Nightlife - South Korea
Seoul as a city can boast of a number of pubs, discos and bars.
Definitely it cannot compare with the Patpong district of Bangkok or the
downtown Amsterdam but surely it has its own flavor. The nightclubs do
play some groovy music with loads of alcoholic beverages on offer and a
few continental delicacies. Some of the better known clubs are 360@,
Alice Live Club, Bahia, Beatles and many more. Please note that these
clubs are generally safe though occasional fights cannot be ruled out.
Foreigners must keep in mind that places like Itaewon has a bad
reputation. Most of the clubs there acts as sleaze joints and terms like
‘hooker’, ‘whore’ and ‘escorts’ are common place. There is no
ill-feeling against these places and if you have a ‘do not care
attitude’ then it’s very unlikely that you will face any problems.
Busan is rich in traditions but the impact of globalization and the
booming tourism industry can be felt in the growing nightlife of the
city. The majority of the establishments work purely on the basis of
Western standards but there is some where there is a fusion of Western
and Korean styles. The former is a great place for foreigners and young
Korean tourists and there is live music too. The downside is that these
joints pull down their shutters at midnight. But there are some night
joints known as tourist clubs which are illegal but they remain open
till 2 in the morning. The ‘Special Tourist Areas’ though continue for
24 hours. Some of the well known bars in Busan are Diana (pub bar),
Rendezvous (cocktail bar), Khan’s (casual bar) etc. The best of the
nightclubs are Champion, Soju Bang and Hof.
Daegu has a vibrant and pulsating nightlife visited by its progressive
citizens. For the energetic tourists there are clubs like Club Slang,
Funkaholic and Kiss Me.
Jeju is a fantastic place and probably the best option in South Korea
for pubs, discos, nightclubs and casinos. It is always bustling with
international and domestic tourists and nightlife in itself is a top
draw for the foreign tourists. The bars and pubs serve the best quality
drinks and food. There is, of course, live music to go with it. Jeju has
the most number of casinos in the country. They are open for 24 hours
but only for foreign nationals. The more luxurious pubs and bars are
attached with hotels like Hyatt Regency Hotel, Jeju Shilla Hotel, Crowne
Plaza Hotel, and Jeju KAL Hotel etc. The casinos in these class hotels
are really popular and they are the most loved place.
Places like Daejeon have quite a number of nightclubs, pubs and discos.
J Rock is the most pulsating nightclub in the city which attracts a lot
of youngsters. The interiors are very classy and in sync.
The other cities in South Korea like Gwangju, Incheon, Ulsan and Gangwon
do not have a significant nightlife.
This
project fulfilled many of my passions, the most prevalent being
travel in different cultures and teaching. It is an opportunity that
I find inspiring and wanted to take advantage of it.
