[WEEKEND GETAWAY] Nocturnal nirvana: Four nighttime spots to explore

Experience summer nights at Shin Heung Art Market for vintage vibes, Gyeongdong Market for retro hangouts, Gyeyang Araon for a serene waterway view and Donggung Palace and Wolji Pond for historical wonders illuminated by lights.

Shin Heung Art Market in Yongsan District, central Seoul, is home to individual stores, restaurants and bars attracting young Koreans with retro-vintage vibes. [SEOUL TOURISM ORGANIZATION]

Sticky, suffocating and sizzling. Staying outdoors throughout the day in the summer is only for those who don't mind going through these three states.

Late July and August are the hottest times of the year in Korea, as the blistering sunlight meets humidity. To enjoy Korean summers, the most desirable scenario would be finding shelter indoors during the daytime and heading outdoors once the sun sets and the temperature cools down.

If you agree with the suggested itinerary but feel like you have limited options for the nighttime, here are four summer evening-friendly recommendations compiled by the Korea JoongAng Daily.

Shin Heung Art Market신흥시장

Shin Heung Art Market area has narrow streets, vintage style stores and cafes popping up around the corner. [KIM DONG-EUN]

There are days when you simply cannot decide where to go — somewhere new, but not too modern. A place where you can get a tasteful amount of vintage mixed with urban vibes. In that case, Shin Heung Art Market is where you should head. Also referred to by its shorter name, Shinheung Market, it is located in Haebangchon, one of the oldest towns in Yongsan District, central Seoul.

The market first appeared in 1968 and went through its heyday in the 1970s and 80s, but fizzled out over time from the 1990s and early 2000s. It was left in a deserted state until the marketplace started to attract Gen Z who showed interest in the old neighborhood a few years ago. Riding the wave of interest, the Korea Tourism Organization featured Shin Heung Art Market in its promotion video in June with girl group aespa's Giselle, who walked through Z-LINE (short for Giselle Line), a series of places in Seoul reflecting her interests.

A transparent circular roof in Shin Heung Art Market [LEE JI-AN]

Haebangchon is a famous tourist area but not many are acquainted with Shin Heung Art Market yet. Little individual shops and places for food and coffee fill the corners of the narrow streets, reviving the buildings that are over 30 years old on average. Paying a visit in the daytime is worthwhile as more shops are open, but once night falls, a transparent roof that covers the entire marketplace area of 2,101 square meters (22,615 square feet) lights up, providing an exotic view of the neighborhood. Upstanding Coffee is one hip destination here, where a spiral staircase connecting to a rooftop area gained popularity through social media.

@shinheungmarket95-9 Sinheung-ro, Yongsan District, Seoul(서울 용산구 신흥로 95-9)Operation hours differ by respective stores. Phone number: 0507-1308-7389

Gyeongdong Market경동시장

Gyeongdong Market in Dongdaemun District, eastern Seoul [SCREEN CAPTURE]

Gyeongdong Market in Dongdaemun District, eastern Seoul, is full of locals and vendors selling traditional Korean food and medicinal goods. However, this local area turns into a trendy retro hangout area once the sun drops, with a rooftop bar, cafes and vintage recreations powered by domestic and global conglomerates.

A poster of Geumseong Jeonpasa, dubbed ″Goldstar since 1958″ in Dongdaemun District, eastern Seoul [SCREEN CAPTURE]

Gyeongdong Theater, which used to thrive in the 1960s through the early 1990s, closed in 1994 and the site stayed deserted until two companies, LG and Starbucks, recreated the area into a "retro-vintage meets tech-savvy" spot. In December 2022, LG launched Geumseong Jeonpasa, dubbed "Goldstar since 1958" on the third and fourth floors of the ancient theater, a space where old and new LG electronic gadgets are featured through creative twists and exhibits. Visitors can witness outdated televisions and the latest version of washing machines, purchase upcycled goods and participate in different activities like "ThinQ Room Escape" or retro-style video games. On Fridays and weekends, the fourth floor changes into a rooftop night market where you can get food and enjoy the summer night breeze. The venue stays open until 10 p.m., but the activity zone closes at 7 p.m., so those wanting to participate may visit earlier in the evening. The room escapes require booking in advance.

Starbucks Gyeongdong 1960 branch is large and spacious. It used to be part of Gyeongdong Theater some decades ago. [JOONGANG ILBO]

On the other side of the third and fourth floors of the now-gone theater building stands an enormous Starbucks Gyeongdong 1960 branch, where you can enjoy special beverage menus inspired by the retro-Korean vibes of the market. Some of the past menus were cold brew with makgeolli (traditional Korean rice wine) cream and latte with injeolmi (Korean rice cake with roasted soybean powder) cream.

3 Gosanja-ro 36-gil, Dongdaemun District, eastern Seoul(서울 동대문구 고산자로36길3)

Gyeyang Araon인천 계양아라온

Gyeongin Ara Waterway got a new name, ″Gyeyang Araon,″ this year, with cultural development taking place throughout the area. [JOONGANG ILBO]

Apart from Songdo Central Park in Yeonsu District and Wolmido in Jung District, Incheon hides another destination that turns beautiful at night. Gyeyang District in Incheon has come up with a new name for the seven kilometer long (4.3 miles) site in Gyeongin Ara Waterway this year, promising cultural development and tourist-friendly establishments for the location. The new name is Gyeyang Araon, where the night view of the waterway is already famous among locals. “Ara-“ of Araon comes from the lyrics of the famous folk song "Arirang," embracing the Korean spirit within its name.

A nighttime getaway to Gyeyang Araon should include stopping by Suhyangwon, a parklike area for biking and resting at the pavilion near the waterway. The path has food trucks, neon sign installations and more colorful light works where people can hang out after dinner. If you have been searching for a less crowded nighttime destination to chill at near Seoul, Gyeyang Araon is the right spot for you.

A poster for the Gyeyang Araon Water Festival set to run from July 26 until 28, 2024 [GYEYANG DISTRICT]

Gyeyang Araon is holding the second annual Gyeyang Araon Water Festival from July 26 until 28, which wraps up before it gets dark at 6 p.m. for those who want to spend a full day in the town. Food trucks, water facilities and cultural performances take place throughout the day, equipped with changing rooms for those who sign up for water leisure sports like kayaking and water biking.

109-1 Janggi-dong, Gyeyang District, Incheon (인천 계양구 장기동 109-1)

Donggung Palace and Wolji Pond 동궁과 월지

Donggung Palace and Wolji Pond at night in Gyeongju, North Gyeongsang [GYEONGJU CITY OFFICE]

Donggung Palace and Wolji Pond in Gyeongju, North Gyeongsang, turn into a historical wonder at night once the lights come on. Anapji, a royal garden with a pond and its own little ecosystem, is its old name, which used to serve as a botanical garden and a zoo within the palace during the Silla Dynasty (57 BC-AD 935). The site earned its current name in July 2011 when "Wolji" turned out to have been the official reference during that time. The palace accommodated princes and held events to welcome established guests from abroad at a building named Imhaejin.

Spanning 350,042 square meters (3,767,800 square feet), the site reveals curvy paths that hinder anyone from getting the full view of the entire pond, making the visit even more mysterious. The curvy design was intended to give the site a sea-like aura, creating an illusion of the site being more spacious.

Out of the past 27 buildings, three restored buildings remain at the site, their pavilions and surrounding trees creating a graceful vibe during an hourlong tour. The light works at night turn the view extra impressive. There are food trucks during the summertime, offering snacks for late-night visitors.

102 Wonhwa-ro, Gyeongju-si, North Gyeongsang(경상북도 경주시 인왕동 517 일대)Operation hours: 9 a.m. - 10 p.m. (Last admission at 9:30 p.m.)Admission fee: 3,000 won ($2.16) for adults (above ages 19) Website: https://www.gyeongju.go.kr/tour/page.do?cmd=2&mnu_uid=2517&chaNo=3236

BY KIM DONG-EUN [kim.dongeun@joongang.co.kr]