[Weekender] Seoul clubs: the party animal's paradise

Many cities around the world call themselves “the city that never sleeps,” but few live up to that reputation as well as Seoul. The raging nightlife has become a trademark for Korea’s capital, with countless bars, clubs, coffee shops and noraebang (karaoke bars) that welcome in party animals right up until sunrise.

Naturally, Seoulites have developed a high standard for what they are looking for in the perfect club party experience.

Clubs in Seoul boast some of the most stylish venues in the world with state-of-the-art sound and light systems and A-list DJs thumping music that keeps the crowd roaring.

Club Octagon, the hands-down top club right now in Seoul, is ranked at No. 6 in the world by British dance music magazine DJ Mag, and there are many lesser-known clubs that are quickly catching up.

After the rise of sweaty hip-hop clubs such as Noise Basement in the 2000s, the scene has quickly shifted toward a luxury feel and electronic dance music. Generally crowded in the upscale Gangnam area, the young Hongdae college town and the foreigner-heavy Itaewon district, clubs have become home to Seoulites who want to dress up, get drunk and shake their stress away.

Each district offers a slightly different vibe.

Head to Gangnam to brush shoulders with celebrities and the fashion elite while sipping on expensive liquor and enjoying the best electronic music. Join the crowds in Hongdae to be part of a younger, high-energy group shaking beer bottles in the air at a wider variety of smaller clubs playing more diverse music in addition to the typical hip-hop and EDM hits. Party it up in Itaewon to slam down shots and mingle with an international crowd looking for a good time.

With the major clubs within walking distance from one another, Hongdae and Itaewon are better options for those who want to club-hop throughout the night -- if only because of the cheaper cover charges.

Whether you’re spending just a few nights in Seoul or living here for a longer stretch, clubs are the best way to spend a night if you’re looking for nonstop fun. After brushing up on some club lingo and the appropriate dress code to get into the upscale clubs in Gangnam, you’ll be set to dance the night away. The holidays may be chilly, but it’ll get hotter than ever inside Seoul’s clubs with year-end parties soon underway.

By Won Ho-jung (hjwon@heraldcorp.com)