I love Seoul more than anyone, yet sometimes this city’s uniform standards of beauty feel suffocating. Faced with Seoul’s ruthlessness—where straying slightly from the mold leads to swift exclusion and pruning—my disappointment grows as deep as my affection.
There are people who confront this urban atmosphere with the most exhilarating defiance. They are the drag queens.
If drag queens and drag shows still feel unfamiliar, they are a form of performance art that exaggerates and reinterprets gender characteristics and social images for expression on stage. Typically, they embody a gender different from their birth sex, using flamboyant makeup, costumes, and wigs to delightfully subvert stereotypes and pose questions. It is not mere ‘cross-dressing,’ but rather an artistic act that boldly challenges society’s standards of gender, identity, and beauty.
In major American cities like New York, drag shows have become deeply embedded not only in club culture but in popular culture as a whole. Reality shows like RuPaul’s Drag Race are beloved by the mainstream, establishing drag as a recognized genre and culture.
📸RuPaul’s Drag Race S18 Premiere Event
In contrast, it’s true that in Korea, drag still remains ‘unfamiliar’ and ‘non-mainstream’.
Nevertheless, there are people determined to break through the rigid framework of Seoul head-on.
Today, we focus on the courageous performances and art of those who take the stage in this city, using their bodies, voices, exaggeration, and humor as weapons.
Spaces in Seoul where the freedom I cherish thrives.
1. Trans
Personally, one of my favorite bars in Itaewon.
Open only on Thursdays, Fridays, and Saturdays, drag shows begin at 1 a.m. and 3 a.m. – the hours when Seoul sleeps deepest and the spirit of the night awakens.
Ordering a bottle gets you a table, and before the show starts, the drag queens naturally move between tables, chatting with guests. This intimacy, where the boundary between stage and audience softens, is precisely what makes Trance special.
Opened in 1995, Trance is the same age as this writer and stands as one of Itaewon’s most venerable venues. Even today, perspectives surrounding queer culture and gender norms aren’t entirely free; the atmosphere when this place first opened in the mid-90s is almost unimaginable.
Yet this space survived.
Rather than shouting loudly against social prejudice, it’s thanks to the people who have proven their existence through makeup, music, humor, and exaggeration. To them, this stage might not be a grand ‘struggle’ but simply a form of entertainment. Yet, for the audience watching this show, it offers a thrilling moment where the city of Seoul feels a little less harsh, if only for a brief instant.
📍TRANCE, B1, 7 Usadan-ro 12-gil, Yongsan-gu, Seoul (Naver Map)
2. Showboo Hipjiro
The only hip-hop lounge in Euljiro.
While not a gay bar, it has naturally bridged the gap between drag culture and the general public by hosting weekly drag show performances every Thursday, Friday, and Saturday.
The drag queens here aren’t just performers on stage. They ignite the energy and raise the entire venue’s temperature to the max. Honestly, when you go to clubs or hip-hop lounges, you often feel stifled. Moments when, rather than letting the music take over your body, you find yourself just nodding your head, conscious of someone’s gaze, or having to ‘pretend to be having a good time’. Sometimes, a club you visit expecting liberation can instead feel like a space that constricts you.
The drag queens of Showboo Hipjiro are the ones who shatter that stifling feeling.
Regardless of who’s watching, they boldly throw themselves into the moment and enjoy themselves, sending the signal: “It’s okay to party like this.” They lead by example in the most fabulous way, allowing others to let go of self-consciousness and simply enjoy the music.
📍Showboo, 1F, 48-14 Subeoro, Jung-gu, Seoul (Naver Map)
3. Rabbit Hole
This is truly a space where you can play to your heart’s content. Decorated like an arcade pub, you can freely enjoy nostalgic arcade games with a drink in hand. But it doesn’t stop there—they constantly create events to fill the night, like karaoke nights and cabaret nights.
On Thursdays, games and karaoke set the mood. Fridays and Saturdays feature drag shows. Sunday is open stage night. On this night, the boundary between audience and stage completely disappears, allowing anyone to become the star on stage.
Here, you don’t need to sing like a professional, look beautiful by someone else’s standards, or deliver a flawless performance like an expert. On Thursdays, anyone can grab the mic and belt it out at the top of their lungs. On Sundays, anyone with courage—or just the right amount of tipsiness—can take the stage.
The moment you let go of the burden of perfection, the fun finally begins.
Rabbit Hole is a space that grants us ‘liberation’ in the way that best suits the neighborhood name, Haebangchon.
📍Rabbit Hole, B1F, 37 Sinheung-ro, Yongsan-gu, Seoul (Naver Map)
4. 2F
This pub is run by drag queen Bori, who gained widespread recognition by appearing in comedian Lala Lala’s 〈Go Ahead, Then〉 series. Though first known for humor and character, Bori is a hidden talent beyond just a persona. Appearing on the makeup reality show 〈Just Makeup〉, she effectively demonstrated that drag queen makeup is not merely ‘exaggerated makeup’ but an expression combining technique and artistry.
📸 From Lalal’s <Go Ahead, Then> (Screenshot)
The drag shows here are held only on Fridays and Saturdays.
Performances run twice daily at 11 PM and 1 AM, delivering packed schedules filled with high-quality acts. The stage brims with sharp humor and exhilarating energy, and occasionally features dance crews for performances in other genres.
Reviews instantly convey the atmosphere of this space. You can glimpse moments where audience members are invited onstage, given wings, and invited to share the stage. It’s simply a place filled with joyful moments shared by everyone.
📍2F, 10 Bogwang-ro 59-gil, Yongsan-gu, Seoul (Naver Map)
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Drag show culture may still feel unfamiliar to many. Amidst deeply ingrained gender norms and prejudices that are hard to shake, one sometimes encounters reactions of discomfort toward such performances. Yet everyone harbors the desire to break free from fixed frameworks and feel liberated at least once. Drag shows are simply one form of expression that reveals that desire in the most honest and bold way.
If you’re curious about drag shows, I recommend experiencing one. It might just turn out to be a far more delightful and human night than you ever imagined.
Before going to a drag show, remember this one thing.
✔️ Leave behind any preconceived notions about gender norms and standards of beauty.
✔️Leave behind any preconceived notions about gender norms and standards of beauty.
✔️ Leave behind any preconceived notions about gender norms and standards of beauty.
✔️Many venues accept cash only for admission, so bring cash.
✔️Many venues provide tables if you order a bottle, so if you want to relax and enjoy the show, ordering a bottle is recommended.
✔️Bringing small bills to tip the drag queens during the show is another way to enjoy it. You might experience moments where the performance changes spontaneously.
✔️Most venues accept cash for admission, so be sure to bring cash.
✔️Above all, the most important thing is to respect the drag queens’ hard work and artistry, and to fully enjoy the stage with an appreciative attitude.
A stage that breaks the mold always requires a little courage.
The moment you muster that courage, Seoul’s night will appear far more vibrant than it does now.