Seoul jazz bars: tips for visitors

What to know before a night at a Seoul jazz bar: tipping, the drinking age and ID, last trains and getting a taxi late at night. Sources are official where possible.

Check once more before you go

Hours, closing days and cover charges change from show to show. Check the official Instagram or a map app (such as Naver Map) on the day so you do not make a wasted trip.

Cover charge

Many jazz bars charge each person a music fee, and some also ask for at least one drink per person. The amounts we could confirm are on each venue's card.

Tipping

Tipping is not a general custom in Korea. In taxis you pay the meter fare and no tip is needed.

Some venues, like BoogieWoogie, collect voluntary tips for the musicians in an envelope. That is the house custom there.

Sources: VisitKorea, "Taxi" (updated 2026-01-22), The Korea Times, "Why tipping culture remains controversial in Korea" (2025-08-07)

Drinking age is 19: bring your passport

Korea's Youth Protection Act treats people under 19 as minors (except those who have reached 1 January of the year they turn 19). In 2026, anyone born in 2007 or earlier may drink.

Places that sell alcohol must check a customer's age and identity, so you may be asked for ID. Carry your passport.

Sources: Gangwon Province, 청소년 보호 (Youth Protection Act summary)

Last trains

The Seoul subway generally runs from about 5:30 am to around midnight. Some lines run until about 1 am on weekdays, but stop around midnight on weekends and public holidays.

If you are staying for a late set, check your last train in a map app beforehand.

Sources: Invest KOREA, "Transportation", Korea JoongAng Daily, "1 a.m. last trains return to some subway lines" (2022-05-29)

Getting a taxi late at night

You can use taxi apps such as Kakao T, k.ride and TADA. k.ride is a taxi app for foreigners that does not need a KakaoTalk sign-up and lets you register a foreign credit card. TADA also works with a foreign phone number and credit card.

A late-night surcharge usually applies from 10 pm to 4 am, and is highest from 11 pm to 2 am.

Sources: VisitKorea, "Ride-hailing Apps in Korea" (updated 2025-10), VisitKorea, "Taxi" (updated 2026-01-22)

Checked 2026-10-21