Clubs, Traditional Events & Art Exhibitions
Clubs
The Circle
Cheongdam-dong
Located in the upscale Cheongdam-dong neighborhood, it's notorious for turning you down unless you're dressed chic and sleek. Faithful to its name, it has a round revolving floor ― looking for your ``lost'' table gives clubbers the perfect excuse to sit down with a sexy stranger. Located on Dosan-daero near Hak-dong intersection. Call (02) 546-5933 or visit www.thecircle.co.kr.
Club Answer
This might be the answer to your nightlife. It offers an intimate partying environment with groovy electronic music by star DJs. You can reserve tables and the ones on the second floor provide an open view of the dance floor. Or mingling with the hot bartenders at the open bar might be a fine alternative. Located in Cheongdam-dong across the street from Prima Hotel, near the entrance of Yeongdong-daegyo. Call (02) 548-7115 or visit www.clubanswer.co.kr.
Club Evans
Hongdae or Hongik University Area
This club, located near Hongik University, is great for intimate live performances. The line-up of performers is generally top-notch and the acoustics are good. Located near exit 1 on Sangsu Station on subway line 6 or exit 6 on Hongdae Station on subway line 2. Call (02) 337-8361 or www.clubevans.com.
Club Caliente
Itaewon
The patrons are so diverse, DJ Josh sometimes has a hard job appealing to everyone. But he keeps the dance floor going, playing a variety of standbys and new Latin music. The song selection is what keeps people coming back. Located near exit 4 of Itaewon Station subway line 6. Call (011) 9094 8484
Club M2
Hongdae
M2 features top DJs from home and abroad. The dance floor and the DJ are in the center of the club, which attracts a trendy crowd along with models and celebrities. Packed on the weekends. Check www.ohoo.net.
Club NB
Gangnam
This hip-hop hot spot is a cornerstone of Seoul nightlife. ``Noise Basement'' often holds special parties and performances and you can find Korean homies here with do-rags, dreads and baseball caps turned sideways. Located near Kyobo Bookstore (exit 6 of Gangnam station on subway line 2). Call (02) or visit www.clubnb.com. Check out other NB chains in Hongdae.
Underlounge Seoul
It's the local club of a hip Japanese chain that's also to be found in Shanghai. Located in the famous clubbing area, Hongdae, it's all flashy with loud club music and lights. It's pretty spacious with a supersized mirror ball hanging over your head. DJs from near and far make music while you can hang out at the open bar or classy private rooms. Located near the main entrance of Hongik Univ. Call (02) 325-5715 or visit www.underlounge.kr.
Moonyang Bar
This place is an Asian-inspired lounge located on the third floor of a building on Parking Lot street in Hongdae area. The stone walls feature photographs and rusted steel plates cover the windows. This place is in Mapo at Sokyo-dong, 366-17. Call (02) 338-1523.
Cafe Mou
Sinsa-dong
This cafe has a rich ethnic interior that mixes inspirations that its owner got from travels to such places as Morocco and France. Its menu is limited, but features desserts. It's located at the edge of Dosan Park. 650-9 Park View Building, Sinsa-dong, Gangnam, near the Cine City Theater in Apgujeongdong. Call (02) 3444-6069.
Naos Nova
A wine bar and restaurant with a design so stunning it was featured in several interior design magazines before its doors even opened to the public. Its location across from Namsan Park gives it a wonderful, cool atmosphere. Visit www.naosnova.com (448-120 Huam-dong Yongsan-gu, Seoul) or call (02) 754-2202.
Funky Funky
This live music venue features all kinds of music. Depending on the night, expect to hear funk, punk, rock, or pop. Funky Funky attracts an eclectic mix of people. To get there: Walk down to the alley with Club Tool on the corner and turn right. Visit clubff.cyworld.com.
Above
This medium-sized wine bar in the alley behind the Hamilton Hotel, is one of Itaewon's swankiest hangouts. The candlelight, tiled indoor pond and the designs on the door seem Moorish. Located at 19-25 Itaewon-dong store 22-ho. Call (02) 749-0717.
Once in a Blue Moon
Apgujeong-dong
Once in a Blue Moon is one of the best known jazz clubs in the city. It features live jazz sets from two different bands every night starting at 7 p.m. up to 10 p.m. The place exudes an elegant, sophisticated atmosphere, which is perfect for a romantic date. It is located on the street between the Hakdong intersection and the Galleria intersection in Apgujeong-dong. Call (02) 549-5490 or www.onceinabluemoon.co.kr.
Gachi
Salsa music enthusiasts can dance the night away here. The beat of salsa music will lead you to the club. To go to Gachi, get off at Apgujeong Line 3 and go out exit 5. After walking past six streets, look for Matilda Club and Bar on the seventh street and turn left and look for Gachi's red and white sign. Gachi is open from Mondays to Fridays 6 p.m.-12 a.m., Saturday to Sunday, 2 p.m.-12 a.m. Call (02) 540- 7087.
The Spot
If you like punk or alternative music, then you should hit The Spot. It is a live music venue located next to the playground near Hongik University. The Spot is a small basement bar, and it is mainly standing room-only. Visit www.clubspot.co.kr or call (02) 322-5956, (02) 3141-6876.
Casa Del Vino
This dark, intimate bar offers a great selection of wine, and is a great place to chill out. It's near the Salvatore Ferragamo and Prada buildings in Cheongdam-dong. Call (02) 542-8003.
Traditional
Traditional Performance
Korea House
Open run
The Korea House holds a series of traditional performances. The entrance fee is 29,000 won. Each performance includes a traditional Korean dinner. Visit www.koreahouse.or.kr or call (02) 2266-9101. Located near exit 3 of Chungmuro Station on subway lines 3 and 4.
Traditional Wine Making Demonstration
Namsangol Hanok Village
6-9 p.m., every Saturday
In the courtyard of Namsangol Hanok Village, visitors can see demonstrations of how traditional Korean wines were made. Usually made from rice, traditional wines were considered, if taken in moderation, good for the body. Located near exits 3 and 4 of Chungmuro station on subway lines 3 and 4. Call (02) 2266-6923.
Korean Classical Music & Dance
8-9 p.m. everyday
You can listen to traditional Korean chamber music, including the piri (cylindrical oboe), haegeum (two-stringed fiddle), ajaeng (seven-string zither bowed with a rosined stick), as well as pansori (Korean opera) and dance. The daily performance takes place at Anchae in Younghyo Park's House in the Hanok Village, located near exits 3 and 4 of Chungmuro station on subway lines 3 and 4. Call (02) 2266-6923.
Experience Hanok Life
11 a.m.-6 p.m., Saturdays and Sundays
At Namsangol Hanok Village, a well preserved Joseon (1392-1910) nobleman's house, visitors are able to see and experience traditional Korean daily life, such as making jipsin (straw shoes), doenjang (bead curd) and jelly. Located near exits 3 and 4 of Chungmuro station on subway lines 3 and 4. Call (02) 2266-6923.
Art Exhibitions
Masters of the 20th Century: Latin American Art
National Museum of Art, Deoksu Palace
Through Nov. 9
The exhibit shows 120 works by 84 Latin American artists, including Frida Kahlo and Diego Rivera. It provides a broad overview of the development of the Latin American art scene from the early 20th century to the 1970s. Admission is 10,000 won for adults and 8,000 won for students Visit www.laart.kr or www.moca.go.kr/deoksugung.moca.html.
Music From Unknown Source
Daejeon Museum of Art
Through Oct. 19
Neo-expressionist German artist Sigmar Polke's works have reflected the rapidly changing German society. Forty of his gouache paintings, created in 1996, are exhibited in Daejeon.
Window
Museum of Photography, Seoul
Through Sept. 16
New York-based photographer Ha Hyoung-sun's works such as ``Commercial St., Provincetown, MA II'' and ``Quinn Cove Road, Wells, VT I'' are on display. Call (02) 418-1315 or visit www. photomuseum.or.kr.
2008 Hermes Foundation Missulsang
Atelier Hermes
The 2008 Hermes Foundation Missulsang features the works of Kim Shin-il, Song Sang-hee and Ham Yang-ah. Atelier Hermes is located in Shinsa-dong, Gangnam. Closed on Wednesdays. Call (02) 544-7722.
Monumental Vacancies
Gallery Em
Through Sept. 27
Jorg Obergfell's unique installations and images are shown side-by-side with Chia-en Jao's delicate watercolor paintings at Gallery Em. Visit www.galleryem.co.kr.
Layer
PKM Trinity Gallery
Sept. 3-Oct. 2
Artist Kim Sang-gil is holding a solo exhibition at PKM Trinity Gallery in Cheongdam-dong. Visit www.pkmgallery.com.
Ha Young-hee
Gallery DOS
Through Sept. 2
Gallery DOS is exhibiting Ha Young-hee's paintings of kimchi. Ha chose kimchi as the subject of her latest artwork after recognizing that kimchi is so familiar to Koreans that it has been overlooked as an artistic inspiration. Call (02) 735-4678.
Park Mi-ja
Sejong Center for the Performing Arts
Sept. 3-9
Park Mi-ja is holding her first solo exhibition ``Leaving home, Grandma'' displaying paintings that offer a glance into a grandma's life-long baggage, as she reflects on her footpaths. Park is inspired by philosophical themes, particularly existentialism and yin and yang. Visit https://www.parkmija.com or call (031) 921-7638.
Out The Inside
DoBaeBacSa
Through Sept. 9
The exhibit features the works of four Los Angeles-based artists, David Kelley, Viet Le, Hong-An Truong and Maya Weimer, who use video and photography. The works in this exhibition ``engage notions of transpacific subjectivity as it is conducted through the structures of documentary and fiction.'' DoBaeBacSa is located near Itaewon Station Line 6, Exit 3. Visit www.dobaebacsa.org.
Trompe-l'oeil in Imagination
Cais Gallery
Through Sept. 10
Nine young Korean artists, including Park Kwan-taeck, Park Sang-hee, Baik Seung-ho and Lee Kyung-mi, let their imagination run free in this group exhibition. Visit caisgallery.com or call (02) 511-0668.
Experiment After
Michael Schultz Gallery Seoul
A group exhibition featuring the works of seven artists such as Cornelia Schleime, Maik Wolf, Katrin Kampmann and Roemer & Roemer is on-going at Michael Schultz Gallery in Cheongdam, southern Seoul. Visit www.schultzgallery.co.kr.
Subtle Energies of Matter
Seoul National University Museum of Art
Through Sept. 6
This touring exhibition, organized by the Garuzzo Institute of Visual Arts in Turin, Italy, features contemporary sculptures by 31 Italian artists. The exhibit highlights the development of sculpture throughout the years. Among the artists are Roberto Almagno, Pietro Consagra and Gilberto Zorio. Call (02) 880-9513.
The Paper
Jebiwool Art Museum
Through Sept. 18
The 2008 Asia and Europe Paper Art International Exchange gathers the works of 31 artists from Korea, Japan, Italy, United Kingdom, Denmark, Sweden and Netherlands. Call (02) 3679-0011.
Insomnia
PKM Gallery
Through Sept. 20
Bae Young-whan is holding a solo exhibition at PKM Gallery. Visit www.pkmgallery.com or call (02) 734-9467.
BongBong Castle
Ssamzie Mart
Through Sept. 7
Artist Ha Ji-won created colorful wooden installation works for this solo exhibition. Visit www.ssamziegil.co.kr or call (02) 736-0900.
Nathalia Edenmont
Park Ryu Sook Gallery
Through Sept. 28
Photographer Nathalia Edenmont is known for her portraits of animals sitting in hand-blown vases or wearing royal collars. Visit www.parkryusookgallery.com or call (02) 544-2500.
Windows on the World
Gallery 2
German artist Christian Stanicki is holding a solo exhibition at Gallery 2. The title of the exhibit refers to the Windows on the World restaurant, which was located on the 107th floor of the World Trade Center before the 9/11 terrorist attacks. Visit www.gallery2.co.kr.
Sung Nam-hun
Through Sept.12
Documentary photographer Sung Nam-hun captures scenes in the disputed territory of the Eastern Tibet region of Kham. The photographs portray Sung's view formed through interaction with Buddhist nuns. Visit www.photomuseum.or.kr or call (02) 418-1315.
Rubens, Baroque Masterpieces
Gwangju Museum of Art
Seventy-five pieces from the Baroque collection of the Vienna Academy Museum are in Korea for the first time ― 19 of them being works by Rubens. Closed on Mondays. Visit https://www.korearubens.co.kr.
Architectural Ceramics ― OLD
Clayarch Gimhae Museum
Through Feb. 8, 2009
The Clayarch Gimhae Museum is hosting an exhibition focused on architectural ceramics by ten artists from Korea, U.S., U.K., Switzerland and Japan. The exhibition also features photographs by Belgian photographer Mark De Fraeye. The museum is located in Gimhae, South Gyeongsang Province. Visit www.clayarch.org or call (055) 340-7000.
Dream and Naissances
Nalee Mecenat Art Center
Through Sept. 25
Paris-based artist Noh Kyung-hwa is presenting her installation multimedia artworks showing how the brain works while dreaming. The gallery is located in Gimpo, Gyeonggi Province. Visit www.nalee.net.
20 Years of Animation: Pixar Exhibition in Seoul
Hangaram Design Museum
Fans of Pixar's animated films ``Toy Story,'' ``Finding Nemo,'' ``Monsters Inc.'' and ``The Incredibles'' will have a chance to find out how favorite characters like Buzz Lightyear, Nemo and Sully came to life. Around 650 sketches, drawings, sculptures and storyboards, as well as Pixar's short films are shown. Tickets are 14,000 won for adults, 8,000 won for children and 11,000 won for teens. Visit www.pixar2008.com
Who Wants to Live Forever
Through Oct. 9
Photographer Jo Seub will open his third private exhibition on July 10. Unlike his former works depicting historical or social events of Korea, this exhibition focuses on the fear and madness of man derived from the intrinsic desire. Visit www.gallery2.co.kr or call (02) 3448-2112.
Ko Woo-young Comics: Never Ending Story
Arko Art Center
Through Sept. 12
The exhibit looks at the visual and cultural aspects of comic strips through the works by the late cartoonist Ko Woo-young. Other artists were also invited to reinterpret Ko's works. The center, located in Daehakro, is closed on Mondays. Call (02) 760-4563 or visit www.arkoartcenter.or.kr.
Kids
Disney Live!
Olympic Hall, Olympic Park
Aug. 22-31
The orignal team of the popular family musical "Disney Live!" is coming to Seoul. Enjoy the delightful tales and songs fromt Cinderella, Snow Whit and the Seven Dwarfs and Beauty and the Beast with Mickey Mouse and other favorite characters. Tickest cost from 22,000 won to 55,000 won. Visit https://ticket.interpark.com or call (02) 563-0595. Located near exit 3 of Olympic Park Station on subway line 5.
A Dog of Flanders
Changjo Concert Hall
Through Aug. 31
The heartwarming tale of Nello and his dog Patrasche will be on stage as a delightful musical. Experience the sad yet beautiful friendship between Nello and his loving dog at this special event. All tickets cost 20,000 won. Visit www.ticketlink.co.kr or call (02) 747-7001. Located near exit 4 of Hyehwa Station on subway line 4.
Horseracing
Gwacheon Seoul Race Track
The Gwacheon Seoul Race Track holds races from 10:30 a.m. to 5:10 p.m., every Saturday and Sunday. Get off at Seoul Racecourse Station, subway line 4, exit 3. For more information, call (02)509-1114 or visit at www.kra.co.kr.