Hongdae and Yeonnam-dong
Live music, a Saturday market and a park on an old rail line
Hongdae is the strip around Hongik University, and Yeonnam-dong is the quieter cafe district behind it. The area runs on evenings, with live venues, clubs and street performers. Daytime is for shops, a Saturday market and the park.
Hongik Univ. Station (Line 2, Gyeongui-Jungang and AREX) is the main entrance. Exit 8 puts you on the pedestrian street where Hongdae R2 Busking Street hosts registered acts, and the Kakao Friends flagship is a minute away. K-Pop Square is closer to exit 1.
For music, Rolling Hall on Eoulmadang-ro books Korean and international bands, and hours follow each night's schedule. KT&G Sangsangmadang is on the same street and runs exhibitions and performances. Club NB is a dance club on Wausan-ro. It opens at 22:00 Sunday to Thursday and 21:30 Friday and Saturday, and stays open until 06:00 or 07:00.
The Hongdae Free Market runs on Saturday afternoons from March to November, and rain cancels it. For a break, walk the Yeonnam section of the Gyeongui Line Forest Park, a linear park of about 6.3 km in total on the former rail line.
Getting there
Hongik Univ. Station is on Line 2, the Gyeongui-Jungang Line and the Airport Railroad (AREX), which links to Incheon Airport. Sangsu Station on Line 6 is closer to the Free Market and Rolling Hall.
What to see
Start in the afternoon and let the area fill up with the evening. The Kakao Friends flagship and K-Pop Square are both open daily, so shops come first. Registered street performers play near exit 8, but no times are published, so check with the Visit Seoul office.
Weekends are busy. The forest park is crowded on weekend afternoons, so a weekday visit suits it better.
Where to eat and drink
Imi Coffee near exit 1 is closed Tuesdays and takes last orders at 20:30. GMH Dabang in Sangsu-dong is a cafe by day and a wine saloon at night, and it opens late afternoon on weekdays. Dongjin Market in Yeonnam-dong has short listed hours, so go on a weekend afternoon.
Nearby neighbourhoods
The best of Hongdae and Yeonnam-dong
Things to do in Hongdae and Yeonnam-dong
What's on in Hongdae and Yeonnam-dong
Local events in the next 30 days, read from the ward, park and organiser pages each one links to.
Nanta at Hongdae Nanta Theatre Performance
Wednesday to Sunday, one or two shows a day. Next: Wed 4 Nov · Hongdae Nanta Theatre, B2, 29 Yanghwa-ro 16-gil
Non-verbal kitchen comedy with knife work and acrobatics, an open run since 2015. Wednesdays to Fridays 17:00, Saturdays 14:00 and 17:00, Sundays 14:00. Schedule can change.
VIP 70,000 won, S 60,000 won, A 50,000 won · Wed to Fri 17:00, Sat 14:00 and 17:00, Sun 14:00 · Map · Source: The Nanta (PMC Production) · 홍대난타극장 난타
YNA Chinese and Japanese language exchanges Activities
Chinese on Wednesdays, Japanese on Thursdays. Next: Wed 4 Nov · YNA Lounge
Chinese and Korean on Wednesdays, Japanese and Korean on Thursdays, on the fifth floor of 65 Wausan-ro.
10,000 KRW, drinks included · 19:00 to 21:00 · Map · Source: YNA Language Exchange
YNA English and Korean language exchange Activities
Wednesday to Saturday evenings. Next: Wed 4 Nov · YNA Lounge
On the fifth floor of 65 Wausan-ro in Hongdae.
10,000 KRW, drinks included · Wed and Thu 19:00 to 21:00, Fri and Sat 20:00 to 22:00 · Map · Source: YNA Language Exchange
Absolute Seoul Pub Crawl, Hongdae Nightlife
Thursday, Saturday and Sunday, 20:00. Next: Thu 5 Nov · Dokkaebi Party House
US$20 online, 25,000 KRW at the door · Meet 20:00 to 21:30, party until 01:00 · Map · Source: Absolute Seoul Pub Crawl
Hongdae pub crawl (Friday) Nightlife
Fridays until 26 December, 20:30. Next: Fri 6 Nov · Dokkaebi Party House
Three bars and a club with four drinks. Bring a photo ID.
25,000 KRW · 20:30 · Map · Source: The Seoul Pub Crawl (SGW events)
Mapo On Stage Concert
Fri 6 Nov · Open plaza outside Hongik Univ. Station Exit 7
First edition of a Mapo-gu festival at the plaza by Exit 7. K-pop arcade activities from 14:00, opening at 18:00, then a guest artist concert from 18:40 with Holy Bang, Hype Princess, Keevicz, Dragon Pony, Lil Boi and Dynamic Duo among others.
14:00 to 21:30 · Map · Source: Seoul Festival portal (FUN SEOUL, Seoul Metropolitan Government) · 제1회 마포 온 스테이지(MAPO ON STAGE) 축제
Hongdae Free Market Market
Saturdays, March to November. Next: Sat 7 Nov · Hongik Children's Park area
Saturdays from March to November, 13:00 to 18:00. Not held December to February. The Visit Seoul page lists no admission fee.
Free · 13:00 to 18:00 · Map · Source: Visit Seoul (Seoul Tourism Organization)
Hongdae pub crawl (Saturday) Nightlife
Saturdays until 26 December, 20:30. Next: Sat 7 Nov · Mike's Cabin Hongdae
Three bars and a club with four drinks. Bring a photo ID.
25,000 KRW · 20:30 · Map · Source: The Seoul Pub Crawl (SGW events)
Live music in Hongdae and Yeonnam-dong
- Hongdae Busking Zone 1 58 upcoming gigs
- Hongdae Busking Zone 4 38 upcoming gigs
- Ewha College of Music (Kim Young-ui Hall) 37 upcoming gigs
- Hongdae Busking Zone 2 31 upcoming gigs
- Club Evans 20 upcoming gigs
- Rolling Hall 9 upcoming gigs
- KT&G Sangsangmadang Hongdae Live Hall 8 upcoming gigs
- Musinsa Garage 7 upcoming gigs
- Mapo Arts Center 6 upcoming gigs
- Hongdae Busking Zone 3 2 upcoming gigs
- Art Hall Bezzang 2 upcoming gigs
- West Bridge Live Hall 1 upcoming gig
- Space Brick 1 upcoming gig
From the blog
Stay in Hongdae and Yeonnam-dong
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