The bar is different by district — Gangnam is strict, Hongdae is not. But one rule holds everywhere.
Get your shoes right and you're mostly fine. Every club here that spells out a dress code writes the same thing: no slippers, no flip-flops. Your feet get judged before your shirt does.
The strictest. Shorts, slippers and sweatpants can get men turned away. A shirt or clean knit with dress shoes or clean sneakers is safe.
Gangnam clubs →The most relaxed. Jeans and sneakers are plenty — the crowd skews young and streetwear fits right in.
Hongdae clubs →In between, and international. The crowd is mixed so style range is wide — just keep slippers off your feet.
Itaewon clubs →The rest don't publish a dress code — it's left to door discretion.
It depends on the district. Gangnam is strictest, Hongdae the most relaxed. Wherever you go though, skip the slippers and flip-flops.
Common in Hongdae and Itaewon in summer. Some Gangnam venues turn men away in shorts, so long trousers are the safe call there.
Much looser. Gangnam leans dressed-up, but polished streetwear is fine these days. The footwear rule applies to everyone.
Arguing at the door rarely works. Booking a table in advance avoids the situation entirely — reserved guests aren't subject to door screening.