Korean Job Discussion Forums

boogiet · Joined: 03 Mar 2006 Location: Seoul

I know that Itaewon and Hongdae are two main party areas of Seoul.
How are they different, and which (in your humble opinion) is better?
Why?
Thanks!
Boogie

seoulsucker · Posted: Tue Mar 28, 2006 10:32 pm Post subject:

You're bound to find more foreigners in Itaewon, especially military guys. There are fewer bars, but the ones that are there have more of a unique feel and "personality" to each of them. Ethnic cuisine restaurants are a bit overpriced, but usually more authentic than anywhere else in Seoul.

Hongdae is packed with tons of university age students, a fair amount of foreigners, and has a lot of cookie-cutter Korean basement clubs and beer bars. Most places seem to be just like any other place. There are a few great large nightclubs though, and Club Day is always a riot.

I really like both neighborhoods, and try to mix it up as much as I can. It's only a 5,000-8,000�� taxi fare between the two.

billybrobby · Joined: 09 Dec 2004

Most hongdae places are like most others, but there are some really unique spots tucked in there (sshhh, it's a secret).

itaewon's got some unique places (bungalow, barnana, grand ole opry) but then there's a whole host of similar joints. Sometimes if i go to 3 alleys, seoul pub, old town seoul or nashville's, i forget which one i'm in.

Wangja · Joined: 17 May 2004 Location: Seoul, Yongsan

Funnily enough, only the other day Gunter mentioned that last time you were in you had no idea where you were. Laughing

itaewonguy · Joined: 25 Mar 2003

both VERY different! its like comparing apples and oranges!

both are great on the right day

catman · Joined: 18 Jul 2004

Which one do you think is more dangerous? People always put down Itaewan but it seems there are always more scraps going on in Hongdae. Perhaps do to the large uni crowd that goes there.

pest2 · Joined: 01 Jun 2005 Location: Vancouver, Canada

plato's republic · Joined: 07 Dec 2004 Location: Ancient Greece

For clubbing I'd say hongdae, for drinking Itaewon, for smokin' hot girls kangnam.

huck · Joined: 19 Jan 2003

I've never felt in danger in Itaewon....and you don't really notice the military guys as much anymore. They make up a small percentage of the people who you actuallly see there.

StAxX SOuL · Joined: 04 Jan 2006 Location: London

I spent my first Friday night here in Hongdae... we started in Itaewon at Gecko's which IMO was decidedly average before going on to a couple of bars in Hongdae and finishing up at the hip hop club above M2... the night was OK

Since then I've been heavy into the Itaewon scene, and I've had much more fun at Bar Nana, late on at the 3 ladies nights at The Loft, and a certain club in the area... but a lot of nights have been split between the two destinations

Although saying that the best club I've been to thus far is in Kangnam and that was on a Sunday night... the clientele was entirely Korean but the music and atmosphere was excellent

As for this weekend... Hongdae Fri and Sat so I may change my opinion by Monday... but really to each his own... I think for somebody new to Korea, Itaewon provides the best transition and allows you to add a lot of friends [both foreign and English speaking Koreans] who you can then explore the other parts of Seoul in full with

SPINOZA · Joined: 10 Jun 2005 Location: $eoul

I like both and don't see much of a huge distinction. Both are good for clubbing, meeting Korean girls who speak English, getting wasted with your buddies, meeting waegoogins. Hongdae is nearer to my house so I probably go there more often. It also has a cool hotdog place that I like. Itaewon gets rowdy and slightly chaotic in debaucherous western-type way and that's okay in my book.

In recent weeks in Itaewon there was this young black dude making an arse of himself in Burger King. The North American gentleman in front of me in the line said "there are so many losers in Itaewon, it's unbelievable". If that was you and you remember, hi.