Hundreds gather to ring in the New Year at Boshigak in Jongno, downtown Seoul. (The Korea Herald)

Events, parties to take place around the nation to celebrate the Year of Dragon


It’s that time of year again. After the presents have been opened, the wrapping paper cleared away and the Christmas feasts eaten, it’s time to wind down the year and prepare to celebrate the coming of 2012.

No matter where you are in Korea, or how you like to spend New Year’s, there is an event or party for you. From families with little ones, to adventure seekers, to those who just want to party and dance all night, all are catered for. Here are just a few of the events going on in Korea’s major cities.

Seoul

Just as thousands gather in Times Square to ring in the New Year, many will brave the cold at Boshingak in Jongno to count down to the New Year and greet 2012 by ringing the Boshingak Bell 33 times. From about 6 p.m. until 1:30 a.m., no cars will be allowed into the Jongno area and a number of concerts and performances will take place right up until the countdown. For more information, visit the Seoul city government website at english.seoul.go.kr.

For a family-oriented or couple-centered New Year’s Eve, the Grand Hyatt Seoul is hosting an evening of ice skating and fireworks. The hotel is offering a special package for families and couples with free skate rental and unlimited access to the hotel’s outdoor skating rink, a special performance by the Korea National Figure Skating Junior Team, games for kids and couples, a snack buffet, special countdown to midnight and fireworks to celebrate the New Year. Tickets cost 85,000 won for adults and 58,000 won for kids. For more information or to make a reservation, call (02) 799-8112.

The Platoon Kunsthalle in Nonhyeon-dong, Seoul, will host a New Year’s Eve party to “say goodbye to a year of concerts, exhibitions, performances and workshops.” The party starts at the building made of 28 standard cargo containers at 10 p.m. on New Year’s Eve and there is no entrance fee. For more information email mail@kunsthalle.com or call (02) 3447-1191~7.

Those hoping to escape the winter chill can head to the islands at Club Genie in Itaewon for their Caribbean-themed New Year’s Eve bash. The last Caribbean party at the club was a huge success in bringing together people from all different nationalities, and this time will hopefully be the same. The party will feature Caribbean music such as Soca, reggaeton, reggae and dancehall. For more information or to reserve a VIP room, contact the owner at (010) 7799-6602.

Into electronic music? This year, Luv Super Lounge in Itaewon is bringing in New Zealand DJ Simon Beeston for its New Year’s Eve party, along with other top acts S-Pill, Bada Lehner, Andi Numan, Pascal Dior and Wendy Bailey. Doors open at 10 p.m. and the party goes on until 4 a.m. Entrance is 20,000 won. For more information or to make a reservation, call (02) 794-8898.

For those rockers in Seoul, Itaewon’s Rocky Mountain Tavern is planning to have several bands play live at its annual New Year’s Eve Party. There is no cover and the show will start up around 10 p.m. with champagne at midnight to ring in 2012.

Other clubs in the Seoul area planning to have countdown 2012 parties are Qvo in Hongdae (entrance: 20,000 won; info/reservations: (02) 3143-7573 or (010) 5886-4000) and Club Eden at the Ritz Carlton in Gangnam (entrance: 30,000 won; info: (02) 6447-0042; VIP reservations: (010) 9970-1869).

Busan

Down in Busan for the end of the year? There are a number of events and parties for residents and visitors to take part in.

The city of Busan is planning a New Year Festival at Yongdusan Park and Haeundae Beach. Starting at 11 p.m. the city will host an event in Yongdusan Park with performances, a New Year’s Address by the city’s mayor, and a ten-second countdown that will be followed by 33 tolls of the bell and a firework display.

And if you can make it through the night, from 6:30 to 8:30 a.m. a special New Year Sunrise Event will take place on Haeundae Beach with performances, a helicopter air show, flying balloons and sea swimming. Since it will be chilly, there will complimentary coffee and tea at service booths. A special sculpture symbolizing the New Year will be unveiled at the beach for pictures to mark the New Year. For more information on either event, visit www.english.busan.go.kr or call (051) 888-3395.

For those looking for a more cultured event for the evening, the Busan Philharmonic will be holding a New Year’s Eve Concert at the Busan Culture Center, starting at 10:30 p.m. Tickets cost 30,000 won, 20,000 won and 10,000 won. For more information, call (051) 607-3111.

Film buffs can have their own special New Year’s as well. A film festival is currently running to promote the opening of the new Busan Cinema Center. The festival has been running since Nov. 10 with the last day being New Year’s Eve, and is expected to have featured about 220 films from all over the world by its close. Some of the themes include 100 great movies in 100 years, memorable Korean films and great films of the 21st century, featuring classic movies such as “Roman Holiday,” “Doctor Zhivago” and “Millennium Actress.” Tickets are 3,000 won. To check for screening times or to reserve tickets, go to the center’s website at www.dureraum.org or call (051) 7800-6000 or (051) 780-6058.

For a New Year’s Eve full of good beer and good friends, check out Wolfhound Irish Pub in Haeundae. For more information, check out their Facebook page under Wolfhound Busan or call (051) 746-7913.

If you want to dance the night away, two popular clubs in Busan are the places to be.

Club Foxy, located in the Pusan National University area, is throwing its “Adeiu 2011” party on New Year’s Eve, with DJs cranking up the music in the newly refurbished venue. Entrance is 15,000 won before 10 p.m. and 20,000 won after. For more information or to reserve a VIP room call (051) 816-8482.

Newcomer Club Fix Nightclub and Day lounge in Seomyun has been gaining popularity with its “foreigners get in free” policy on the weekends and is planning to throw its first New Year’s Eve party this year. DJ Ecky Thum will preside over the event that promises something special at midnight to mark the New Year. The club is doing a special giveaway from now until Saturday for free tickets. But for everyone else entrance is 20,000 won. For more information or to make a reservation, call (051) 905-5777.

Daegu

Club G2 in Daegu plans to celebrate the New Year with its 2012 Countdown featuring resident DJs Enduke, Gorillaz, Babykool, Hwarang and Encore. The club opens at 8:30 p.m. and doesn’t close until 5:30 a.m. Entrance is 8,000 won before 11 p.m. and 17,000 won for men and 15,000 won for women after 11 p.m. For more information or to reserve a VIP, call 010-8541-8848.

If you are of the live music persuasion, then check out Urban Lounge Bar/Live Club, one of the more popular live clubs in the city. For this year’s New Year’s Eve party, the club is featuring three bands ― Urban Mix, a type of open band that brings together musicians from the many other bands that perform at the club and will be playing popular rock and pop songs; Red Dragon Radio, a jazz/funk band that often features guest members and plays popular jazz and pop songs; and Mr. Headbutt, a “beautiful, but graceful old school punk band” that plays original music that is “always melodic, alive and even profound.” Club opens at 7 p.m. and closes at 5 a.m. For more information, check out the club’s Facebook page.

Daejeon

In the Yuseoung area of Daejeon, Bar/restaurant Santa Claus, known for hosting Daejeon Open Mic, will be holding a New Year’s Eve Party, featuring some special events. The party starts around 8 p.m. and is free. For more information, call (043) 825-5500.

Another popular expat hangout, Yellow Taxi, is planning to host a New Year’s Eve event with live music. The party will start up around 8 p.m. at the bar located in Dunsan-dong. For more information, call (042) 487-4499.

Adventure seekers

For something a little more active for the New Year, Adventure Korea, a travel group that arranges group trips around Korea for expats, will be taking a group to Phoenix Park in PyeongChang, Gangwon Province, for a New Year’s ski trip. The trip costs 129,000 won per person and leaves on Dec. 31 and comes back Jan. 1. The accommodation overlooks the slopes and is very close to all the entertainment the park has to offer. The group will have two pick-up spots at Hongik University at 7:30 a.m. and Express Bus Terminal at 8:00 a.m. For more information or to reserve a spot, email webmaster@adventurekorea.com.

By Emma Kalka (kalkae@heraldcorp.com)