Gangnam & Southern Seoul
Enjoy a day at the races at Seoul's impressive and hugely popular horse-racing track. A 40,000-capacity grandstand faces the sandy track and its backdrop…
Must-see entertainment in South Korea
Myeong-dong & Jung-gu
Running since 1997, with no end in sight, is Korea's most successful nonverbal performance. Set in a kitchen, this high-octane, 90-minute show mixes magic…
Seoul
The 'Lost Continent of Mu' has been hiding out in Sangsu-dong all these years? Join those in the know for live bands, piano, improv jazz or electronic…
Myeong-dong & Jung-gu
The several venues here are home to the national drama, changgeuk (Korean opera), orchestra and dance companies. Free concerts and movies are put on in…
Gyeonggi-do & Incheon
Put it all on black at Korea's first Vegas-style casino, featuring an enormous gaming floor where bow-tied croupiers shuffle cards and stack chips at…
Seoul
Sounding like 'mellow out' in English, this small live-music bar is very Yeonnam-dong – Hongdae's mellower, cooler sibling. The dark industrial-chic space…
Gangnam & Southern Seoul
Traditional Korean classical and folk music and dance are performed, preserved and taught at this centre, which is home to the Court Music Orchestra, the…
Seoul
Appealing across the generations, Evans offers top-grade jazz and a great atmosphere. If you want a seat, get here early or book ahead – live music…
Myeong-dong & Jung-gu
Most famous for its critically acclaimed musical Miso, this theatre company also produces a number of traditional nonverbal musicals.
Seoul
A top live venue with up to eight local indie bands playing at the weekend until midnight. Afterwards it becomes a dance club with DJs.
Busan
The Lotte Giants baseball experience inside Sajik stadium neatly captures the essence of Busan: boisterous, fun-loving and occasionally naughty …
Busan
An important venue for the Busan International Film Festival, this complex plays a mix of Korean and foreign films in its smaller venues. The magnificent…
Seoul
With live jazz, bands and acoustic music, great Korean food (clam and tofu stew; apple bbq pork) and beer (or bottles of berry makgeolli), this place,…
Gwangju
This mellow basement hideaway features live jazz from 10pm every Friday and Saturday night. There's no cover charge.
Seoul
This former post office turned art centre focuses on the theme of sharing and communication. With many exhibitions, concerts and seminars put on by and…
Gangnam & Southern Seoul
The national ballet and opera companies are based at this sprawling arts complex, which includes a circular opera house with a roof shaped like a Korean…
Gwangju
Catch the Kia Tigers professional baseball team in action from April through November. Stock up on snacks from the street vendors outside the stadium,…
Seoul
Set in a kitchen, this long-running, high-octane show mixes varied ingredients – magic tricks, circus acts, drumming with kitchen utensils, comedy, dance…
Gwanghwamun & Jongno-gu
Catch independent and foreign films (with subtitles in Korean) at this arts cinema where you’ll also find Hollywood golden oldies screening at the Silver…
Gyeongsangbuk-do
Byeolsingut Talnori masked dance performances take place in a small stadium near Hahoe’s car park. These shows are a must-see – plus they’re free,…
Itaewon & Yongsan-gu
Shake your stuff to two shows nightly (7pm and 9pm) at this neon-clad live-music den featuring local jazz acts and a smattering of blues, funk and hip hop…
Itaewon & Yongsan-gu
A fixture on the Seoul jazz scene since 1976, this place regularly features top local musicians; table reservations are recommended for the weekend. There…
Seoul
Korea's professional football league has 12 teams playing in the top tier (Division 1), with matches taking place between March and November. FC Seoul,…
Busan
The sweet sound of live jazz fills the room most nights from 9pm to 11pm with professional Korean performers – expats jam Wednesday nights.
Sejong Center for the Performing Arts
Gwanghwamun & Jongno-gu
One of Seoul's leading arts complexes, with several performance and exhibition spaces, puts on major drama, music and art shows – everything from large…
Gwanghwamun & Jongno-gu
This outdoor plaza at the southern entrance to Insa-dong-gil hosts interesting traditional music and dance performances every Saturday. It's on the corner…
Northern Seoul
In this large, red-brick complex designed by Kim Swoo-geun are the main and small halls of both the Arko Art Theater and Daehangno Arts Theater. Come here…
Gwanghwamun & Jongno-gu
A nonverbal theatrical production that involves a comedic Iron Chef–style contest, stirring beatbox and a cappella into the mix. It's an update to the…
Seoul
Free classic and contemporary Korean films are on the bill at one of the three cinemas in this home of the Korean Film Archive. See the website for…
Busan
Busan IPark, the city's pro football team, plays 19 home matches between March to November at Gudeok Stadium. Games are thinly attended, so getting a good…
Seoul
First-generation K-Indie bands such as Crying Nut came into the spotlight at this legendary live-music venue. It’s standing-room-only and there’s a…
Seoul
An art collective that curates monthly shows for Seoul-based artists that combine music, art and performance; check the website for upcoming events.
Gangnam & Southern Seoul
Cineplex with 17 screens and 4000 comfortable seats, showing films in original language. Sometimes screens live ballet and opera performances.
Gangnam & Southern Seoul
An intimate and classy club with live jazz from two groups of performers every night, each playing two sets between 7.30pm and 12.30am.
Gangnam & Southern Seoul
Major local and international artists and companies perform at this multi-hall, state-of-the-art venue.
Jeju-si
Partygoers young and old come here to dance into the early hours amid exotic dancers, live music, DJs, a laser-light show and a spectacular dome that…
Seoul
Built for the 2002 Football World Cup, this 66,000-seat venue is still used as a sports and events stadium. Die-hard football fans may want to visit the…
Northern Seoul
Lined with shelves of old LPs and with a baby grand piano on the stage, this neighbourhood venue is serious about live jazz, soul and pop. Expect three…
Gangnam & Southern Seoul
Watch South Korea’s best players slug it out at Jamsil Baseball Stadium. There are three Seoul teams in the eight-team Korean League and two of them – the…
Seoul
Marked by a huge brick chimney, this still-operating steel product factory has a large space on its 2nd floor devoted to a wide range of arts. Expect…
