Night clubs open on Thursday

I’ve been living and raging in since August 2013, when I moved here to . I’ve literally gone clubbing in Gangnam almost every weekend, and I can’t even begin to tell you how much fun it is! So I decided to write this complete guide to the nightlife in Gangnam, to share with you my favorite clubs and tell you what to expect when you come.

The nightlife in Seoul is the best in world.

Seriously guys, I’ve partied in over 70 countries and 150 cities, and nothing comes even close to the insanity levels of Seoul. I’ve lived in Las Vegas and I’ve been to every club there. I’ve been to the insane clubs of Barcelona, Stockholm, Berlin, and Bangkok. They have nothing compared to Seoul. You must come here to experience it for yourself.

Maybe you’ve already read the several other blog posts that I’ve written about the incredible nightlife in Seoul, but here is one more that further proves my point that Seoul is the #1 Party City in the World.

Perhaps the #1 reason why the nightlife in Seoul is so special is because Koreans love to get drunk.

Every year, South Korea tops the charts for the highest consumption of alcohol per person in the world. In fact, , with an average of 13.7 shots of liquor per person per week (2014).

Get your hands on a green bottle of soju for .50USD (1, 500 won). Similar to sake in Japan, soju is a Korean rice liquor that is heavily consumed during social gatherings, restaurants and in every convenient store in Korea. In fact, over of soju are sold every single year. It only contains 20% alcohol content, but be careful because the hangovers are usually miserable…

The next thing to learn about Koreans is their love for . Seoul frequently attracts many big name DJs and EDM music festivals. I’ve seen Tiesto, Avicii, Above & Beyond, Fedde Le Grand, Steve Angello, Kaskade, Madeon and dozens more perform at clubs, and I’ve attended festivals such as Ultra Korea, Sensation White, Global Gathering, and World DJ Festival.

I get such a kick out of the way that Koreans dance to EDM. It’s hilarious! Their style involves moving their shoulders up-and-down in a rhythmic motion, bobbing their heads like a chicken and uncontrollably pumping their fists in the air.

Want to know what it looks like? Check out my video of “How Koreans Dance!” I took every video from my iPhone over the last year in various clubs around Seoul.

But if clubbing is not your thing, then don’t worry. Check out these other popular nightlife districts of Seoul:

Itaewon– Itaewon is the foreigner district of Seoul, but it’s also trending for young to middle-aged Koreans. Here, you will find several bars (some fancy, some casual), as well as various night clubs and pubs. The healthy mix of foreigners and locals gives Itaewon a unique feel that’s always full of energy.

Also, for the best places to party, see my

Hongdae– This is the ultimate hipster area of Seoul. Go here to see young Korean trends and fashion at its finest. Hongdae is like a college campus, because there are several big universities around the area. Everything in Hongdae is cheap, and there are more bars and clubs than I can count. It’s always crowded, and the street vendors/local restaurants stay open 24 hours.

Sincheon– Sincheon is nearly an extension of Hongdae. It’s just one metro stop away, and this area also has a college feel to it. There is a main strip lined up with bars and clubs that are cheap and fun. It’s always a good idea to start the night in Sincheon, and then head over to Hongdae (or vice versa).

Apgujeong– This area is another trendy nightlife hub, that’s located next to Gangnam. Rodeo drive is where all the craziness happens, with some of the priciest clubs and deluxe hotels in Seoul. If you’re not on a strict budget, then go to Apgujeong for dinner and drinks before heading out to Gangnam (but seriously prepare your wallet).

For hotels in Apgujeong,

Gangnam– Gangnam is the main district for Seoul’s luxurious and posh nightclubs that are multi-leveled with massive dance floors and top-notch sound systems. Gangnam is compared to the “Beverly Hills” of Seoul with its wealth and fashion. Basically, this is where all of the celebrities and rich folks hang out and spend ridiculous amounts of money, but it’s also trending for young 20-somethings who want to party all night. If you want to do some serious clubbing in Seoul, then definitely go to Gangnam!

*The rest of this post will talk specifically about the clubbing scene in Gangnam*

Clubbing in Gangnam isn’t cheap… Cover charges are typically from $20-$40 USD (depending on the event) and drinks are NOT cheap either. Expect to pay no less than $10USD for any shot/beer/mixed drink inside a club.

However, if you want to save money on drinks, then just go to the club early and get a wristband so you can enter & exit whenever you wish. Then, go to a cheap convenient store down ths street and drink soju for $1 per bottle!

Or, if you are more adventurous like me, then you can buy a plastic flask of soju and bring it inside the club in your pocket. Then, go to the bar and order a sprite or coke and spike your flask inside the bathroom. I do this all the time and it’s never been an issue — I’ve also never been patted down when entering a club.

If you are going out clubbing with a large group of people, then it’s definitely worth getting a table with bottle service. You will pay a little more money, but the epic overall experience is worth it. It’s also a good idea to get pretty drunk BEFORE you go, otherwise you will basically light your money on fire inside the club.

Unlike clubbing in Las Vegas or Western Europe, the dress code in Seoul is not strictly enforced in Seoul. Well, you can dress up as much as you want if that’s your thing, but you don’t have to. I typically wear a V-neck with black jeans and Nike gym shoes. Just don’t wear shorts or flip flops because you will get denied entrance.

Clubs these days are becoming more strict on checking IDs, so make sure to bring your ID with you. You don’t need a passport, just any ID with your birthday on it. If you are under 18, then get a fake ID that says you’re older — otherwise you will be denied entrance.

Lastly, don’t show up to a club until at least midnight, or else you will awkwardly be the only one inside. Clubs stay open until the last person walks out (usually 7-9AM). I have stumbled home from a club at 10AM before.

For the remainder of this post, I will share with you my top 8 favorite clubs in Gangnam with detailed descriptions. Everything you will read is from my own personal experiences over the last 2 years raging in Seoul. I’ve been to each of these clubs several times.