The booziest city in Asia?
According to a Euromonitor International report, South Koreans are global leaders at sinking hard booze with 11.2 shots per week. Russia came in second with an average of 6.3… It isn’t a question of if to tour in Seoul, it is a question of when.
Do you follow the standard summer tour option or treat yourself to a much-needed winter break between November and February?
PLAY
Seoul offers a plethora of sports match options. As well as local South Korean teams, there are a lot of expat and US military teams available on social media to help sort your game of choice.
We set up a match by leaving a message on the Seoul Sunday Football League (SSL) Facebook Group. One of the guys that runs a team in that league arranged a match for us against SSL Select XI. He also booked out the Suwon World Cup Stadium training pitch which was every bit as good as it sounds and approximately 1 hour on the bus from basecamp in Hongdae. We even stopped en route to pick up some of our opposition.
Post-match refreshments were laid on by match-day sponsor Wolfhound Pub in Itaewon.
PARTY
Heavy drinking sessions are had every night of the week in Seoul, but the city is huge, so a bit of forward planning is needed. Luckily, there are 3 main areas to party, all distinctly different.
Hongdae
Loud, vibrant, cheap drinks, open fronted bars, underground music venues. Hongdae is a favorite with the students and can be summed up as fun, cheap & boozy. Bars such as Thursday Party are good starting points and big enough to fit a large group into, with plenty of street drinking around the area to take advantage of en route to your next destination.
Itaewon
The most internationally friendly destination. Sports bars, rooftop-bars, foreign friendly clubs and karaoke bars. You’ll bump into far more expats and tourist here than elsewhere in Seoul. The reason it is so popular is because its nightlife is so diverse. Plan a loose itinerary to maximise what you see. We recommend rooftop sundowners at Southside Parlour, just out from the craziness before heading further down to the busier hub located around Itaewon station.
Gangnam
Venture South of the river for Seoul’s biggest and best clubs such as Club Octagon. Gangnam is Asia’s Ibiza. Most clubs will have a cover charge of around 10,000 - 30,000 Won, and others will have table-only/minimum spend options. You will also get some of the most glamorous men and women you've ever seen so dress appropriately too!
Finally, a friendly word of warning. Whilst Seoul has incredibly diverse options for nightlife, one thing stays constant: Soju! It is a Korean rice wine and it's everywhere. Soju somehow varies in alcohol content between 16%-53% so you're night can take a real turn for good or bad, depending on how much you drink!
UNWIND
The single greatest hangover cure on the planet. Jimjilbangs are Korean public bath houses. Saunas, steam rooms, jacuzzis, traditional Korean kiln saunas (massive human sized ovens with hot stones), massage tables, detox teas, Korean fried chicken, spicy noodle soups…. Just spend 2 hours here the morning after the night before and you will be fixed. At about US$10 a pop, they are an absolute bargain as well.
Once suitably refreshed, head to the FC Seoul stadium to catch a game, ensuring you arrive a few hours before kick-off. The areas outside of the stadium become a bit of a mini beer festival with craft beer stands interspersed with Korean style fast food. An absolute must is the legendary steak-in-a-cup; a steak and chips filled cup lid sat on top of a pint of frosty Hite lager. And if steak ain't your thing, try chicken. Why isn’t this a thing all over the world?!
You can almost always get tickets on the door and if you can, try and get into the home end to experience the Seoul ultras giving it the biggun’.
Baseball is fairly new but a huge hit in Korea. Unlike football tickets for baseball at Jamsil Stadium Can sell out so if you can, book in advance online or get to the stadium 60 minutes before the start. Home teams Doosan Bears, LG Twins, Nexen Heroes play frequently over weekends during the season.
The War Memorial of Korea (Seoul War Museum) might be one to flank in if you are treating yourself to an extra day on the trip. Arguably one of the best museums in the world and hands down the best museum we have been to.
ON A SHOESTRING
Accommodation
Itaewon and Hongdae offer great hostel options. Get a large dorm rooms in Hongdae for around US$ 15-20 per person per night.
Travel
Stay in Hongdae, party in Hongdae, eat in Hongdae, use your feet.
Eat
Steak-in-a-cup. Dinner & a beer for US$12
Merch
Tour polo
Party
Errr, Hongdae. Drink Hite beers.
MID-TABLE
Accommodation
Twin hotel rooms can be found for approx US$65 per night (2 star)
Travel
Train – the Seoul Metropolitan Subway is cheap and far easier to navigate than the tube systems in Tokyo.
Eat
Bibimbap - a Korean fave that's actually quite nutritious too! Rice bowls with meat, sauteed or pickled vegetables and chili paste. Good pre-game, post-game or hungover. Approx 10,000 Won (US$ 10)
Merch
Tour polo, Korean style playing kit, team beanies (winter), dazzling travel shorts (summer)
Party
Hit up Itaewon's main strip. Plenty of variance in bars, and a good balance of locals and expats. Work your way through the Soju menus if you're brave enough
BALLIN’
Accommodation
Team Airbnb such as Mono House near Hongdae which offers 14 beds, 9 bathrooms and is close to the nightlife.
Travel
Renting a coach for the weekend is absolutely the best option, hassle free and not as expensive as you might think (about US$150 for the day).
Eat
Marbled sirloin at the Korean BBQ, pricey, tender, full of flavour and similar to Wagyu.
Merch
Tour polo, Korean style playing kit, team beanies (winter), Bespoke bomber jackets (winter) dazzling travel shorts (summer), Korean style baseball kit (summer)
Party
Gangnam is without doubt one of the glitziest and glamorous places on the planet. Make sure you are dressed to impress, cos the locals most definitely will. Drink everything at your privately booked table.
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