Autumn has arrived in Seoul, and with it comes the ending days of October, sadly without the ghouls and goblins of Halloween in Korea.   For the record, Korea has no history whatsoever related to or even associated with Halloween, All Saint's Day, Dia de Los Muertos or any other of those creepy, spooky, knee-knocking days nutured by and kept alive through confectionary conglomerates across the globe.

Photo:  Elvira says “BOO!” & “boo hoo” to no Korean Halloween- but don't let that stop you!

In fact, should you decide to rock a costume in Seoul come this October 31st, and hop out of a trash can shrieking at an innocent ajjossi, you are more likely to be met with a reaction similar to the following video, as opposed to a big smootch from Elivra, Mistress of the Dark.   

Video:  Trick o' Treat?  I think I'll take the upper cut.

Cross-dressing up, trick or treating, cosplay, S&M parties and Halloween in general just ain't long-time traditions here in Korea.  

Until now.

I've taken the liberty to list out, by area, every happening event from here to the Gates of Hades to help you enjoy your Halloween in Korea, whether you are in Seoul, Busan or even...Bundang! (All events on October 30th unless otherwise noted).

HALLOWEEN IN SEOUL

Unless you've been under a rock these past few years, the grand-daddy of all Halloween parties takes place at the Wolfhound in Itaewon.  1.5 mil won in costume contest prizes, only 10,000 won to get in, and plenty of peeps.  Downside:  with a party this big, don't expect quaint conversation -- prepare for lots of bodies, sweat, pushing and that good ol' rush hour subway car feel.  Come early or be prepared to wait on the stairs....FOREVER!!!!  MUAHAHHAHAHAHHA!

Photo:  Wolfhound -- Cass, Costumes and Close Proximity to your fellow man

Dillinger's & Sky Bar Lounge give you the best of both worlds:  Freaky lounge action on the 3rd Floor and a familiar, warm, cozy pub feel on the 2nd.  Like Kitty Cat costumes and the bad, bad Japanese school girl outfit?   You'll see plenty at their Halloween party!  Prizes for Best Costume, Best Couples Costume & Sexiest Costume.  

Photo:  Come lick your lips at the Sky Bar in Itaewon!

Don't want to dress up for All Hallows Eve?  Then hit the Mystery Blood Night Halloween Party!  Oi Lounge/Club in Hongdae offers up the most terrifying, blood-curdling, fearsome Halloween party to ever hit Seoul, Korea and:  with a TWIST!   9 pm to 5 am shake it.  10,000 won cover if you don't get on the guest list with a message to 010-4115-5905!

Photo:  Who could be the surprise DJ at Oi?

LUV Super Lounge, Seoul's leading EDM venue, will be hosting a special guest for Halloween:  Dyed Soundorom -- DC 10 Ibiza resident in a live set for the first time in Seoul!  Don't miss the afterpart from 4 am with Verdict's finest -- Yeonjun & Sundance!

Photo:   Yeonjun & Sundance prep for an evil evening by flashing the sign of the Devil!

Music lover's take heart -- Itaewon isn't just screeching cats and deranged laughter -- the first night kick off at the 3rd Annual Stomper's Battle of the Bands also takes place on October 30th!  Vote now for your favorite band!

On Friday, October 29th, La Cigale Montmarte offers you a gastric headstart on the Halloween festivities.  Fork over a reasonable 100,000 won and get a night of non-stop Jazz & Popera, Casino Games and an incredibly decadent Halloween set menu with a selection of wine, champagne, cognac, vin chaud and more.  Lucky draw every hour and more!  (Contact directly at 02.796.1244 for more details). 

Pork ribs aren't the only thing Sam Ryan's in Itaewon does righteously...Skeleton ribs, too!  Don your naughtiest naughties and compete to win 100s of thousands of won in gift certificates for costume winners!  Categories include Best Male, Best Female, Best Couple and more.  Drink specials all.night.long. 

FREE ORANGE JELL-O SHOTS!!  Need I say more?  I hope not.  How about No Cover also?   Halloween craziness at Rocky Mountain Tavern, with live music dropping at 10 pm, including a Guns N Roses cover band (remember when Axl Rose & Slash were homies?),  Halloween music on the first floor to shiver your timbers, and, oh yeah, free Jell-o shots from 9 pm on the hour every hour (or until they run out)! 

Still Alive?  How about Still Alive II at Club Spot next to Hongdae Park?  Great band line up and you tell me right now with a straight face how to beat good music and one full hour of unlimited free cocktails from 10:30 pm to 11 pm.   Entry 10,000 won with costume; 15,000 won without.   SkaSucks, 99Anger, ...Whatever That Means, No. 1 Korean and more details here!

Two parties, one Halloween night!  Book a shuttle bus and get back and forth between BricX Itaewon and BricX Hongdae for Halloween!  Its about the music this night, along with mad prizes for Best Dressed/Costume from Zelen's, Voga Champagne, Jaegermeister, Bombay Sapphire Gin and more!  Catch DJ Jung, DJ Mr. Blaze, DJ Evalicious, DJ RXY in Itaewon, and DJ Soulnuage & DJ Snail in Hongdae!  Apparently there's free cigarettes as well, because hey, there's nothing quite as disgusting or scary as throat, mouth or lung cancer!

Nothing is as scary as a Round Robin in Hongdae, right?  Club Freebird proves it with a dress up night along with Pregnant, On Sparrow Hills, Mason Lindahl, Lhasa, Wagwak and more.  Each band will set up at the same time along the perimeter of the room, with the audience in the center and do one song, one band, at one time until the show is completed.  Do your best to scare the sh*t out of the bands with your costumes, because YOU'LL get center stage!

Like nasty nurses and depraved docs?  Get your fill at Club Answer's PUNK AS FXXX Halloween Hospital Party!  Special DJ Astro Voize, the action starts at 9 pm with a 30,000 won cover (1 Free Drink).  

HALLOWEEN KINDA NEAR SEOUL (BUNDANG, BUCHEON, INCHEON, ETC.) 

Two million won in prizes for a Team Fear Factor competition all goes down at Rhythm & Booze in Bucheon!   Don't schlep up to Seoul when you can get live music and free give-aways all night long so close to home!  DJ B-47 & DJ KITO mash it up, and 3,000 won Jager Bombs, 4,000 won Blood Bags (!) and 4,000 won Devil's Shotgun flaming shots mash you up!  Prizes include free bottles of Jager, tequila and 50,000 won bar certificates as well as a free 7*7 Tattoo voucher!  Hey now!

Traveler's Bar & Grill will provide a live band and then DJ Clay with NO COVER CHARGE!  Big crowd?  Big time.  Costume contests galore, and get into the mood early by heading over on Friday for the Rocky Horror Picture Show screening.    

Halloween action in Bundang starts at Pub 210 with mad drink specials and consume contests for most original, sexiest, scariest, and most comic.  Also, raffles for a ton of cool "stuff" not normally found in Korea...hmmmm...don't miss some drink specials and make sure you say "Boo!" to Stu W.

HALLOWEEN IN BUSAN

Sharky’s Beach Bar & Grill presents the 2010 Halloween Costume Party bash to end all Bashes!  Live bands, Vampire music and 40 prizes every 10 minutes starting at 11 pm!  Wear a costume an dyour’e a winer, its just that easy!  Prizes include an HDMI DVD Player, a VIP Keg of Beer Party for you and your friends, as well as free drink and food coupons.  Go demonic and get down in Haeundae at Sharky’s from 7 pm until…

Get yo' self Back n Black at Ol' 55 in Busan with Kimchee/DC, Korea's only AC/DC tribute act.  Great music all night long with London Scat Party's alternapunk and spins from DJ Johnny the Greek.  Thankfully, NO COVER but plenty of eviiiiiillllll darkness in the damp and sweaty depths of Busan.

Like it big and scary?  Get ready for Reggae at Vinyl Underground's FREAKSHOW HALLOWEEN! Featuring Busan's only Reggae droppin', Soul Funkin' 8 piece band, One Drop East and a night of live music, costume prizes, drink specials and creepy animations from VJ Smiley!   Tickets 20,000 won pre, 25,000 won at the door. (Where's the "door"?  Take Line 2 to Kyungsung-Pukyong station, Exit 3.  Turn 180 degrees, walk to the corner and turn left.  Turn left again at the 2nd street and right at the next block.  Bingo!)

Photo:  U2 Halloween Party Banner:  simple format, simple prizes, simply hungover!

At U2, one Halloween Costume = one free drink.  I was never that good in maths, but to me that sounds like starting your Halloween on the right stump!  Best costume is gonna win you a bottle of Patron Silver, with 2nd prize being a bottle of Jose Cuervo.  3rd prize is a 50,000 won bar tab.  That's a lotta pumpkin seeds...U2 is located right across from the Busan Novatel Hotel in Haeundae.

What'd I miss?  Send me your event or list it in the comments below and I'll put it up here...PRONTO!

Photo: Halloween in Korea:  EAT OR BE EATEN!

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