing to financial difficulties, suffered spousal violence physically, and not religious. Conclusion: For both men and women, older age, depressive symptoms, healthier state, economically active status, satisfying social relationships, and being religious were linked to harmful alcohol use. However, men were most likely to drink riskily during middle adulthood whereas women were most prone during young adulthood. Tertiary education seemed to work as a deterrent, and economic difficulties and physical violence by spouse were encouraging factors for women. In contrast, separation/divorce, verbal violence by spouse, and alcohol-related family conflicts had effects on men’s harmful alcohol consumption. While more culture-sensitive strategies are warranted in terms of the positive impacts of economic activities, sound health, and friendship, addressing gender-specific covariates in intervention policies is also required.