• Menu
  • Menu
  • Lifestyle
  • Subscribe now
    Digital subscription Print+Digital (Bundle) ePaper subscription
  • Logout
Digital subscription
Print+Digital (Bundle)
ePaper subscription
Trending
UAE holidays 2023 Golf in UAE
  • Latest News
  • UAE Success Stories
  • UAE
    • Crime
    • Education
    • Environment
    • Government
    • Health
      • Why Worry
    • Transport
    • Science
    • Weather
    • Ask the Law
    • Reader Complaint
  • Living In UAE
    • Visa+Immigration
    • Housing
    • Phone+Internet
    • Banking
    • Transport
    • Health
    • Education
    • Relocate
    • Ask Us
    • Safety+Security
  • Business
    • Banking
    • Aviation
    • Property
    • Energy
    • Analysis
    • Tourism
    • Markets
    • Retail
    • Corporate News
  • Best Buys
    • Electronics
    • Home and Kitchen
    • Offers
    • Consumables
    • Lifestyle
  • Your Money
    • Saving and Investment
    • Budget Living
    • Taxation
    • Expert Columns
    • Community Tips
    • Cryptocurrency
  • Food
    • Cooking and Cuisines
    • Guide to Cooking
    • Videos
  • Friday
    • Beauty
    • Wellbeing
    • Art & People
    • Home
  • Games
    • Daily Crossword
    • Sudoku
    • Word Search
    • Spell It
    • Play
  • Parenting
    • Pregnancy & Baby
    • Learning & Play
    • Child Health
    • For Mums & Dads
    • Ask Us
    • Games
  • World
    • Gulf
      • Bahrain
      • Kuwait
      • Oman
      • Qatar
      • Saudi
      • Yemen
      • Games
    • Mena
    • Europe
    • Africa
    • Americas
    • Asia
      • India
      • Pakistan
      • Philippines
    • Oceania
    • Offbeat
    • Coronavirus
    • Special Reports
    • Corrections
    • 2022 in review
  • Opinion
    • Op-Eds
    • Letters
    • From the Editors
  • Play Games
  • Qatar World Cup 2022
    • News & Views
    • Travel
    • Teams
    • Players to Watch
    • Match Centre
  • Magical Dubai
    • Dubai Life
    • Live the Luxury
    • Culture and History
    • Adventure
    • Staying Connected
  • Special Reports
  • Photos
    • News
    • Entertainment
    • Lifestyle
    • Business
    • Sports
  • Sport
    • UAE Sport
    • Horse Racing
      • Dubai World Cup
    • Cricket
      • IPL
        • Chennai
        • Delhi
        • Punjab
        • Kolkata
        • Mumbai
        • Rajasthan
        • Bangalore
        • Hyderabad
        • Gujarat
        • Lucknow
        • Live Scores
        • Point Table
        • Top Scorers
      • ICC
      • T20 World Cup 2022
    • Motorsport
    • Football
      • Qatar World Cup 2022
    • Tennis
    • Rugby
    • Golf in UAE
      • UAE
      • World
      • Photos & Videos
      • Course Reviews
      • Learn to Play
      • Gear
  • Entertainment
    • Hollywood
    • Bollywood
    • Pakistani Cinema
    • South Indian
    • Arab Celebs
    • Music
    • TV
    • Books
    • Theatre
    • Arts+Culture
  • Expo 2020
  • Going Out
  • Auto
  • Lifestyle
    • Health+Fitness
    • Community
    • Fashion
  • GN Reach
  • Jobs
  • Tech
    • Electronics
    • Gaming
    • Media
  • Videos
    • How-To
    • Best Of Bollywood
    • News
    • Entertainment
    • Business
    • Sport
    • Community
    • Technology
  • Travel
  • GN Focus
    • Special Features
  • Mind Your Migraine
  • 50 MENA Leaders
  • The Kurator
    • Share
    • Dare
    • Flair
  • Bayat Chapters
  • Gold-Forex
  • Gratuity Calculator
  • Notifications
  • Gold/Forex
  • Prayer Times
  • Cinema Listing
  • GN Store
  • About Gulf News
  • Contact us
  • Work with us
  • Terms and Conditions
  • Privacy Policy
  • Advertise with us
  • Reach by GN
  • GN Focus
  • Gulf News epaper
  • Sitemap
  • Have your say
  • Printing Services
  • © Al Nisr Publishing LLC 2023. All rights reserved.
    The day the music died: COVID-19 kills one of Seoul's oldest underground music venues

    Photos

    Login / Sign Up
    Logout
    Sunday, February 5, 2023
    Gold / Forex

    Photos Lifestyle

    • News
    • Entertainment
    • Lifestyle
    • Business
    • Sports
    All Sections

    The day the music died: COVID-19 kills one of Seoul's oldest underground music venues

    Club MWG shuts down as the pandemic crunch begins to bite South Korean nightclubs


    Published:  September 30, 2020 12:51 AFP  and  Compiled by Christian Borbon, Senior Web Editor

    1 of 12
    Copy of 743168-01-02-1601454774810
    Tucked away in the dazzling neon lights of Seoul's nightlife district, Club MWG, one of the capital's oldest underground music venues, closed its doors last weekend as the pandemic crunch begins to bite South Korean nightclubs. Image Credit: AFP
    2 of 12
    Copy of 743172-01-02-1601454746634
    Founded in 1994, Club MWG enjoyed its heyday in the 1990s when underground clubs were rare in the South's capital. Image Credit: AFP
    3 of 12
    Copy of 743176-01-02-1601454759646
    An intimate space with room to host 200 people, the club in Hongdae district was known for indie band performances and popular DJs. Image Credit: AFP
    4 of 12
    Copy of 743171-01-02-1601454781570
    But in the past decade, the venue struggled with increasing competition as the district became more commercialised. Image Credit: AFP
    5 of 12
    Copy of 743169-01-02-1601454778338
    Then the pandemic broke out - since May, Seoul's nightclubs have been faced with repeated closure orders, hammering the final nail in Club MWG's coffin. Image Credit: AFP
    6 of 12
    Copy of 743174-01-02-1601454753159
    "It feels as if my limbs are being torn," the club's owner Kim Eun-hui told AFP about the closure. Image Credit: AFP
    7 of 12
    Copy of 743164-01-02-1601454762606
    Kim had even taken up multiple jobs - construction worker, tutor, and part-time cleaner to name a few - to try and keep the business running. Image Credit: AFP
    8 of 12
    Copy of 743173-01-02-1601454749853
    But since the virus restrictions, she has not been able to earn enough money to pay the rent for the venue. "I didn't want to give up... but ended up succumbing to the coronavirus," she said. Image Credit: AFP
    9 of 12
    Copy of 743175-01-02-1601454756586
    Culture critics say the club was instrumental in creating Hongdae's unique scene in the 1990s, when it was known for its underground music performances - from indie to hip hop to heavy metal - and youthful exuberance. Image Credit: AFP
    10 of 12
    Copy of 743165-01-02-1601454765737
    "We have lost a symbol that represented Hongdae," said critic Kim Seong-su. For the club's long-time regulars, the news was devastating. Image Credit: AFP
    11 of 12
    Copy of 743166-01-02-1601454768896
    "I was so sad, I felt very down to a point where I couldn't really say anything," said Kim Jong-chun, a 40-year-old who was a regular for almost two decades. "I loved that vibe which was very different from other venues," he said. Image Credit: AFP
    12 of 12
    Copy of 743167-01-02-1601454771947
    "I've been to a number of other places, but I have to say no place can ever replace Club MWG." Image Credit: AFP

    Trending

    • See: Fearless base jumpers leap off Kuala Lumpur Tower

      See: Fearless base jumpers leap off Kuala Lumpur Tower


    • 31 actors in Hollywood with Arab roots

      31 actors in Hollywood with Arab roots

    Latest In

    • India’s T20 chances dependent on top order, says Raj

      10 minutes ago

    • iphone assembler Foxconn’s January sales surge

      14 minutes ago

    • Kangana claims a top Bollywood actor is spying on her

      15 minutes ago

    • Action intensifies at Sharjah Labour Sports Tournament

      20 minutes ago

    • Iraqis outraged after dad kills YouTube star daughter

      37 minutes ago

    Go back to top
    Network links:
    • Friday
    • Watch Time
    • getthat
    • Jobs
    • GN Store
    • About Gulf News
    • Contact us
    • Work with us
    • Terms and Conditions
    • Privacy Policy
    • Advertise with us
    • Reach by GN
    • GN Focus
    • Gulf News epaper
    • Sitemap
    • Have your say
    • Printing Services
    Find us on Social
    © Al Nisr Publishing LLC 2023. All rights reserved.
    This website stores cookies on your computer. These cookies are used to improve your experience and provide more personalized service to you. Both on your website and other media. To find out more about the cookies and data we use, please check out our Privacy Policy.
    Share on Facebook
    Share on Twitter
    Share on Whatsapp
    Share on Mail
    Share on LinkedIn
    Close
    Gulf News

    Get Breaking News Alerts From Gulf News

    We’ll send you latest news updates through the day. You can manage them any time by clicking on the notification icon.

    Subscribe No Thanks
    Continue reading Gulf News
    Dear Reader, please register to read gulfnews.com

    Dear Reader,

    This section is about Living in UAE and essential information you cannot live without.

    Register to read and get full access to gulfnews.com

    Create your account
    or login if you already have one
    First name is required.
    Last name is required.
    Please enter a valid email address.
    Password should have minimum 7 characters with at least one letter and number
    Passwords do not match

    By clicking below to sign up, you're agreeing to our Terms of Use and Privacy Policy

    Login your account
    New to Gulf News? Sign up now
    Please enter your email address.
    Please enter your password.

    Forgot password

    or