KMK: Silence the Volume

As club names go, Club Volume fits perfectly since the deafening noise downs out the cries of discrimination. Located in Itaewon in the Crown Hotel, Club Volume is Korea’s new super club pimping a futuristic sound system and a Jim Crow door policy. Of course I should’ve known the night was barreling toward the edge when the I spotted the sign out front which read in bold red print: No GIs, Chic Dress, No GIs, etc, etc, etc.

Though, I must admit, the night did start off promising. A bite to eat at Marrakech Nights with new co workers put me in the mood to work off that zaluk on the dance floor. We popped over to B1 to meet friends of mine and grab a drink or two before heading to the club. B1 always offers up a lively time with a mix of people young and old, gay and straight, black, white and Asian all grooving to the same beat. Too bad nobody passed the word on to the folks at Club Volume who probably have the bathrooms labeled “FOREIGNER ONly” and “KOREAN ONLY”.

When out little caravan arrived at the Crown Hotel groups were already milling about while others qued to get into club volume. Like them we were there to hear NY DJ Junior Vasquez spin, but we discovered that Junior bailed-Maybe he knew what we were about to discover? Disappointed, but not put out we decided to head inside anyway, but before we could even get in line the big burly doorman charges over and starts pointing at his infamous sign and then at me, insinuating that I was dressed too casually.

Hmm, since when are Lugz, nice jeans, long sleeved shirt too casual for a dance club? Though, I did pause with the thought that maybe my outfit was too casual. Though, once he resumed his doorman duties, I noticed Burly waving in people who were in old converse, jeans, and t-shirts. When my friends and I pointed out his slacking doorman skills, he just ignored us. Though he was more than willing to let my friends enter some of whom were dressed just as I or slightly dressier. That’s when it dawned on me that it wasn’t my outfit that didn’t meet the sparkling chic standards of club volume, but my chocolate brown skin color that must have just gone out of vogue. Darn! I thought black was always in season? Guess not at Club Volume.

I must admit that part of me does want to dress to the nines, go back, and see what new BS Burly could come up with. All in all, thought, I think I’d rather keep my money in my pocket than in their hands. My advice is to skip club volume and party the night away somewhere else.

10 thoughts on “KMK: Silence the Volume”

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Siridoeskorea says:

October 31, 2010 at 5:30 pm

As a black female who considers Club Volume a home away from home, I have to disagree with this comment. Sure, it’s the kind of place where you have to think twice about what you’re going to wear there, but to me that’s one of the things that sets Volume apart from a lot of the other places in Itaewon.

My choice of attire has endured much harder scrutiny in western countries than it ever has in Korea. I don’t chalk their refusal to let you in up to thinly-veiled racism–I chalk it up to a money-making establishment reserving the right to make sure their club–both inside and out–espouses a certain atmosphere. I’ve happened upon many a black man at Volume who seemed right at home, and were well-dressed–certainly a sight for sore eyes on the dancefloors of Seoul.

1. Brian says:
  
  October 31, 2010 at 10:48 pm
  
  I would completely agree wholeheartedly if I had not stood there and watched people after people who were dressed similar or even way more casual than I go into the club with no problem. Explain that one? Also you forget that the people I had arrived with would have gotten in without me even though they too were dressed the same. Please, explain that one too cause it’s hard for me to come with another reasonable explanation.
  
  This did happen several years ago. Maybe they changed. I don’t know, but why would I return to someplace like that?
  
Ethan says:

September 13, 2009 at 11:33 am

I wouldn’t doubt if the bouncer was racist. However, having been to Volume a couple times and seeing asian, white, middle-eastern, and black people there each time, I’d say that it’s not exactly club policy to exclude based on skin-tone.
It’s sad, too – I like Volume if there’s a big DJ – wouldn’t waste my time if it were just the residents.

Anonymous says:

March 12, 2009 at 8:12 am

I agree that Korea is pretty bad when it comes to discrimination, but I have gone into Volume with a female friend of mixed race (half-Black, half-White) and a male African-American friend without any problem. I think it’s best to not judge the club, but I wouldn’t doubt either if Burly was being discriminatory. Also, the two times I have been, we had a much easier time getting in early, before 11. It may seem a bit early, but it’s easier to get a drink at the bar and have a clear view of the venue before it gets crowded. Drinks at the bar also didn’t seem much more expensive compared to other places (Heineken was about 5,000 won~ and mixed drinks 10,000 won), but the price of getting a table and ordering drinks is pretty ridiculous. People seemed to start filing in pretty quick after that. When it started getting busy and crowded, the bouncers seemed to be more selective, looking at gender, age, and dress. If you go next time, maybe you can try getting there a bit early to beat the crowd and fuss. Good luck.

Anonymous says:

March 14, 2008 at 12:34 pm

I wouldn't doubt that the author was discriminated against. Especially in Korea. I've heard blacks are generally treated worse in Asian countries than whites, who are slightly more tolerated. But, there is still a lot of prejudice there. Most of the countries there aren't as diverse as the U.S. or Canada. There hasn't been a civil rights movement in Korea… yet. I applaud the author for writing about his experience to bring it to light. It's pretty ballsy being black and teaching in Korea. I have had reservations about going there to teach because of this, and I'm white.

Julian Warmington says:

March 11, 2008 at 4:18 pm

This whitey-guy says thanks for the tip. Next time I'm all dressed up looking for somewhere to shake n groove, I'll go up to the door there looking to get in, and then walk on by. A place is either cool for everyone, or it stinks for all.

Phoenixstorm says:

March 10, 2008 at 5:08 pm

Perhaps you missed the part where I agreed that I didn't quite match their dress requirement then that was understandable. However, when people are waltzing into the club in beat up converse and dingy jeans then I am quite convinced that my attire wasn't the reason.

Anonymous says:

March 10, 2008 at 5:06 pm

Yes what happened to you is a tragedy *rolling eyes* you think wearing lugz and a pair of jeans makes you even presentable at a club? come on, wear some decent clothes and stop crying</></>also, those rules are there for a reason. To keep to peace and fun times rolling, but people like you wearing shotty clothes and crying and complaining about the club is quite lame. Next time wear some decent clothes so you can get in.

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