Seoul after midnight: what's actually open once the subway stops?
Seoul has a reputation as a city that never sleeps, but travellers often get caught out when the subway stops running around midnight. So what is really open late, and how do people get home?
What people usually find open
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Convenience stores on almost every corner, often around the clock, with seating, snacks and ramyeon machines.
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Some 24-hour restaurants, especially soup, gukbap and chain places in busy districts.
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Pubs, pocha (tent or casual bars) and karaoke in nightlife areas like Hongdae, Itaewon and Gangnam.
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Some jjimjilbang (bathhouses) that run overnight.
Getting back
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Night buses (marked with an N) cover major routes; check them in Naver or Kakao Map.
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Taxis get busy right after last trains; many travellers use Kakao T and wait a few minutes before booking.
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Late-night fares can be higher than daytime ones.
What surprises visitors: shops, cafés and many restaurants close far earlier than the nightlife suggests.
Night owls: what's your go-to late-night spot in Seoul, and how did you get back?
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