Seoul/Seodaemun-Mapo

Seodaemun (서대문) and Mapo (마포) are in northwestern Seoul, by the banks of the Han River. They're most notable for having a high concentration of colleges and universities, resulting in a distinct, youthful culture, especially in the twin subdistricts of Hongdae (홍대) and Sinchon (신촌), separated by a single subway stop, a 10-minute bus ride, or a 20-minute walk. These two districts are home to some of Seoul's most boisterous nightlife, and Hongdae in particular is unique for having a strong underground indie music and arts scene, a welcome break from the sometimes unbearable monotony and conformity of the rest of the city.

Seodaemun gets its name from the Great West Gate of Joseon-era Hanseong. The gate is now gone, having been dismantled by the Japanese during the colonial period, but the name has stuck as a reminder of the past.

Understand
Seodaemun

The area around Seodaemun-gu has been inhabited and settled since the Stone Age, and received its current name in 1396 when Donmun, or Seodaemun, one of the four gates of Seoul, was built in the early Joseon Dynasty. In the Joseon Dynasty, King Taejo renamed Hanyang as Hansungbu and categorized it into five administrative districts of 52 rooms, and Seodaemun-gu was part of the western part, including Bansongbang, Banseokbang, Sangpyeongbang, Yeonheebang, and Yeongunbang, and served as an entry point for exchanges with China.

When Korea and Japan merged in 1910, Hansung Province and Goyang Province in Gyeonggi-do were separated and incorporated into Goyang County, respectively, but when the district system was implemented in 1943, Seodaemun District Office was established in Gyeongseong Province, and on October 6, 1945, Seodaemun District Office was renamed Seodaemun-gu.

Mapo

The Mapo area, located on the coast of the Han River in the central-western part of Seoul, is where the Wausan hilly mountain range, the Nogosan hilly mountain range, and the Yongsan hilly mountain range, which diverged from Ansan, stretched into the river, and developed like a lake on the shores of the three mountain ranges: Seoho, Mapo, and Yongho, and these three lakes were called Sampo (Three Lakes), and of these three, the present-day Mapo was called Mapo River, Mapo Port, and so on, and the name Mapo was derived from this.

By rail
Subway lines 2, 5, and 6 pass through this part of Seoul, as do some commuter trains and the AREX from Incheon International Airport.

When you are heading for Sinchon station, be aware that there are two Sinchon stations: one on the Metro Line 2 and the other on the Gyeongui–Jungang branch line. They are separate stations, and this Gyeongui–Jungang branch line has very large intervals (1 per hour). Although it has a direct connection to Seoul Station, it is generally much better to use the Line 2.

Music & records
There are still a few records stores alive after the advent of MP3. Most shops are in the Hongdae area. Price range is between ₩10,000 and ₩20,000 for vinyl and ₩5,000 to ₩10,000 for CDs.



Drink
The nightlife is why you come here! This is where travelers will find some of the best nightlife anywhere, and will discover the reason why Koreans are some of the heaviest drinkers in the world. Even on weekdays, Sinchon and Hongdae are loud and alive well into the early morning.

Sinchon
Sinchon (신촌), home to universities including Yonsei University (연세대학교) and Ewha Woman's University, is a great place to soak up a more Korean environment. Not to be confused with Sincheon, which is in Songpa at the other end of the city, Sinchon is set up like many Korean entertainment areas in which bars, clubs, restaurants, karaoke boxes and sometimes even motels are structured in a grid-like fashion. The only way to familiarize yourself with the area is to stroll the alleys and discover all of the different places. Korean bars tend to be rather anti-social compared with their Western counterparts, with people sitting at tables with friends and not tending to mix. Yet a number of Western-style bars in the area have opened up.



Hongdae
Hongdae (홍대), short for Hongik University, is the premier club area in Seoul by far. Located around Hongik University, clubs and bars are strewn everywhere around the place. The place is huge and you could party for a whole week in all the bars and clubs. The best way to see it is to stroll around and find something you like. An interesting note: the entire club district of Hongdae is officially off-limits to U.S. military personnel, Federal employees and their dependents. However, it is not unusual to see crew-cuts here on the weekends since it is rarely enforced.

On a Friday or Saturday expect all of these to be packed tight. Last Friday of every month is Club Day where ₩15,000 will get you into those clubs who are part of the "Club Day". Expect a packed crowd. The clubs aren't near the station, but aren't hard to find. The most popular clubs are:



Budget
Because of this area's youthful nature, there are a large number of hostels and motels in this neighborhood, particularly south of Sinchon Station.