Korea Nightlife Survival Guide
Mixed drinks tend to go for between 5,000 to 10,000 won, and beer for right around the same price. Both are centrally-located in the heart of Hongdae’s nightlife district, so it’s easy to get from place to place. Although it is at its busiest in the day-time and most food stalls close in the early afternoon, a handful of Gwangjang Market restaurants stay open until around 10pm. That said, for the full street food experience, it is best to visit Gwangjang Market by day. One of Seoul’s most popular night markets and easily accessible by the Metro, Myeongdong Night Market is a tasty, treasure trove of cheap street food and evening eats. Making the trip to the DMZ was not for me and so I opted for a tour to a more green setting and a jump into nature with a trip to Seoraksan National Park with a stop at Nami Island on the wa
Itaewon is primarily known for its bars and nightclubs, but if you’re looking to enjoy beer, soju, or somak (beer and soju mixed), I can recommend two pochas for you. Although I feel like I’ve spent tons of time bar-hopping in Hongdae, I’m still barely scratching the surface of the immense nightlife scene here. One can walk around and make detours at photo booths, claw machines, arcades, play darts, shoot airsoft guns, and much more. I like Hongdae for this reason, as one can have fun even if getting black out drunk isn’t their main goal. After spending the majority of the year in the Middle East and Central Asia where drinking and nightlife aren’t really a thing, I truly felt like a kid at a candy store in Hongda
Also, do not pass up the Seoul Food Tour for a Korean culinary adventure, join for $98 USD. The streets surrounding Gangnam Station are teeming with high-end clubs and bars, catering to a discerning clientele.
Mixed drinks tend to go for between 5,000 to 10,000 won, and beer for right around the same price. Both are centrally-located in the heart of Hongdae’s nightlife district, so it’s easy to get from place to place. Although it is at its busiest in the day-time and most food stalls close in the early afternoon, a handful of Gwangjang Market restaurants stay open until around 10pm. That said, for the full street food experience, it is best to visit Gwangjang Market by day. One of Seoul’s most popular night markets and easily accessible by the Metro, Myeongdong Night Market is a tasty, treasure trove of cheap street food and evening eats. Making the trip to the DMZ was not for me and so I opted for a tour to a more green setting and a jump into nature with a trip to Seoraksan National Park with a stop at Nami Island on the wa
Itaewon is primarily known for its bars and nightclubs, but if you’re looking to enjoy beer, soju, or somak (beer and soju mixed), I can recommend two pochas for you. Although I feel like I’ve spent tons of time bar-hopping in Hongdae, I’m still barely scratching the surface of the immense nightlife scene here. One can walk around and make detours at photo booths, claw machines, arcades, play darts, shoot airsoft guns, and much more. I like Hongdae for this reason, as one can have fun even if getting black out drunk isn’t their main goal. After spending the majority of the year in the Middle East and Central Asia where drinking and nightlife aren’t really a thing, I truly felt like a kid at a candy store in Hongda
Also, do not pass up the Seoul Food Tour for a Korean culinary adventure, join for $98 USD. The streets surrounding Gangnam Station are teeming with high-end clubs and bars, catering to a discerning clientele.