Category: K-Culture | Type: Activity Guide | Best For: Culture-curious travelers, Young adults seeking authentic local experiences
Skip the tourist checklist. Korean twentysomethings spend their weekends cycling through photo booths, debating board game strategies over ramyeon, and bowling under blacklights at 2 AM.
These five activities have become the default playbook for a night out in Seoul—no reservations, no dress code, just show up.
1. 네컷사진 (Four-Cut Photo Booths)
The ritual goes like this: meet friends, eat, and end the night crammed into a photo booth before saying goodbye. Nekkeot sajin has become so embedded in Korean social life that "인생네컷" (Life Four Cuts)—originally a brand name—now functions as a generic term, much like "Band-Aid" in English.
What sets these apart from Western photo booths: the frames. Photo booth chains constantly release limited collaboration frames featuring K-pop idols, characters, and brand partnerships. Fans treat these like collectible goods—AR technology now lets you pose "with" your favorite idol through augmented reality overlays.
The latest evolution: concept booths. Subway car interiors, airplane cabins, washing machines with cameras inside, "elevator CCTV" angles shot from above. Each gimmick cycles through popularity every few months.
Cost: ₩4,000-6,000 ($3-5) for prints
Features: Video recording capability, sleek modern design, variety of frame options
Pro Tip: Check their display screen for current frame collaborations before entering
2. 두쫀쿠 (Dubai Chewy Cookie)
Not a cookie in any traditional sense. Dujjonku—short for 두바이 쫀득 쿠키 (Dubai chewy cookie)—is 2024's dessert obsession: chewy marshmallow skin wrapped around kadaif (shredded phyllo) and pistachio cream filling. The texture profile hits three notes—chewy exterior, crunchy threads, rich nutty cream.
The trend exploded after IVE's Jang Wonyoung posted one to Instagram in September. Within weeks, original shops had hour-long queues. Convenience stores CU and GS25 rushed out mass-market versions.
Cost: 두바이 쫀득 쿠키 ₩4,000-8,000 ($4-8)
Pro Tip: Arrive before opening—weekend sellouts happen within 30 minutes. Walk-in only (no reservations).
3. LP바 (Vinyl Bars)
Analog nostalgia packaged for the streaming generation. LP bars range from quiet listening rooms to social spaces where vinyl serves as background texture for drinks and conversation. The appeal isn't audiophile snobbery—it's the ritual of physical media, album art you can hold, the crackle before a track starts.
Seoul's LP bar scene offers different vibes depending on your mood. Some venues run on a one-drink minimum rather than cover charges. Song requests accepted at table-service spots.
Cost: ₩7,000-15,000 ($5-12) per drink
Genres: Jazz, oldies, Korean retro pop, rock classics
What Makes It Special: As the name suggests, this bar transports you to a different era. The space is surrounded by floor-to-ceiling vinyl collections, creating an immersive listening experience. The warm wooden interior and leather bar stools set a cozy, intimate mood perfect for date nights or catching up with friends over craft cocktails.
Best For: Date nights, low-key drinking with friends who appreciate good music
Pro Tip: Arrive early evening to secure bar seating. The atmosphere intensifies after 9 PM.
4. 보드게임 카페 (Board Game Cafés)
Screen fatigue meets competitive instincts. These spaces stock hundreds of games and charge by time, not by title—show up, pick something, and staff will explain rules in Korean (some chains offer tablet tutorials with video guides).
The default duration: 2-4 hours. Groups claim tables for entire evenings, cycling through light party games (Telestrations, Codenames) before graduating to longer strategy sessions. The social dynamic matters more than the game—this is about talking, laughing, and light competition without staring at phones.
📍 Recommended: Red Button (레드버튼)
Cost: ₩3,000 ($2.50) per hour/person + 1 drink minimum
Hours: Mon-Thu 13:00-24:00 | Fri 13:00-02:00 | Sat 12:00-02:00 | Sun 12:00-01:00
Website: redbutton.co.kr
What Makes It Special: Red Button is Korea's largest board game café chain with over 9,000 game titles. Each table has a dedicated tablet app for game search, video rule explanations, and recommendations—no awkward staff interactions required. They offer cabin-style private rooms (오두막방) and attic-style seating (다락방) for groups wanting more privacy.
Food Menu: Tteokbokki, chicken, nachos, French fries, various drinks
Pro Tip: Weekends see 30-60 minute waits. Visit weekday evenings for immediate seating. Groups of 8+ can reserve private rooms.
5. 락볼링 (Rock Bowling)
Standard bowling, club-ified. Blacklights turn lanes into glowing runways. Fluorescent pins and balls streak through darkness. K-pop and EDM blast at volumes that make conversation difficult—which is sort of the point.
The vibe shifts dramatically around 5 PM when lights go down and music goes up. The actual bowling becomes secondary to the atmosphere—expect groups dancing between turns, celebratory poses after strikes, and Instagram stories shot under purple lights.
Hours: Opens early afternoon, rock bowling starts after 5 PM, runs until late (varies)
What Makes It Special: The basement floors transform into a club-like atmosphere with ceiling light shows, pumping music, and fluorescent everything.
Special Event: Monday-Wednesday after midnight: free draft beer for visitors
Pro Tip: Arrive before 8 PM on weekends to avoid long waits.
Practical Tips
The standard sequence. Korean hangouts follow a pattern: dinner → cafe or dessert → activity (photo booth, bowling, etc.) → late-night drinks. Don't try to compress everything into one stop.
Payment. Card works everywhere except some older photo booths (bring ₩1,000 and ₩5,000 notes just in case).
Language. Staff at franchise spots handle basic English. Smaller LP bars and indie cafés—less so. Google Translate camera mode saves time.
Timing. Weekday evenings avoid weekend crowds. Friday and Saturday nights deliver the best energy but longest waits.
Geography. All five recommended spots are within the Hongdae/Yeonnam area—you can easily hit multiple activities in one evening on foot.
Final Thoughts
These activities succeed because they create shared experiences without requiring much planning or commitment. Show up with friends, pick an activity, stay an hour or stay until 4 AM—the flexibility matters. For visitors, they open a window into how young Koreans actually spend their free time: offline, social, and surprisingly analog.