Founded by independent activist Lee Hung Soo in 1946, Hongik University is a private tertiary institution in Seoul’s Mapo-gu district. The surrounding neighbourhood, known as Hongdae, is a popular nightlife district that’s clustered with bars, clubs and pop-up street food stalls.
Mingle with the liberal arts, architecture and design students from Hongik University in the Underground Pub, which is decorated with graffiti, retro furnishings and an old train carriage. You can play darts or ping pong at Thursday Party, which is famed for its Long Island iced teas, or hit the dance floor at Henz Club.
Feeling hungry? Street food vendors in Hongdae stay open throughout the night, with local specialties including spicy tteokbokki rice cakes and dak-kkochi grilled chicken skewers. Pop-up shops selling clothing and accessories can also be found around Hongik University’s subway stations.
Getting there
Hongik University is around 20 minutes by train from the centre of Seoul and just over an hour from Incheon International Airport. The area surrounding the campus can easily be accessed from the Hongik University or Sangsu railway stations and is compact enough to explore on foot.