Shows in Korea are poorly advertised, so it's difficult to figure out where to go and
when to be there. Your best chance, as a foreigner, is to find some punks who speak
English and ask them for listings. Usually the best way to find shows is to visit the
label websites, or the pages of the individual bands. This can get tiring, so one of
the missions of this site is to keep accurate track of upcoming shows.
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Skunk Hell
This club was originally a small venue for Skunk Label and its bands. After the place closed, organisers spent a lot of effort finding another location. On January 19, 2004, the old club Drug was signed over to Skunk as the location for the new Skunk Hell.
Jonghee, owner of Skunk and singer from RUX, decided to paint over the years of graffitti that had accumulated in the old club. He said now is the time for us to start our own history.
DIRECTIONS
Sangsu station:
Go out the northwest exit. You need to figure out which way is north towards Hongik
University. It should be in the opposite direction from where you come above ground.
Head up the road a little way. At first there is no trace of nightlife, but then you will start to see clubs on the opposite side of the street. Keep an eye to the right.
You will come to an alley sloping radically upwards. Right inside there you'll see Skunk Hell.
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Emergency exit
Inside
When you see the graffitti you know you're close
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W.A.S.P.
W.A.S.P. seems to be one of the primary venues for punk and hardcore shows. It's a
basement room that looks too small when you first walk in. There is a DJ booth/merch
table at the back near the door, and padded benches line the walls. The thing that
surprises me about this place is that it has an emergency exit.
DIRECTIONS
Sinchon station: Exit the southeast station and
head straight out, following the main street. After a few minutes you will reach
an intersection. Turn left. In the first ten meters you will see a stone wall on your
left where somebody spraypainted "SKUNK." Keep going. You will cross a bridge over
railroad tracks; dispose of any dead bodies under here. Eventually you will reach
another intersection. If you follow your sidewalk and make a left, you will come to a
convenience store. Right in front of the store is a crosswalk, and you will see the
emergency exit for W.A.S.P. Five minutes later the crosswalk will change and you will
cross. Go around to the front of the building and walk to the far end. W.A.S.P. is well
marked. You will go through the hall and then
down a flight of wooden steps.
Hongik University station: You want exit 3 and 4,
the northernmost exits. They are on the far end of a very long underground passage. Get
the mithril armour and use the light of E?endil here. When you get to the end of the
passageway, turn left. You'll come up in Sinchon far away from Hongdae, near a huge
traffic circle. Cross at the nearest crosswalk and cross again to the kitty corner.
Head north up the main street. When you reach the traffic light, turn right. This is
where you will see the graffitti. From here the path meets up with the other.
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Turn Live Hall
Turn started in December 2003, and unlike most other clubs, it's located in Sillim on
the green line. The club is in a basement, down a long set of stairs and through two
doors with a box office in between. It caters more to hardcore and speed metal, and the
sound system and lighting setup look like they were stolen off an aircraft carrier.
They have shows almost every night of the week.
DIRECTIONS
Sillim station:
Go out exit 4 and go straight. You will pass a private disco called Hacker and someone
will hand you a card. Keep going. There are many alleys where you can see lots of
nightclubs and restaurants. Keep going. When you reach the end of the strip and you're
starting to feel like the police are going to arrest you for just being there, keep
going across the bridge. When the sidewalk disappears into an alley leading downhill,
keep going. When you feel like you're going to be stabbed soon, turn left. You've
arrived.
Turn website
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Drug
Drug is the birthplace of Korean punk music and responsible for a lot more of Korea's
underground music. Back then, each show was recorded and the recording was sold later.
They have shows about once a month, but the bandlist doesn't change much from one month
to the next.
You will not see any spiky haired punks or skinheads here, just a lot of younger kids.
Apparently once Drug Records became established, they stopped promoting new talent. The band No Brain broke off and formed what eventually became Cujo Entertainment.
DIRECTIONS
Sangsu station:
Go out the northwest exit. You need to figure out which way is north towards Hongik
University. It should be in the opposite direction from where you come above ground.
Head up the road a little way. At first there is no trace of nightlife, but then you
will start to see clubs on the opposite side of the street. Keep an eye to the right.
You will come to an alley sloping radically upwards. Right inside there you'll see
Drug.
Drug website
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