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.
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.
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.
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 FF
This live music venue features all kinds of music. Depending on the night, they feature funk, punk, rock or pop. Club FF 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.
Damien Hirst
Opera Gallery
Through May 15
Works by Damien Hirst, one of the most famous Young British Artists, are on display at the Opera Gallery in Seoul. Visit www.operagallery.com or call (02) 3446-0070.
Phantoms
Atelier Hermes
Through June 27
Renowned French installation artist Bertrand Lavier will be presenting his new works at Atelier Hermes, located on the third floor of the Hermes flagship store, near Dosan Park, southern Seoul.
Being a Queen
The Museum of Photography, Seoul
Through June 5
Chun Kyung-woo is holding a solo show at the Museum of Photography. The museum is located on the 19th and 20th floors of Hanmi Tower, Bangi-dong, Songpa, Seoul. Visit www.photomuseum.or.kr.
Pile Up Furniture
Gallery Jung
Through May 16
Kim Eun-hak explores the concept of “piling up furniture’’ in this solo show at Gallery Jung, Sinsa-dong, Gangnam. Visit www.galleryjung.com.
Time Is a Mirror
Gallery b’ONE
May 6-30
Kim Mi-kyung, graduate of the New York Parsons School of Design, is opening her first solo exhibit at Gallery b’ONE. The gallery is in Hwa-dong, Jongno, Seoul. Visit www.gallerybeone.kr.
Martin Wehmer
Michael Schultz Gallery
Through May 21
German artist Martin Wehmer presents his next solo exhibition in Seoul at the European-focused art gallery. Michael Schultz Gallery is in Cheongdam-dong, Gangnam. Visit www.schultzgallery.co.kr.
Ouhi Cha’s La Boite de la Memoire
Watergate Gallery
Through May 29
Ouhi Cha returns to Korea for the first time in two years at the Watergate Gallery. The show will present a myriad of drawings, paintings and large installations before traveling to Chang Art in Beijing, this June. Watergate is in Nonhyeon-dong, Gangnam. Visit www.watergate.co.kr.
Radiance
PKM Gallery
Through June 11
Park Chan-kyong presents his works on the loss of the “Korean utopia” in his latest solo exhibition. PKM Gallery, in collaboration with Bartleby Bickle & Meursault, is located in Hwa-dong, Jongno-gu. Visit www.pkmgallery.com.
Tokujin Yoshioka: Spectrum
museum.beyond Museum
May 1-June 30
Internationally renowned Tokujin Yoshioka brings his new, breathtaking exhibition to Seoul. The Japanese designer recently unveiled “Stella,” a spherical lighting fixture made of crystal, for the Swarovski Crystal Palace at Milan Design Week. Yoshioka has also done installations for such names as Hermes and Peugeot. The museum is located in Cheongdam-dong, Gangnam. Visit www.beyondmuseum.com.
Kim Ji-won
PKM Trinity Gallery
May 6-June 4
Kim Ji-won returns with a solo show of her new works at PKM Trinity Gallery this spring. The PKM Trinity Gallery is in Cheongdam-dong, Gangnam. For more information, go to www.pkmgallery.com
Comic Books Showcase
Coreana Museum of Art
Kim Sang-ha’s personal collection of comic books offers a rare peek into the Japanese subculture in the 8th open gallery of the Coreana Museum of Art. More than 3,000 books will be presented at the exhibition, which is sure to pique the interest of everyone. The museum is located in Sinsa-dong, Gangnam. Visit www.spacec.co.kr.
Strength of Gyeonggi Province
Gyeonggi Museum of Modern Art
Through August 22
The Gyeonggi Art Project annually features critical issues encompassing politics, society and culture. This year’s exhibition brings together a collection of talented artists to represent the changing art scene. The Gyeonggi Museum of Modern Art is in Choji-dong, Danwon-gu, Ansan. Visit www.gmoma.or.kr or call 031-481-7007 for more details.
Park Soo Keun
Gallery Hyundai
May 7-May 30
Gallery Hyundai commemorates the 45th anniversary of the renowned Park Soo Keun’s death with an exhibition of selected works. Park, a historic figure in modern Korean art, became known at an international level posthumously. Gallery Hyundai is located in Sagan-dong, Jongno-gu. Visit www.galleryhyundai.com.
30th Anniversary of the Young Korean Artists
National Museum of Contemporary Art Korea
Through June 6
This comprehensive exhibition covers the past three decades of artists, depicting the progression of modern Korean art. Participating artists include Joo Tae-seok, Rhee Ki-bong and Lee Wan. The museum is located in Gwacheon. Visit www.moca.go.kr.
Touch
Kukje Gallery
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.
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.
Kwak Su-yeon
Gallery Erl
June 1-July 1
Kwak Su-yeon is holding a solo exhibition of new works that critique human greed, consumption and hypocrisy ― through the satirical use of animals as her main subject ― at the Gallery Erl. Gallery Erl is located in Sinsa-dong, Gangnam. Visit www.galleryerl.com.
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.
Children’s Day Concert
Concert Hall, Seoul Arts Center
May 5
Seoul Arts Center presents a concert to celebrate Children’s Day with actress Shin Ae-ra’s commentary. Tickets cost from 10,000 to 30,000 won. For more information, visit ticket.interpark.com or call (02) 580-1300. Located near exits 4 and 5 of Nambu Bus Terminal 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, 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 Ballet ‘Alice in Wonderland’
Oulim Theater, Goyang Aram Nuri Arts Complex
May 4-5
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 president 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.
Baseball
Saturday, May 1
KIA Tigers vs. Lotte Giants
Busan Sajik Stadium at 5 p.m.
LG Twins vs. SK Wyverns
Munhak Stadium at 5 p.m.
Samsung Lions vs. Hanhwa Eagles
Hanbat Stadium at 5 p.m.
Nexen Heroes vs. Doosan Bears
Jamsil Baseball Stadium at 5 p.m.
Sunday, May 2
Horseracing
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.
Who’s Afraid of Museum?
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.
Maden Pictures
Arario Gallery Cheonan
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.
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.