Gangnam High Jjeomo (강남 하이쩜오) has long been associated with sophistication, exclusivity, and a nightlife experience that combines contemporary and luxurious elements. The highlights include VIP rooms, neon decors, and superb service that created multi-layered and unique entertainment scenes and cultures in Seoul.
With the increasing global focus on sustainability, the question that now arises is whether the most extravagant nightlife venues can transition into a model of sustainable development in eco-friendly practices.
Resource and environment consumption that comes from countless costly entertainment venues in the nightlife business is not surprising. The sound systems and flashy lights, as well as extravagant concerts and parties, come with “higher-frequency” and “amplitude” waste, water consumption, and waste management.
In the most wasteful and extreme cases, “narrow and short” entertainment venues in Gangnam generate waste from both people and vehicles in congested areas. The extreme cases allow for the replication of the “narrow and short” waste and fuel consumption model.
In contrast to the wasteful models, the environment of “narrow and short” entertainment venues can be used to promote “higher-frequency” waste and resource consumption and management recycling models. We can use the models and industries of nightlife and hospitality to demonstrate responsible environmental citizenship.
Gangnam’s famous places for enjoyment could integrate some simple first steps to become more sustainable. A beneficial first start could be the installation of LED lights for energy saving, the use of smart systems for temperature control, and the switching to renewable energy sources.
Luxury hotels implement these practices extensively, and night entertainment venues can also adopt them. Waste management presents opportunities for sustainability, especially through the recycling of glass bottles and the reduction of single-use plastics.
The rise of ‘green’ architecture and the use of eco-friendly design principles within places of leisure are promising. Establishments aimed for leisure and hospitality can incorporate biophilic design principles that use indoor vegetation and natural building materials to decrease carbon emissions and improve facility ambiance. These practices also demonstrate a facility’s position and willingness to attract the younger population, which values sustainability.
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Improvement of a venue’s carbon footprint is only a small part of going green. The creation of more enjoyable and healthier environments for guests and employees also counts. Less air pollution, reduction of noise pollution, and better waste disposal systems promote the health of the public. Gangnam’s nightlife venues could also demonstrate that sustainability and style are not mutually exclusive and set a precedent for the other sectors in Seoul.
Marking sustainability within places of entertainment offers new partnership prospects. These can attract a new type of global audience to the entertainment venues, which are safe and value aligned.
The trek from VIP rooms to green rooms encounters challenges, but the rewards are substantial. If Gangnam High Jjeomo can adopt sustainability while maintaining its hallmark luxury, it has the potential to become a prototype for environmentally responsible nightlife across the globe. The Gangnam district has the opportunity to lead and promote the future of environmentally benign entertainment.
