Korean Job Discussion Forums

[shostahoosier]

I dont dislike Seoul...I'm just surprised that for a city of its size that its so bland.

A few days ago I was complaining to a group of foreigners how tame the Seoul scene was compared to real international cities.

One of the foreigners who happened to be a gyopo got very upset and claimed that Seoul was on par with cities like Tokyo, Hong Kong, London, New York, etc....but its really only a fun town if you're Korean.

I realize that Korea is a country for Koreans (and dont really have a problem with that) but I think he missed my point of how the other cities are international party destinations whereas Seoul just seems to be an afterthought.

I am not Korean but is there a club scene in Seoul that I'm missing (for foreigners)?

Are there any other club neighborhoods in Seoul besides Itaewon and Hongdae?

I'm not really a fan of the scene in Itaewon...its just feels really trashy.

Hongdae isnt bad...but I was wondering if there was something a little more eccentric and eclectic (but not necessarily super pretentious).

[PigeonFart]

You're absolutely right. Seoul nightlife isn't as good as it should be for a city of its size.

If people think Seoul nightlife is amazing, it's just cos they haven't lived in London, NewYork, or Berlin. I think hongdae is the best place to go in Seoul, but even that can be half empty sometimes. It's not an ideal situation, but what can you do.

[tehdee]

apujeong and gangnam.

[lhasa]

[Papa Smurf]

im no expert on clubbing but ive been to a few of the big clubs in England, Ibiza, Vegas, Australia, Singapore, Tokyo, and Thailand.

There are a lot of good clubs here in Gangnam and Apujkeong. Heaven, Answer, Mass to name a few. I'm not saying they are world beaters but they are good. Lot's of pretty women, international DJ's, decent cocktails, nice set up. One thing i dont like so much, is that the atmosphere is a little colder than other places. People tend to just stare at the DJ, and it's a bit harder to approach people. But with the abscence of drugs....

[Old Gil]

Seoul has an incredible nightlife, compared with Beijing, Shanghai and Osaka (i've never done Tokyo which is probably awesome but also prohibitively expensive if Osaka was any indication).

The only thing that's deficient is live music.

There's a huge variety of places to go and things to do. Hongdae blows away Wudaokou/Sanlitun in Beijing, Zhengshan Lu/Xintiandi (that place really kills the wallet) in Shanghai or Dotonbori in Osaka, and there's cheap places everywhere--Jjinja Chingu and Bar Da being two of the greatest places going. Itaewon can be skeezy but the Wolfhound and Geckos' Terrace (the one behind the Hamilton) are phenomenal bars, and Grand Ol' Opry is always a gritty good time as well.

Judging a place solely by overpriced overcrowded clubs (great bird watching but that's about it) is kind of missing 80% of what out's there.

[shostahoosier]

[Xuanzang]

[adventurrre]

Clubs are nice -- but the party in them is not.

For some reason, the Koreans don't know how to let loose and just have a good real time in the clubs. Even when drunk the vibe is cold and people stick to themselves and their groups. Friendly smiley meeting new people etc. is not the feeling I've ever gotten here but have in many other international cities.

I am a HUGE fan of clubs and clubbing -- and the clubbing in Seoul is a big waste of money.

[benji1422]

there's no drugs, first off.

And 2ndly, the whole club and nightlife scene, until about 5-6 years ago was really small discos and booking clubs.

The whole super disco club with star DJs thing is pretty new.

I think it's pretty good. First off, it's cheap compared to the west.
2nd, there's no doorman/guest list crap.
And lastly, there's no threat of violence/gangsters (that is the trade off from not having drugs)

[tiger fancini]

[redaxe]

[Murakano]

[shostahoosier]

[itaewonguy]

your friend sounds like another patriotic Kyopo who feels like he is Korean now and has to defend it...

SEOUL is no way on par with LONDON and NEW YORK!! and if your kyopo friend thinks so then he has never partied in those towns!

10 years ago the biggest club in town was probably a bar the size of B1 in hongdae! now you have clubs like heaven, M2, and volume.. big difference in just 8 years... there were raves which came up everynow and then at the walker hill... they were the best things around...
but its not so much the clubs which make the party.. its the people...

tokyo clubs go off, becuase the japanese go off!! Koreans are far to shy!
sure load them up with soju and maybe.. but freaks?? NAAA
japan has plenty of freaks in the clubs going off...
there are no drugs in this scene, well there are but its only a selected few.
the cops pretty much are out there to ruin everyones good time..
and the laws are so harsh that most dont even bother with it..
Im not saying you need drugs in a club to have a good time.. but a club on X is far better than a club on soju!
seoul is for koreans, and foreigners are the guests!
Koreans like to dress up and act pretty and act cool pay over priced drinks and stand around and look at the dj and feel cool...

big difference to Tokyo, new york, and london...