Underlounge Seoul
Hongdae or Hongik University Area
This is the local club of a hip Japanese chain that’s also in Shanghai. Located in the famous clubbing area, Hongdae, it’s all flashy with loud music and lights. Spacious, with a supersized crystal ball hanging over your head, DJs from near and far make music while you can hang out at the bar or classy private rooms. Located near the main entrance of Hongik Univ. Call (02) 325-5715 or visit www.underlounge.kr.
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.
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.
Club Heaven
Yeoksam-dong
Located next to the Renaissance Seoul Hotel, Heaven is gaining a reputation as a clubber’s paradise with star DJs and a celebrity clientele. Electronic music is the main menu, with laser light and paper confetti shows aplenty on the side. The club caters to partying at any hour of the night: the “main stage” on the first floor is open until 6:30 a.m., while club hoppers can enter the upper level’s “after stage” after 4:30 a.m. Call 1644-8466.
Naos Nova
Itaewon
A wine bar and restaurant with a design so stunning, that 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.
Le Nuit Blanche
Cheongdam-dong
Formerly Club Answer, Le Nuit Blanche is introduced as a posh restaurant, theater and club. Located in front of Hotel Prima in Cheongdam-dong, Le Nuit Blanche offers Cirque du Soleil-type performances at its theater restaurant. World class DJs from all over the world are invited to perform at the club. Call (02) 514-4311 or visit www.lenuitblanche.com.
Platoon Kunsthalle
Apgujeong-dong
Platoon Kunsthalle is a cultural space where visitors can enjoy various facilities, including an event hall, library lounge, art studios and a bar and restaurant. Open from Monday to Saturday from 11 a.m. to 12 a.m. DJ nights on Thursday and Friday from 10 p.m. Located near exit 10 of Hakdong Station on subway line 7. Visit www.kunsthalle.com or www.platoon.org.
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, turn left and look for Gachi’s red and white sign. Gachi is open from Mondays to Fridays 6 p.m. to 12 a.m., Saturday to Sunday, 2 p.m. to 12 a.m. Call (02) 540-7087.
St.102
This hip-hop club often has special parties and performances. There are many Korean homies here with do-rags, dreads and baseball caps turned sideways. Visit st102.cyworld.com. 360-18 Seogyo-dong, Hongdae or call (02) 335-7166.
Moonyang Bar
This place is an Asian-inspired lounge on the third floor of a building on Parking Lot street in the Hongdae area. The stone walls feature photographs and rusted steel plates cover the windows. This place is in Mapo at Seogyo-dong, 366-17. Call (02) 338-1523.
Rocky Mountain Tavern
A down-to-earth place, the club was started by a couple of Canadians. With a spacious, woody bar, the tavern is spread out over two floors. Find it on Itaewon’s main drag across from the International Clinic. Located near exit 5 of Itaewon Station on subway line 6.
Club PF
This live music venue features all kinds of music. Depending on the night, they feature funk, punk, rock or pop. Club PF attracts an eclectic mix of people. 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
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 usually starting at 7: 30 p.m. The place exudes an elegant, sophisticated atmosphere that 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.
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 a mainly standing room-only place. 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 it’s a great place to chill out. It’s near the Salvatore Ferragamo and Prada buildings in Cheongdam-dong. Call (02) 542-8003.
Folk Performances
The Korea House
Open Run
The Korea House will hold 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, subway lines 3 and 4.
Touch
Kukje Gallery
Through May 16
Considered one of Korea’s premier realist artists, Lee Kwang-ho is presenting his new series “Landscape” and “Cactus” at Kukje Gallery. “Lee displays his technical and pictorial mastery with the ability to meticulously combine elements of the real and the abstract,” the gallery said. Visit www.kukjegallery.com.
My Village Story
Gallery Hyundai Gangnam Space
Through May 2
Gallery Hyundai Gangnam Space is presenting the works of artist Hwang Young-sung from the 1970s to the present at this exhibition. “The works of Hwang contain his unique style: simplification of the form to turn a structural story into a humorous one,” the gallery said. Visit www.galleryhyundai.com.
Les Fleurs du Mal (Flowers of Evil)
Berlin Lounge
May 9-29
Artist Vincent Sung’s photo exhibition pays homage to Baudelaire’s controversial poetry. “Beauty is truly in the eyes of the beholder, and for my sixth solo photo-exhibition, I wanted to express my vision of humans’ beauty, not the plastic aesthetic or retouched beauty found in glossy magazines,” Sung said in a statement. The photographs will be on display at Berlin Lounge, Itaewon.
Voices
Gallery Sun Contemporary
Through April 28
Chicago-based artist Michael Miller is presenting a new series of works at the “Voices” exhibition at Gallery Sun Contemporary. “‘Voices’ (exhibition) ― are voices that are generated from within as well as sounds that are heard from others,” Miller said in a statement. Call (02) 720-5789 or visit www.suncontemporary.com.
Indi Machine
Dukwon Gallery
Through April 25
Choi Jong-ha tinkers with machines and subverts their functions in creating his installation works. In “OB-Elevator,” he switched the functions of the open and close buttons. Visit www.dukwongallery.co.kr.
Doubt II
Dong San Bang Gallery
Through April 30
Works by Yang Dae-won are on display at the “Doubt II” exhibition at Dong San Bang Gallery, downtown Seoul. Call (02) 733-5877.
Social Criticism and War
Seoul National University Museum of Art
Through May 30
Seoul National University Museum of Art and the Goethe Institute Seoul collaborate in presenting an exhibition “Social Criticism and War,” featuring 86 paintings and prints by German artist, Otto Dix (1891-1969). Living through World War I, Dix attempted to portray inhumanity and the cruelty of war through etchings and drawings. The museum, located inside the Seoul National University campus in Gwanak, is open 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. daily, but closed on Tuesday. Admission is 3,000 won. For more information, call (02)880-9504~5.
New Works: Miao Xiaochun Solo Show
Arario Seoul
Chinese media artist Miao Xiaochun will be showing a new series of 10 digital paintings and etchings at Arario Seoul. Among these are “Parnassus” and “The New School of Athens.” Admission is free. Visit www.arariogallery.com.
Masterpieces by Steve McCurry
Urban Art
Through May 22
Selected photographs by American photojournalist Steve McCurry are being shown at Urban Art, Sinsa-dong, southern Seoul. Call (02) 511-2931 or visit www.urbanart4u.com.
Return to the Holy Land
Next Door Gallery
Through May 7
Yoo Ji-min is holding a solo show titled “Return to the Holy Land” at Next Door Gallery. The gallery is open Wednesday to Sunday, 11 a.m. to 6 p.m. Visit www.nextdoorgallery.co.kr.
Who’s Afraid of Museum?
National Museum of Contemporary Art Korea
The National Museum of Contemporary Art Korea named Park Ki-won the 2010 Artist of the Year. Park is showing his representative works “Scenery,” “Air Wall” and “Dim” as part of this solo exhibition at the museum in Gwacheon. Visit www.moca.go.kr.
Remember Not to Live There
Cyan Museum of Art
Through July 11
Kim Bong-tae will present his “Dancing Box” series at this exhibition at Cyan Museum of Art. Other participating artists are Kim Hae-sung and Han Eun-seong. Visit www.cyanmuseum.org.
Kang Ik-joong
Gallery Hyundai
Renowned artist Kang Ik-joong is showing new works featuring his trademark 3x3 canvases and moon jars at Gallery Hyundai. Visit www.galleryhyundai.com.
Maden Pictures
Arario Gallery Cheonan
Through June 6
Six photography artists, Nam Ki-sung, Park Hyung-geun, Won Seoung-won, Chung Hee-seung, Ha Tae-bum and Han Sung-pil, are showing their works in a joint exhibition. Viewers can further learn about and understand contemporary photography through the “Maden Pictures” exhibition. Admission is 3,000 won for adults, 2,000 won for students. Visit www.arariogallery.co.kr.
Pattern Alarm
Cais Gallery Seoul
Through May 5
Kim Jang-hee is holding a solo show at Cais Gallery Seoul, Cheongdam-dong. Visit www.caisgallery.com.
Slowness
Palais de Seoul
Han Jung-wook is staging a solo show at Gallery Palais de Seoul. Visit www.palaisdeseoul.com.
Slight Monument Scene
Space CAN
Through April 27
Yang Jin-woo is displaying his colorful, multimedia installations at Space CAN, Seongbuk-dong, Seongbuk, Seoul. Visit www.can-foundation.org.
Dragon’s Dream: Roger Dean Retrospective
Daelim Contemporary Art Museum
British artist Roger Dean is best known for his fantasy-laden artwork featured on the album covers of progressive rock bands such as Yes, Asia and Uriah Heap. This is the largest retrospective of Dean’s works. Daelim Museum is located in Tongui-dong, Jongno. To get there, get off at Gyeongbokgung Station line 3, exit 4. Visit www.daelimmuseum.org or call (02) 720-0667.
Unguarded Moment
Sejong Museum of Art
Photographer Steve McCurry is best known for his iconic photograph of an Afghan girl, which landed on the cover of National Geographic in June 1985. An exhibition of McCurry’s memorable photographs will be held in Seoul for the first time at the Sejong Museum of Art, downtown Seoul. Tickets are 8,000 won, Visit www.mccurrykorea.com.
Arte Cubano
Gallery Bellarte
Works by Cuban artists Nelson Dominguez, Eduardo Roca Salazar, Mario Miguel Gonzalez Fernandez, Jose Omar Torres Lopez and Andy Rivero, are on display at the Gallery Bellarte. Call (02)739-4333.
Kim Hong-joo Exhibition
Kim Hong-joo is holding a solo show of new paintings at Kukje Gallery. Visit www.kukjegallery.com.
Figure 2 Figure
Sungkok Art Museum
A solo exhibit of art by Kim Dong-yoo, known for his works that combine images of pop culture figure is featured. Visit www.sungkokmuseum.com.
Family Ballet ‘Alice in Wonderland’
Oulim Theater, Goyang Aram Nuri Arts Complex
May 4-5
The Seoul Ballet Theater (SBT) will stage “Alice in Wonderland” this May. The story is based on Lewis Carroll’s classic novel “Alice’s Adventures in Wonderland.” James Jeon, who is the resident choreographer of SBT, focused on entertaining a younger audience when he created this ballet. Tickets cost from 12,000 to 20,000 won. For more information, visit ticket.interpark.com or call 1577-7766. Located near exit 3 of Jeongbalsan Station on subway line 3.
Fart King Ppwung Ppwung
Seoul Kyoyuk Munhwa Hoekwan Theater
April 30-May 29
EBS program “Fart King Ppwung Ppwung,” becomes a children’s musical. The musical will feature children’s songs that are fun to sing along to, as well as the program’s title song “I Love Ppwung Ppwung.” Tickets cost from 25,000 to 45,000 won. For more information, visit ticket.interpark.com or call 501-7888. Located near exit 7 of Yangjae Station on subway line 3.
Family Musical ‘Pororo & Secret Room’
Samsung Hall, Ewha Womans University
April 23- May 8
Family musical “Pororo & the Secret Room” tells the story of a little penguin Pororo, a popular Korean comic character, and his friends. Tickets cost from 30,000 to 40,000 won. For more information, visit ticket.interpark. com or call 1544-1555. Located near exits 2 or 3 of E-dae Station on subway line 2.
Baseball
Saturday, April 24
Hanhwa Eagles vs. LG Twins
Jamsil Baseball Stadium at 5 p.m.
KIA Tigers vs. Nexen Heroes
Mokdong Stadium at 5 p.m.
Lotte Giants vs. SK Wyverns
Munhak Stadium at 5 p.m.
Doosan Bears vs. Samsung Lions
Daegu Stadium at 5 p.m.
Sunday, April 25
Daegu Stadium at 2 p.m.
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.