As more South Koreans shun drinking, Seoul nightlife reinvents to stay relevant

As more South Koreans shun drinking, Seoul nightlife reinvents to stay relevant Nightlife operators are transforming their entertainment offerings to focus more on music genres and healthier options to draw customers On a midsummer Thursday night, the entertainment district of Hongdae in Seoul is slowly coming alive. Short for Hongik University, Hongdae neighbours several university campuses and typically attracts thousands of young people to its flashy streets. Just a few blocks away from the main clubbing area, the atmosphere is quieter with hardly any patrons at a row of pubs and restaurants. “Hongdae is not what it used to be like,” said Chris Kim, a 27-year-old who works in the fashion industry. “My friends and I used to go clubbing a lot and the places were always packed. There’d be fights all the time, and you’d constantly see police cars showing up.” The pandemic was a turning point as Hongdae’s reputation as an entertainment hotspot took a hit, Kim said. “In the past, the whole point of getting together was often to drink until you got drunk. But drinking isn’t the main reason for meeting up any more,” he said, referring to a discernible decline in young drinkers in Hongdae. “It feels like the divide is really clear today.” [Image text:] ALLER GN SQUARE LIVE HALL CINEMA LALOL LMEHAL ZAMNS