Alexander Magic Bar
- June 6, 2007
- Rated 5 of 5 by
Chonan from Yakima, Washington
Hongdae is the center of one of the largest entertainment districts in Seoul and is geared towards the twenty- and thirty-something crowd. With four large universities in the immediate vicinity, it is home to a number of bars and clubs including Alexander Magic Bar.
During the day, Alexander Magic Bar serves as a magic school for a select few apprentices, but at night it is transformed into a bar that serves not only drinks, but magic as well.
Customers are eagerly greeted by the small, rather formally dressed staff of magicians and apprentices who not only serve drinks, but if coerced, also demonstrate a quick magic trick or two. For those fortunate few, Master Magician Jung-woo Kim may even come to your table and enchant you not only with his magical prowess, but also his charm.
Speaking with him seems almost surreal: a step back into the Gothic period of history. Although it would be a stretch of the imagination to compare Master Kim with Gandalf the Wizard from the Lord of the Rings, there is something about his presence that gives him an air of mysticism. Perhaps it is his quiet demeanor, dark clothing, and his bright sparkling eyes that seem to observe everything while giving nothing away. Of course, if you are a believer, it could simply be that he actually does possess a magical aura about him.
It is said that magic runs in the blood and Master Kim seems to prove that assertion. He learned the secrets of magic from his grandfather, Heung-sun Lee (a.k.a. Alexander Lee), a well-known Korean Master Magician in the 1970s and '80s. His grandfather learned the arts in Taiwan and brought them back and taught them to his grandson, Master Magican Kim.
They say a good magician never shows the same trick twice and Alexander lives up to this philosophy. “You’ll never see the same show twice,” boasts Master Kim. Customers are given membership cards and each visit and show is meticulously noted to ensure that they never see the same show twice.
For 20,000 won each (about USD$25), customers are treated to as much beer and soft drinks they can drink in an hour while they watch two twenty-minute close-up magic shows. For those who are unaware, close-up magic is basically just you (up to four people) and the magician at the four-man bar. It is something that can not be described in words.
If you are looking for a magical evening out, give Alexander Magic Bar a try, you won’t be disappointed.
While the staff does speak a limited amount of English, fortunately, because it is magic, this does not detract from the experience. While I was there, the magicians, not realizing I spoke Korean, tried to bring me into their performance with broken English. It was a thoroughly enjoyable experience with laughter on both sides with the sometimes clumsy conversation, but the show was mystifying.
Call for reservations: (02) 333-3505
From journal A Step Back in Time in Seoul, South Korea