For many of us living in the HP (that’s Hancock Park), we know little about the bubbling, neon-signed,  Korean-infused  metropolis of K-Town (yes, that’s Koreatown) sitting just adjacent. We may drive through on destinations east, pop into the Ralphs on Oxford, or try Korean barbecue at a spot on Olympic Boulevard.  But as far as exploring the jumping karaoke scene, or trying any of the hundreds of Korean restaurants or shops in the area, we just don’t explore it enough.
LA Times writer Jessica Gelt, “The Enabler” explores the night life K-Town scene in her July 20th article Koreatown 101. Â “The elation that came with feeling totally foreign in her own backyard was something she never forgot,” notes Gelt talking about her voyeur self, exploring the dim-lit hallways leading to clubs, bars and restaurants that seem in another country. Â Why fly half way round the world to explore a foreign culture when you can just drive east past Western and soak up the experience? The world Gelt explores is one of 20-somethings, belting out songs, chowing down on sticky sweet “corn cheese” bar food and boozing up on soju. Â But it also gives some suggestions of places to try out, including Toe Bang, DGM and the Prince should you want to make your first night time foray into Koreatown.
We may wonder who are these kids making K-Town a hive of hyper-activity, a new generation of youth that mashes up both Korean and American lifestyles and culture. One perhaps not-so-positive look is featured in a Jersey-shore type of reality show on You Tube’s LOUD channel, called K-Town. Be forewarned, lots of raunchy language and the characters seem like mere party animals, but it’s already had 165,000 views and may represent one facet of all that is K-Town.
LA Times Night Life: Koreatown 101
