Celebrate International Women's Day Weekend at Itaewon's Lit Lounge

By Chantal Terblanche

Head to Lit Lounge in central Seoul's multicultural Itaewon neighborhood this Thursday to Sunday for four days of amplifying women’s voices, talents and stories in a safe, vibrant and empowering space.

Officially recognized by the International Women’s Day organization, these events align with the 2025 IWD campaign theme: "Accelerate Action," urging collective efforts toward gender equality. Lit Lounge received permission to use the official logo in recognition of its commitment to celebrating and uplifting women and they are listed on the IWD website as official events.

At the current rate of progress, achieving full gender parity could take until 2158 — five generations from now, according to the World Economic Forum. This year’s theme emphasizes the urgency of swift and decisive steps to break systemic barriers and biases. With this in mind, Lit Lounge is hosting a weekend of storytelling, comedy and music — all led by talented women, celebrating empowerment, creativity and connection.

The activities kick off on Thursday, with a Korean-language comedy night featuring a lineup of hilarious and talented female Korean comedians who will deliver an unforgettable night of laughter and sisterhood. Hosted by Choi Ye-na, the performers include Kang An-ri, Kyung Ji-eun, Koh Eun-byeol, Won So-yoon, Jeong Seong-eun and Sue Choe. The event is organized with Bloody Funny, Korea’s first all-women standup comedy crew. Doors open at 8 p.m. and the show starts at 8:30 p.m. Entry costs 15,000 won.

On Friday, Lit Lounge teams up with Neon City Storytelling, a Seoul-based comedy and performing arts group celebrating the art of storytelling and personal expression. Under the theme "They tried to stop me, but..." this storytelling night will highlight powerful personal journeys of resilience and triumph. This event aims to create a supportive atmosphere where women can share their experiences and inspire others. It is hosted by Cassandra Talbot, with storytellers Andrea Tran, Megan Peck and Won So-yoon. Doors open at 8 p.m. and the show starts at 9:30 p.m. Entry costs 10,000 won.

Saturday features a multilingual night of music and celebration with an all-women DJ lineup spinning hip-hop, R&B, Afrobeats and Latin music. The event is open to everyone and focuses on celebrating women’s contributions to the music industry. DJs include Epic, D.Yana, Emess, Bora and Nox. Doors open at 8 p.m. and the DJing starts at 10 p.m. Entry is free, but those who RSVP in advance get a free lemon drop shot.

Closing off the weekend, Sunday offers an all-women English comedy show organized by Stand Up Seoul, featuring a powerhouse lineup of female comedians bringing humor and joy to the Lit Lounge stage. Expect an evening of witty, insightful and hilarious performances that celebrate women's voices in comedy. Hosted by Kristen Pimley, it features performances by Choi Ki Moon, Jessica Lee, Seung Eun, Destiny, Kristen Fallon, Alisha Feitosa, Erica Jean, Sue Choe and Choi Jung Yoon. Doors open at 7:30 p.m. and the show starts at 8:30 p.m. Entry is free, but those who RSVP are entered in a raffle for a free champagne bottle.

Lit Lounge is located near Noksapyeong Station on Seoul Metro Line 6. Visit planethustle.com or follow @lit_itw on Instagram for more information.

Chantal Terblanche, from South Africa, lives here with her dogs, Samsung and Puggles. She runs the blog ClumsyinKorea.com and the Korea Events group on Facebook.