“The empty-mindedness applies to all activities…such as dancing. If the dancer has any idea at all of displaying his art well, he ceases to be a good dancer for his mind stops with every motion.”
Lee Jun Fan, (Bruce Lee) 1940-1973

It has become my practice to start every article with a quote, which serves as my inspiration throughout the stories I tell. A few days back I corresponded with a very special person who I haven’t had the opportunity to personally meet; however makes me feel as if I knew her for a long time. Rose Lau has become my friend and the personal source of ideas and information I have been searching for in many years. She asked me to write an article on the Salsa Scene in Korea that with the use of modern technology everyone who visits her web page, www.tosalsa.com could enjoy. Well, Enjoy It! -- DJ Ramos

I arrived in Seoul, Korea in November 1997, before actually visiting Korea, most visitors visions of this country are only those they vaguely heard over the air waves…” The President of the United states cataloged North Korea as an Axis of Evil”, “Making headlines tonight, the North Korean military are pointing deadly war missiles to South Korea, with a direct hit on Seoul…”

War 50 years ago and the threat of war at the present... then there were the 2002 World Cup, BeThe Reds! (Tae Ha Min Kuk) as well as the 51st Asian Games… (Bissun Korea)

…now all you hear are the echoes of Celia Cruz, El Gran Combo, La Sonora Carruseles and others singing and playing their hearts out in the cities and suburbs of the South Korean peninsula.

The world now knows that South Korea is beautiful. Its unique Asian architecture is stupendous, the fashion is sophisticated, and its inhabitants are simply gorgeous. In Seoul, Seoulites (citizens of Seoul) work hard and play even harder. They go out and party, drink, eat and more drinking until dawn, take breakfast (usually consists of soup and rice with the assorted vegetables dishes) and then go to work. I truly wonder if they are biologically blessed with a gene that allows them to go through life without sleeping, or if it is because of their infamous Ginseng that they can sustain such stamina. In Korea there is energy and passion unlike any other place in the world I’ve seen, I just can’t quite put my finger on it.

There are quite some Salsa hotspots in Korea. There are two places in the Itaewon Bar District one called Moon Night and the other one Caliente it’s near the US Military base, and where many of the Hispanic community hang out. It is here that some dancing instructors been trying to promote the NY2. Some has managed to perk interest in a dozen or two students.




Then you move to the Hong-Ik University area where the clubs are a bit more spacious, (except Macondo). The third area is where most identified as the Mecca of Salsa in Korea which is called Apkujong (apguyoung). Here you will find the larger number and spacious Salsa Clubs in Seoul and where it is most “LA Style” but also offered a good variation on other styles.

What? LA Style in South Korea? How can this be? Dips, Luis Vazquez’ chin move, tricks, Cool moves… Everything salseros in LA are accustomed too, is right here, nine different time zones away. As the Salsa movement expands throughout the country there are openings of clubs everywhere, Busan, the second largest city got Caribe, Daegu has Babaloos and many others that because of limited time and space can’t mention. The collection of weekly salsa events may not have the hip cachet of say, many clubs in NY or California or some other places in the world, but is probably a nightclub scene of diversity like no other in town. Given time you will likely find both the club that you like as well as the range of couples in between comfortably comparing dance moves at any one of about a dozen or so (and growing) daily salsa nights at clubs as the ones mentioned above.

The Korean dancers are one of the most amazing dancers I have seen. The women are beautiful, and their dancing exquisite. These Koreans dance Salsa better than we do back home! You are never going to see a sad person at a salsa place; it’s all about people coming by to enjoy and to show their best moves by dancing salsa. It’s all about dance!

On the right are the instructors, Michael & Juliet at the Korean Salsa Championship.

South Korea is undoubtedly a country with a lust for life. Its beauty not only lies on the surface, but is also reflected by the intellect and the grace of its people from inside out. It has all the potential and the ingredients to create a prominent Salsa arena with a natural eye for the aesthetics and passion for dancing; Salsa will surely flourish in style.

FEEL THE LATIN SPICE… DANCE SALSA!!!