Seoul Nightlife Guide for Foreigners

Neighborhoods

Area	Vibe	Best For
Hongdae	Young, indie, loud	Students, hip-hop, EDM
Itaewon	International, diverse	Foreigners, cocktails, LGBTQ+
Gangnam	Upscale, flashy	Big clubs, bottle service
Sinchon	Student budget	Cheap drinks, 호프 (beer bars)

Club Entry Rules

• ID check: Bring your passport or ARC (no exceptions)
• Entry fee: ₩10,000~30,000 (usually includes 1 drink)
• Dress code: No shorts/sandals at Gangnam clubs. Hongdae is casual.
• Age: 19+ Korean age (born 2007 or before in 2026)

Korean Drinking Culture

• Pour drinks for others (never pour your own)
• Turn away slightly when drinking in front of elders
• 소맥 (soju + beer mix) is the national drink
• Saying "one shot!" (원샷) means finish the glass
• It's OK to say no — say "저 오늘 못마셔요" (I can't drink today)

Getting Home

• Subway stops at ~midnight (last train varies by line)
• Night buses (올빼미 버스) run 12AM~5AM
• Kakao T taxi — add credit card in advance
• Don't want to go home? 찜질방 (jjimjilbang) for ₩12,000 — sleep till morning