Seoul, South Korea Hotels and City Guide

Seoul - Going Out

Seoul Entertainment

Seoul is a city of ancient treasures; however, that doesn’t mean there is not an incredible assortment of trendy entertainment choices. Amid the magnificent historical monuments, museums, temples and shrines there are always a myriad of vibrant festivals and a glittering nightlife that rivals any of the world’s most colorful capitals. The most difficult task anyone will have looking for entertainment in this beautiful, bustling blend of old and new will be deciding where to begin.

Seoul's Theatre, Music and Dance

Along the wide, tree-lined Sejongno Boulevard, within Jongno-gu, you will discover the Kwanghwamun Gate. This street was of great significance during the Chosun Dynasty, as it led from the city of Seoul to the royal palace gate. It still has a majestic feel and now leads to the Sejong Cultural Center, the largest center for the arts in Seoul.

The center contains art galleries and is home to the Seoul National Philharmonic, along with other performing arts groups, such as the Seoul Metropolitan Theater Company, the City of Seoul Musical Company, the Seoul Metropolitan Chorus, the Seoul National Traditional Dance Company, the Seoul Metropolitan Opera, and the Seoul Youth Orchestra and Choir. Countless productions are staged at the center’s various theater forums throughout the year.

For a non-traditional evening of theater, requiring no Korean language skills, try the fun-filled Nanta. The Nanta Theater is a non-verbal show, combining the traditional Korean folk performance called 'Samulnori' with Western forms of performance. The stage setting is a giant kitchen, where four cooks are passionately preparing for a wedding reception. In the process, they perform Samulnori percussion with the various pots and pans at their disposal. The popular show is staged in The Gangnam Theater, which has a capacity of nearly 300.

The Chongdong Theater adds a lovely element to its productions, when the performers come out to spend time with the audience after each performance, welcoming them to dance with them and take photos. The performance of Miso showcases seven different performing arts themes including Samulnori, a Gayageum (the twelve-stringed Korean harp) performance, and Buchaechum. The theater is open every day except Monday at 8:00pm.

The Arko Arts Theater sits among nearly 60 other theaters in the Dongsung-dong district that all offer unique, colorful performances every day, making it the focal point of modern performance art in Korea.

The LG Arts Center is located in the Kangnam district and has a capacity of over 1,100 seats throughout three floors, with a multi-purpose auditorium that can accommodate diverse fields of art, from music to dance, drama and choral.

Arts and Events in Seoul

At Daehanmun and Deoksusung Palace, visitors are invited to watch the Changing of the Palace Guard between 11AM and 4 PM daily, except Mondays. There is also a Guard Patrol Ceremony held from Deoksugung to Sungryemun and a Watchman Ceremony at the latter. These regal events are very interesting to watch.

Seoul is home to over 100 museums including three national and nine official municipal museums. The National Museum of Korea is the most impressive museum in all of South Korea, housing over 150,000 artifacts in its new building in Yongsan Family Park.

The National Folk Museum is situated on the grounds of the Gyeongbokgung Palace in the district of Jongno-gu and uses replicas of historical objects to depict Korean history. Walking through Bukchon Hanok Village and Namsangol Hanok Village, which are old residential districts consisting of hanok Korean traditional houses, parks, and museums, gives a unique perspective on traditional Korean culture.

Annual Events in Seoul

January

Seoul Lunar New Year
This big event happens in either January or February and brings the city to a standstill due to everyone trying to get home to celebrate with their family.

March

Seoul International Marathon
The Seoul International Marathon progresses through the heart of the city annually. The marathon attracts competitors from all over the world.

March 14: White Day
On Valentine's Day in Korea women buy chocolate for men, however on White Day, things are reversed. Popular gifts for men to buy woman include white or dark chocolate, marshmallows, white clothing, jewelry or objects of sentimental value.

Seokjeondaeje Memorial Rite
This important religious festival honors Confucius, with performances by a traditional court orchestra. Officials dress in ceremonial clothing at the Confucius Shrine at Sungkyunkwan University.

April

14 April: Black Day
Black Day is an informal tradition where single people get together to eat Jjajangmyeon (white Korean noodles with black bean sauce), commiserating not having received and gifts on Valentine's or White Day.

May

First Sunday in May: Jongmyo Daeje
People pay homage to their ancestors with offerings of food, wine, music and dance. This is an annual royal ancestral rite that takes place at the Jongmyo Shrine.

Early May: Hi Seoul Festival
Seoul's spring festival provides amusement for everyone, with a widely varied program of events that keep the city center even more bustling than usual. Among the highlights fireworks, theatrical events, parades, a farm experience in the city, picnics on the bridge over the Han River, and the Seoul Spring Festival of Chamber music.

May 21: Lotus Lantern Festival
Included in the annual celebration of Buddha's birthday is an exhibition of wonderful traditional paper lanterns that depict various symbolic animals and objects. The associated Buddhist Street Festival is packed with activities, from folk dancing, traditional games and lantern-making lessons to numerous food stands. The culmination of all the excitement is the spectacular Lantern Parade when thousands of Buddhists carry their lanterns along Jongno Street.

Late May to Early June: Modafe Dance Festival
The Modafe International Modern Dance Festival features new trends and attitudes in Asian and international contemporary dance. The festival has grown over the years and now not only attracts many foreign dance companies and artists, but has also expanded to include the medias of contemporary art, film, architecture and drama, encompassing workshops, exhibitions and performances in those fields, as well. Venues are the Arko Arts Theater, The Mary Hall at Sogang University and The Dongrang Arts Center.

June

Prehistoric Cultural Festival
To more fully appreciate the ancient side of Korean culture, check out the Prehistoric Cultural Festival, which details the country's heritage through the re-enactment of Pawijol Folk Funeral Games. Food stalls and fireworks are also part of the festival.

Seoul Tano Festival
Games at this family-friendly event include rope skipping, stick tossing and wrestling, while traditional music and dance performances are also part of the joyous event.

July

Late July: Seoul International Cartoon and Animation Festival
This enjoyable event is held in the COEX Convention Center every year and features six days of movie watching, an exhibition hall and opportunities to meet with the artists. Festival participants will also have a chance to try their own hand at creating comic and animation books.

August

August 15: Gwangbokjeol
Gwangbokjeol, which means literally, "Restoration of Light Day", is celebrated annually as one of South Korea’s public holidays. It commemorates Victory over Japan Day, which liberated Korea from Japanese rule. Many events happen during the day, including an official ceremony with the president in attendance that takes place at either the Independence Hall of Korea in Cheonan or The Sejong Center for the Performing Arts.

September

Seoul Medicinal Herb Market Festival
Features of the Seoul Medicinal Herb Market Festival include Shaqman street rites, a medicinal herb exhibition, an herb-chopping competition and free consultations.

Baekje Tomb Festival
This festival is celebrated over three days to commemorate the Hansong and Paekche Kingdom empires, which helped shape Korean culture. There is folk dancing, a folk fiesta and a dazzling procession.

Seokjeondaeje Memorial Rite
This similar religious event is also held in March at Sungkyunkwan University.

The Experimental Film & Video Festival
Any length and media style is admitted for review at the Experimental Film & Video Festival in Seoul. Screenings are at various venues, including the Seoul Art Cinema, The Indie Space and Space Cell Arthouse in the capital.

October

Seoul Drum Festival and Parade
This event is held annually at Seoul Plaza, as well as various other venues in and around the Sejong Center for the Performing Arts. A wonderful opportunity for visitors to experience percussive arts this festival also showcases Seoul's history and cultural diversity. Local and international artists perform with traditional and electronic drums and percussion instruments and there is often a wide range of hands-on experiences.

Seoul Performing Arts Festival
Artists travel to the city each October from the likes of Russia, Germany, and even Iran, for dance performances and competitions.

Early October: Seoul International Dance Festival
From Seogang University to the Seoul Arts Center, performing arts centers across Seoul are present three weeks of world-quality dance. During this event, look for The Dancing City program, which brings the dance festival to parks, cafes, and streets in and around Mullae-dong and Yeouido Hangang Park.

Mid-October: Performing Arts Market
PAM is an international performing arts market, where members of the industry, including artists, arts groups, managers, theater programmers, festival artistic directors and performance planners, can gather together in one place, share artistic visions and exchange information on performance art trends for one amazing week.

November

Early November: The Joongang Marathon
This is the biggest marathon held in all of Korea, with over 27,000 participants. It traces a loop across Seoul trough the southeast part of the city, heading into the suburbs towards Seongnam before coming back to finish in the Jamsil Olympic Stadium.

December

Seoul Performing Arts Festival
Every year, SPAF attracts large numbers of participants and media attention by introducing major international and domestic contemporary performances covering drama, dance and multi-disciplinary arts, making it one of the most prestigious culture and arts events in Korea.

December 25: Christmas Day
Many Koreans celebrate Christmas, so expect to see carolers in shopping malls, streets festooned with lights, decorated trees and people exchanging gifts.

Seoul After Dark: Bars and Nightlife in Seoul

The sophisticated city of Seoul is widely recognized for its dazzling nightlife that offers just about every type of entertainment you may be looking for, with the expected karaoke thrown in for good measure.

Popular places to begin your evening are the night markets in Dongdaemun that see plenty of bar hopping action, while Myeongdong is a great spot for dinner or a few early beers at one of the many cafés and bars. The place to be seen is at is any one of the exclusive wine bars, night clubs and upscale bars in the Apgujeong-dong or Sinsadong districts, which attracts a trendy, jet-setting crowd.

The more laid-back crowd tends to hang out in Gangnam where Western-style clubs and bars abound. Hongdae is the best area for live music and great dance floors, so get your best moves ready before you head over there. This is the most popular nightlife hotspot for Koreans and Westerners alike. In Hongdae, you can listen and dance to any type of music: there is a lot of underground music, but also find electronic music, jazz music, Latin American music, hip-hop and rock. Bars, cafés, pubs and nightclubs surround Hongkik University. Whatever your tastes in nightlife, you can be sure to find something suitable in sizzling Seoul.

Standing tall as one of the major landmarks in Seoul, 63 City is located in Yeoui-do overlooking the softly flowing Hangang River. Although it opens at 10AM, the center really sparkles at night, when a quick glass elevator ride to the 60th floor observatory becomes a spectacle of Seoul’s night sky. The 60th floor also houses Sky Art, “the highest art gallery in the world.” Other attractions within the skyscraper include Sea World, The Wax Museum, Fanta-Stick, and the IMax complex. The Fanta-Stick troupe is comprised of the best local teams performing percussion, fusion, Korean national music, break dancing, acrobatics, and martial arts. Shows are every night other than Monday at 8PM. Among the many cafes and 11 restaurants, the one not to miss is “Walking on the Cloud” located on the 59th floor. Boasting over 300 types of wines and a panoramic view of the river and downtown Seoul, this restaurant and bar has become famous for being seen in many Korean TV shows and movies.

In addition to clubs and bars in Seoul, you will find another form of nightlife that is uniquely Korean and that is the Korean version of karaoke, called norae bang. Unlike Western countries, Korean karaoke does not take place in the main bar area with everyone listening or joining in. Instead, Koreans sing in norae bang clubs, which have individual rooms equipped with sofas, microphones and a screen on which music videos are displayed, subtitled with the songs’ words. Most clubs will have the lyrics available in several languages, including English.

Hotels in Seoul, South Korea