What a Night Out in Korea Taught Me About Belonging, Appearance, and Letting Go In Korea, there is a place called a nightclub. Not a club in the Western sense, but something slightly different. While clubs exist everywhere in the world, Korean nightclubs are bult around a very purpose: meeting someone new. Everything about the space is designed to make that happen quickly and efficiently. First impressions matter more than conversations, and appearance often speaks before words do. I hadn’t been to one in almost ten years. After getting married and growing older, nightlife simply stopped being part of my routine. This visit wasn’t planned. It was the end of the year, friends suggested it, and saying no felt harder than going along. So I went. We booked a private room. It was expensive because it was New Year’s Eve, but splitting the cost made it feel manageable. The place was crowded, loud, and full of energy. On the surface, everything looked fine. But I didn’t enjoy myself.