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Nightlife

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Category: Nightlife

07 Jan
LifestyleNightlifeBy aclipse

Cool Wine Bars In Korea

I’ll admit it—I’ve recently developed a bit of an obsession with wine bars in Korea. It’s truly not my fault, there are just so many options for every palette and vibe you could want. While wine can be more expensive in Korea due to the import costs, I have found a few bars that strike the right balance of price and atmosphere. So whether it’s a cozy, chill glass of wine during a catch up with coworkers, or a deep dive into the natural wines, there is truly a spot that suits all your wine needs.

 

BARBOO

Champagne on ice at Barboo wine bar in Korea

Located near Itaewon exit 4, BARBOO is my go-to for enjoying wine in style. Its sleek interiors and curated wine list make it perfect for a girls night or first date. What sets Bar Boo apart is its knack for offering rare and bold natural wines that are hard to find elsewhere like their White France Vermentino that I can’t get enough of. They have cute small plates to share like burrata cheese and salted truffle ice cream which complement the wine beautifully. They also have a balcony and cantilevered windows on the main floor that are open all summer long which lets you take in the view of the city. For a taste of Seoul’s effortlessly cool wine culture, Bar Boo should be at the top of your list for wine bars in Korea.

Interior of Barboo wine bar in Korea
Interior of Barboo wine bar in Korea at night

Geumnam-Vin

outside of Geumnam-Vin Korean wine bar at night

When I first went to Gumnam-Vin in Gangnam, I totally fell in love. The atmosphere is super moody but warm and the soft jazz they have playing was perfect. I also loved that you can order natural wine at this spot. I recommend the Contradiction Pinot Noir which has a nice note of strawberries and cherries. Geumnam-Vin is a little more on the pricey side, but for a special occasion it’s a great choice. They have an excellent food selection so this is a place where you can stay and enjoy your wine over the whole night with delicious anju (small side dishes)!

 

A dish of anju at of Geumnam-Vin Korean wine bar at night
A dish of anju at of Geumnam-Vin Korean wine bar at night

D. Other

Outside of D. Other wine bar in Korea

This spot is located in the trendy Yeonam-dong neighborhood behind Hongdae, but you won’t have to pay trendy prices. Their house red and white are some of the most affordable I have found in Korea and you don’t have to sacrifice the vibe for a lower cost. They offer fun side plate snacks like buttered popcorn, chocolate cake, and frozen grapes. My friends and I love starting our night here because they place great lo fi techno music and the bartender is very friendly (and cute!) If you are in Mapo-gu, D. Other is definitely a great place to check out.

 

Inside bar at D. Other wine bar in Korea
Inside table at D. Other wine bar in Korea

Even if you are just getting into wine, these spots are your passport to discovering all sides of Seoul’s wine culture. So, grab a glass and enjoy the journey—wine bars in Korea are waiting for you!

An English teacher enjoying a freshley made pizza at spill out, a korean craft brewery

Michelle Duquette, Marketing Assistant

Michelle Duquette is from Toronto, Canada and moved to South Korea in 2015. She has a Bachelors in English literature and a Masters in ESL Education. Michelle has taught at Creverse campuses in Gangneung, Songpa, and Mokdong and currently works as a CDI and April Trainer. Michelle never set out to be a teacher but fell in love with Korean culture and the excitement of being in the classroom. Michelle lives in Seoul with her partner and two cats, Cherry and Frost.

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30 Dec
FoodLifestyleNightlifeTravelBy aclipse

Exploring Seoul’s Trendiest Hotspot: Seongsu

I had some mixed emotions about moving to Gangnam. While Gangnam is considered one of the nicest areas in Korea, it’s a bit far from some of the places I thought I’d frequent. Some of the most popular places for tourists these days are Hongdae, Myeongdong, and Itaewon. I was a bit bummed, and decided to search around and explore what might be a bit closer. While doing some research on TikTok, I found an up and coming popular area called Seongsu, which is sometimes referred to as the “Brooklyn of Seoul.” I saw it was only 20 minutes from my house. Needless to say I checked it out first thing the following morning!

 

Getting To Seongsu

Subway stop sign for Seongsu

Seongsu station is located on the green Line 2! The green line is one of the most accessible subway lines in Seoul, so this makes Seongsu very easily accessible from just about anywhere!

 

Inside the subway stop at Seongsu station

Pop-Up Shops

a pop-up shop in seongsu korea

Seongsu is most famous for the vast amount of pop-up shops. Pop-up shops are when brands rent a space from a couple days to a couple months. During that time, they will offer their products coupled with different/limited edition products, activities, and freebies! These pop-ups can be a little difficult to find, but there are plenty of Instagram pages that tell you what, when, and where certain pop-ups are! While the details are in Korean, the translation feature on Instagram is extremely helpful! Three of my favorites on Instagram are

@popga_official, @popupmate, and @pops.official_

TIP: Be prepared to wait if you want to go to a popular pop-up. I recommend looking to see if you can make a reservation through NAVER so you won’t be stuck outside.

 

Another pop-up shop in seongsu, south korea
A pop-up shop in Seongsu

Cafes And Restaurants

restaurants in seongsu, korea

 

The beauty of Seongsu is that you can find something new everyday. Pop-ups are super fun, but there are many different flagship stores and small businesses in Seongsu! On top of that, there are a ton of different cafes and restaurants. 

One of the most famous foods in Seongsu is 소금빵 (Sogeum Bbang)! Sogeum Bbang, or salt bread, is one of the BEST bakery items I have tried in Seoul! The most famous salt bread place is in Seongsu! Check out this TikTok talking about it here.

TIP: Come to Seongsu on the WEEKDAYS! The weekends can be very crowded, so the streets and stores can get packed.

 

A cafe with salt bread in seongsu dong, korea

More Shopping

You can find anything in Seongsu! Key rings, clothes, socks, bags, houseware, home decor, stuffed animals, ANYTHING! Since Seongsu is extremely trendy and becoming more popular, be prepared to spend a decent amount of money if you are actually looking to buy. Of course, you can window shop and still find some great bargains in the neighborhood shops. Here are just some of the different flagship stores I went to below!

 

A flagship Organic Beauty Products store in Seongsu, Korea
Dear Dracena: Organic Beauty Products Shop
Tamburins: Upscale Fragrance Shop

Seoul Forest

Seongsu is one of my favorite places in Seoul to spend my time. Whether I’m window shopping for myself or cafe hopping with a friend, Seongsu is always a reliable place to spend my time. It’s even right next to Seoul Forest, where you can take a walk in nature and has even more great food! Seongsu is a fun, eclectic place with tons of energy which you definitely need to check out when in Korea!

 

A walking path in Seoul forest, near seongsu, korea
English Teacher in Korea, Gabriel Hall

Gabriel White, Marketing Assistant

Gabriel (Gabe) White is an English teacher in South Korea. He is a Korean, Puerto Rican-American from the Richmond, Virginia area and received a bachelor’s degree in English from Virginia Commonwealth University. Being involved in student organizations like Filipino Americans Coming Together at VCU (FACT@VCU) and VCU Globe during his college years, Gabe learned just how much he enjoys experiencing new cultures. In his free time, Gabe loves teaching local dance classes, spending quality time with his loved ones, exploring new cities, and watching nostalgic movies.

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08 Nov
CultureLifestyleNightlifeBy aclipse

Korea Nightlife Survival Guide

Many people call New York “the city that never sleeps.” While that is true, I think Seoul might take the cake. I always heard that nightlife in Korea was extremely fun, and I must admit it most definitely does not disappoint! Although Korea can be really fun, you need to know how to plan your night and where to go to truly enjoy the experience. Here is my full proof plan to maximizing nightlife in Seoul.

 

seoul city street nightlife

Step 1: The Pregame

In many other countries, especially America, a “pregame” refers to when friends meet before going out to a bar or club. Normally, this is a way to ease into the night and save money on drinks. We will usually meet at someone’s house/apartment, bring our own drinks, and leave for our destination around 10:30pm. In Seoul, most apartments are going to be pretty tight, and neighbors will most likely be able to hear conversations and music. My recommendation: go to a pocha! 

 

A pocha is a type of restaurant in Korea where you can get food, affordable drinks, talk freely, and get the ball rolling for the night. You can find them anywhere, but I recommend going to a pocha that is not super close to the clubbing districts (Hongdae and Itaewon). Most of these pocha’s are more expensive since they are near very popular areas.

TIP: Try Somaek! It is a mixture of soju and beer. This drink is affordable, tastes good(as someone who hates beer), and truly immerses you into the Korean nightlife. 

 

Step 2: Getting To The Club

Now that you’ve gotten some food and alcohol in your system at an affordable price, it’s time to head to the club! This should happen around 10:30pm to make sure you are there before the lines get horrendous. Remember how I said Korea is famous for their nightlife? Well, the taxi system is another reason for that. Taxis are extremely affordable in the city! Download Kakao Taxi or Uber and if you split the taxi with some friends, it will normally average a couple thousand won per person! In comparison to American Uber prices, this is insane!

 

 

map of popular nightlife destination in seoul called hongdae
map of popular nightlife destination in seoul called itaewon

The two most popular clubbing areas in Seoul are definitely Hongdae and Itaewon. Both are located pretty far from one another, so make sure to check on Naver Maps which area is closest to you. 

Once you have chosen either Hongdae or Itaewon, make sure to take a walk down the streets. The reason for this: FREE DRINK TICKETS! Oftentimes when you come early enough to the clubbing districts, they will offer you free drink tickets as you walk down the street. In my experience: I have had better luck with this in Itaewon, but it can happen in Hongdae as well!

 

scene at a nightlife club in itaewon

Step 3: Hop Around and Dance the Night Away!

Now that you’ve (hopefully) gotten a free drink ticket, you will get a stamp or wristband upon entering the club. This wristband or stamp is so you can exit and re-enter whenever you please. This includes skipping the line once it gets later in the night. With this in mind, I recommend hopping to as many clubs or bars as you can before it gets too late. You will have stamps all up and down your arm, but you will be able to skip lines and easily enter/exit different clubs. 

 

a group of english teachers showing free drink tickets at a club entrance
scene at a nightlife club in itaewon

Each club/bar has a different feel, but Korea has everything you can imagine. Techno, hip hop, K-pop, American pop, R&B,  Latin, arcade game bars, Irish pubs, literally everything you could imagine! If you need some recommendations, I think using apps like TikTok will help you find the exact vibe you enjoy most!

Throughout the night make sure you are pacing yourself and keep your drinks close to you. You’re still in a foreign country, so safety is always the number one priority!

TIP: There is NO TIPPING in Korea, even at bars, clubs, and restaurants! So don’t just leave your change on the bar. You won’t believe how much this saves!  

 

a group of english teachers showing wristbands at a club entrance

Step 4: The Postgame… A.K.A. Eating

While bars and clubs are open through sun rise, so are restaurants! Trying to get a taxi around 5 am can be extremely hard, so you might as well get some good Korean food while you wait for the traffic to die down. Make sure everyone you are with is wanting to eat if you go to a 24-hour restaurant. Most of them require that everyone at the table eat and pay. Speaking from personal experience, make sure to avoid that conversation unless you are fluent in Korean. 

 

late night eats at a 24 hour restaurant in korea nightlife
late night eats at a 24 hour restaurant in korea nightlife

TIP: These places are going to be pretty busy, so I would recommend knowing what you want before entering the restaurant. If you take too much time, you will definitely get side-eyed by the workers who are sick of dealing with sloppy customers!

Once you’re full from your food and paid at the front, use Kakao Taxi or Uber to call a taxi. DO NOT HAIL A TAXI! While taxi drivers in Korea are typically very honest and helpful, some late night taxis take advantage of late night party goers and could overcharge you. Avoid the risk, and go through an app! 

 

a taxi in korea at the end of a long night out

Have A Blast!

That’s it! I hope you try following this step-by-step guide to exploring the nightlife in Korea like a Pro. Have a fun, be safe, and enjoy! I you’re looking for a deeper dive, check out this video!

English Teacher in Korea, Gabriel Hall

Gabe White, Marketing Assistant

Gabriel (Gabe) White is a soon to be English teacher in South Korea. He is a Korean, Puerto Rican-American from the Richmond, Virginia area and received a bachelor’s degree in English from Virginia Commonwealth University. Being involved in student organizations like Filipino Americans Coming Together at VCU (FACT@VCU) and VCU Globe during his college years, Gabe learned just how much he enjoys experiencing new cultures. In his free time, Gabe loves teaching local dance classes, spending quality time with his loved ones, exploring new cities, and watching nostalgic movies.

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