Honsul: A Solo Traveler's Guide to Drinking Alone in Seoul

Solo travelers often skip Korea's bar culture, assuming it is groups-only territory. Big mistake. Korea literally has a word for drinking alone — honsul — and an entire culture built around enjoying it. In Hongdae and Yeonnam-dong, a solo seat at a neon-lit bar with a plate of raw beef and a cold drink is not sad; it is the good life. Here is how to do it right.

# Honsul: solo drinking as self-care

Hon (혼자, alone) + sul (술, alcohol) = honsul. The trend exploded alongside single-person households and never left. For Koreans it means decompressing on your own terms: your pace, your playlist, your order. For a traveler it means the freedom to experience Korean bar culture without needing a drinking squad.

# Where solo drinkers thrive in Hongdae

Skip the mega-pubs near the main drag and head into Yeonnam-dong's side streets, where bars are small, moody and counter-friendly. Look for places with visible solo seating and an open kitchen or bar counter — they are signaling that one is a welcome party size. The Hongdae bar guide maps the area's vibe zones.

# The ideal solo order

• One drink: a soju bottle (5,000 KRW, ~7 shots — pace yourself) or one craft highball if you want lighter.
• One anju: yukhoe bibim-myeon (raw beef noodles, 13,000 KRW) — a complete solo meal — or a yukhoe plate to share with no one.
• Optional finisher: radish soup (muguk, 12,000 KRW) if you went hard. Tomorrow-you says thanks.

New to Korean raw beef? The complete raw beef guide covers everything in five minutes — read it while your order arrives.

# Solo etiquette (spoiler: there barely is any)

The pour-for-others rules from group settings simply do not apply — pour for yourself, drink at your speed. Staff may pour your first glass; receive it with two hands and you have used 100% of the etiquette required. The rest of the night belongs to you and your highball.

# A solo-friendly home base

RAWISM welcomes solo guests — neon Y2K interior, retro K-POP, and portions that work for one. A 5-minute walk from Hongik Univ. Station (Hongdae), Exit 3, at 262-4 Donggyo-ro, Mapo-gu, Seoul. Open Tue–Sun, 18:00–23:00. Wondering about the area after dark? See Hongdae at night.