Eulji OB Bear was the first bar to open in the area. In December 1980, Kang Hyo-geun, father of the current owner, launched the family business that has been handed down to the next generation in Nogari Alley. In May 2018, the government designated the place 'Centennial Shop.' Munchen Hof and Manseon Hof joined Eulji OB Bear later. Today, Manseon is the most popular place. It has seven locations across the city, and hosts hundreds of patrons every night. Once the domain of middle-aged men, Nogari Alley has become a trendy spot for 20-somethings and earned the moniker 'Hip-jiro.'
Nogari Alley is near exit Nos. 3 and 4 of Euljiro 3-ga subway station on Line 3. First-time visitors may feel lost at first. Only some ordinary shops come into view and it can be hard to find the entrance to the alley. And once there, their jaws will drop at the sight of the crowd sitting at plastic tables.

The best thing about Nogari Alley is clearly draft beer, best enjoyed while sitting outside. These bars open between noon and 1 p.m., but the tables don't come out on to the street until 6:30 p.m. When neighboring shopkeepers pull down their shutters, colorful plastic chairs start taking their places. Early birds will grab seats on the rooftop of Manseon Hof. The alley usually overflows with patrons by 7:30 p.m. Even in this chaos, people never stop snapping pictures.

The business is thriving, but these bars still only charge you 1,000 won for one nogari, or dried young pollack. These owners always put their patrons first. Euljiro Golbaengi (whelk) and fried chicken are the most popular items. Euljiro Golbaengi is different from your typical whelk dish because it comes with sliced green onion and pollack jerky, which should be soaked in water before you rip it into pieces. For 2,000 won, you can add thin noodle. And that white noodle makes for a perfect companion to the red sauce and chewy whelk, plus sliced onion and fish jerky. Their unlikely blend creates a unique taste and flavor. Wash it down with a cold draft beer, and you couldn't ask for a better way to wind down after a long day.

Address Chungmu-ro, 9-gil, 12, Jung-gu, Seoul
Hours 12 p.m.~12 a.m. (Hours may vary among shops)

 

Seomyeon has two faces. During the day, it's Busan's best answer to Seoul's Myeongdong. By night, alcohol starts flowing up and down Seomyeon's streets. There's an alley dotted with pojangmacha or 'pocha' in short, which refers to street stalls selling beverages and food. The so-called Pocha Alley was formed 10 years ago. Some 60 stalls lined up outside LOTTE Department Store were removed and in 2009, a formal street of stalls was paved. Old stalls gave ways to the new, stainless stalls in orange and red.
The baseball club Lotte Giants are considered a symbol of Busan. In Seomyeon, LOTTE Department Store's main Busan shop and LOTTE HOTEL BUSAN are the two major landmarks in the city's commercial center. LOTTE Department Store stands in the heart of Seomyeon, adjacent to Pocha Alley. These dozens of stalls next to the store make for an almost exotic sight.

Stalls on Pocha Alley all serve different dishes, but the one thing they have in common is they're always jampacked. Signs at the top of the stalls are also fun, if you can read Korean. Some are named after famous buildings, such as 'The White House' and 'Gyeongbokgung.' Others include 'Golden Sunset' and '2 Outs in the Bottom of the 9th.' Wooden chairs at these stalls seem as old as the street on which they stand.

For the starter, you'll mostly get a complimentary plate of cucumber pieces with spicy dipping sauce called ssamjang. If you're lucky, you may also get fried egg and sausage, or fruits. You can order snacks tteokbokki (spicy, stir-fried rice cake), soondae (blood sausage) and some fried food, and or grab odolbbyeo (cartilage), chicken feet, eel and cockle. You can even take a seat at a cocktail stall, where locals and foreign tourists often mingle over cocktails. People from all walks of life gather on this Pocha Alley, all to sit back, enjoy a drink and feel a sense of freedom.

Address Gaya-dareo 772, Busanjin-gu, Busan, around LOTTE HOTEL BUSAN
Hours 5 p.m.~5 a.m.