08 Nov
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.
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!
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!
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.
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!
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.
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!
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!
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.