[1] The neighborood is known for its urban arts and indie music culture, local shops, clubs, cafés and entertainment.

Early on, thanks to then-cheap rent, budget musicians and street artists started moving into the ateliers of the Hongdae area.

Korea's indie music scene started from two bands launched in the area, Sister's Barbershop and Crying Nut in the mid-1990s.

Later, other bands like Jaurim, Peppertones and Idiotape started to play at venues in Hongdae, and the area began to cultivate a reputation as the mecca of urban arts and underground club culture.

[2] Hongdae now provides street art festivals and performances, as well as music concerts by independent artists and mainstream entertainers.

However, despite the recent explosion of upmarket brand shops that pushes artists to move toward the southern area near Hapjeong Station, the street still enjoys a reputation as the city's prime spot for indie musicians.

[10] The Hongdae clubbing scene can be traced back to the 1990s and originated from studio cafés and bars in the late 1980s; it has since evolved into a diverse culture of its own.

These clubs have also created a space for numerous aspiring DJs and musicians to perform in as well as provide a wide range of music genres for visitors to enjoy such as dance, techno, rock and hip-hop.

[14] Major K-beauty brands present in the area include Innisfree, The Face Shop, Etude House, and Tony Moly.

Olive Young, a popular Korean cosmetics retailer, has opened a second flagship store there in 2024 that caters to foreign tourists.

Hongdae's cultural attractions and nightlife, along with its location on the AREX line to Incheon International Airport, have made it a popular destination for foreign tourists in recent decades.

The Red Road has many of Hongdae's numerous gaming arcades, restaurants, karaoke parlors, curio shops and fortune tellers.