From LA Chess Club to Seoul
Seoul Chess Club began in 2025 under 김승현. While living abroad, he had felt the need for connection and found at LA Chess Club a model in which a chessboard could open a relationship between strangers.
A trip to Finland reinforced that direction through conversations about the importance of a safe community. In Seoul, chess became not only a test of skill but also a reason for first-time and solo visitors to sit down with someone unfamiliar.
Boards and music in the same room
The group moves through changing Seoul venues and themes. Players have changed opponents after every few games, conversational play has shared the room with serious timed games, and beginner classes, tournaments and speed chess have offered several ways into the same evening.
Music functions as part of the format rather than as a separate attraction. Chess Nights sit beside listening parties, live jazz, DJ sets, raves and Book & Admin Night, while the room is arranged to mix nationalities and playing strengths.
Even with separate registration for each event, repeat visitors and familiar faces emerged, and participants sometimes continued socializing after the scheduled gathering. Continuity came less from a fixed membership roll than from meeting again in the same community.
Two names after the expansion
In 2026 the official website used Seoul Creative Club and described an organization that had begun with chess before expanding into music and other gatherings. LinkedIn, Linktree and the connected Instagram identity continued to use Seoul Chess Club or 서울체스클럽, and Chess Nights remained a named format.
The meeting format also extended into exchanges between cities. Official activity records include a Shoreditch K-Culture Night with Knight Club London and Knight Market Vol.1 connecting Seoul, Taipei and Hong Kong.
Sources
- 1.Seoul Creative Club · a curated social club, Seoul Creative Club
- 2.체스 그 이상의 연결을 만드는 곳, 서울체스클럽, IMBOLDN
- 3.Seoul Chess Club | LinkedIn, Seoul Chess Club
- 4.Seoul Chess Club Official: Instagram | Linktree, Seoul Chess Club
- 5.Stories | Rotary Club of Seoul, Rotary Club of Seoul
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