The Hornet Guide to Gay Seoul

One of the most beautiful cities in all of Asia, Seoul is where the modern harmoniously blends with tradition. As the “most wired city” in the world, Seoul is the center of gaming culture. This new old city has plenty to do and see. Commuting in Seoul is easy, with accessible public transportation taking you anywhere you need to go, and it’s no wonder gay Seoul is becoming a top tourist destination for LGBTQ travelers.

 

Must-Visit Historical Attractions of Seoul

With a rich history dating back to the 1300s, tourists should check out these sites for a true cultural experience. Gyeongbokgung Palace, the grand royal palace from the Joseon Dynasty, is one must-visit attraction. As the most beautiful and magnificent palace, it’s also the home to the National Palace Museum of Korea and the National Folk Museum.

There are four more historical palaces to visit within Seoul: Changdeokgung, Changgyeonggung, Deoksugung and Gyeonghuigung. All of them are in the Jongno and Jung Districts and each offers a truly unique experience.

Bukchon Hanok Village is another tourist spot for history buffs. A traditional village in Seoul, this neighborhood is made of alleys and old Korean architecture. The village has kept its original form, letting travellers of today explore a 600-year-old urban environment.

 

Must-Visit Local Attractions of Seoul

If you enjoy outdoor activities, Namsan Mountain has excellent hiking trails, and an excellent view of downtown Seoul. The N Seoul Tower, another iconic piece of Seoul architecture, is also on the top of Mt. Namsan if you needed another reason to check out this beautiful site.

Myeong-dong is Seoul’s biggest shopping district in the city. You can spend a whole day here shopping and sightseeing. Myeong-dong also has two historically significant sites here, namely the Myeongdong Cathedral and the Myeongdong Nanta Theatre.

Lotte World is a major recreational complex. It consists of the world’s largest indoor theme park. But it’s not just a theme park. There’s also an outdoor amusement park, Magic Island, which is an artificial island inside a lake linked by monorail. Lotte World also has shopping malls, a luxury hotel, a Korean folk museum and sports facilities.

 

Off-the-Beaten-Path Museums of Seoul

We’ve mentioned a number of great places to find out about Korea’s history already. But if you’re looking for something different, you’ll like to see these unexpected museums. The Museum of Kimchikan, or Kimchi Museum, has displays with all the data and statistics on kimchi you’d ever want to know. They also regularly host activities for visitors, like demonstrations of the kimchi-making process, tastings and cooking classes.

At the Alive Museum, you’re part of the exhibit! Visitors can interact with artwork, through the brand-new concept of ‘Optical Illusion Art’ and ‘Interactive Art.’ The Alive Museum encourages visitors to interact with the artwork by producing images with their natural facial expressions and reactions.

Fashion fans can check out the Simone Handbag Museum and learn about the history of handbags. Over 300 bags are on display at the museum, which date from 1550 to the present day.

PyeongChang isn’t the first Korean city to host the Olympics. Seoul hosted the 1988 Summer Olympics to huge success; visitors can tour the Seoul Olympics Museum to relive moments from the games.

 

Nightlife of Gay Seoul

Pretty boys are everywhere in Seoul. They value grooming and appearances highly, so much that sometimes it’s difficult to discern straight men from the gay ones. However, with a significant percentage of the population being old-school conservatives or devoutly Christian, there’s still a taboo concerning anything gay.

But rest assured, there are gay Seoul places where gays can come together for a good time. Grab a taxi and have the driver take you to the Itaewon district and you will find clubs like Trance Bar, where the drag performance heats up at 2 o’clock in the morning.

Gray Club, also around the Itaewon district, regularly hosts themed parties at this underground bear club. Hompa by Le Queen is another late-night venue, featuring a bar and spacious dance floor with hunky go-go boys grooving to the beat. There’s also a lounge area and a raised outdoor patio for mingling.

SoHo Club is a small dance club opposite QUEEN bar in the Itaewon district, with a young international LGBT crowd. There are huge video screens making and a stage making this the perfect place to get your groove on. For smokers, the SoHo Club also has a lovely outdoor patio.

Always Homme is another favorite local bar in this area. Always busy on the weekend before and after clubbing hours, expats mix with a young local crowd to sip cocktails and socialize in a posh environment.

 

Featured image by JGalione via iStock

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