Get a Room… for Singing, Gaming, Movie Watching and More
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For all the many facets that make up Korea, there are just as many rooms! Called "방" in Korean, they are pronounced "bang" with a short "a".
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They range in services, but the four most popular may be the DVD bang, the PC bang, the norae bang and the multimedia bang (which brings all of the first three together). With cities like Seoul being so densely populated, these bangs are great, inexpensive spaces to hang out. They're also usually open until the wee hours of the morning (if not 24 hours), so you can go anytime.
Bangs can be found in practically every neighborhood of Seoul and Busan and there'll be at least one norae bang or PC bang even in the most remote areas of Korea.
DVD Bang
In my opinion, the DVD bang is one of the more awesome of the four, but it's got the worst reputation out of the three.
Back in the States, I would have friends over my house to watch a casual movie. However in Korea, as living space is more expensive and therefore limited, my place isn't really big enough to accommodate a large group of people. For many Koreans who live at home with their parents, having friends over to watch a movie isn't a common part of the culture. Hanging out is done mostly outside of the home, especially for young couples…
…hence the DVD bang has got a bit of a sketchy reputation. However, my experience with going to DVD bangs have been nothing short of great.
Photo Credit: Kimchi Soul
On days where there isn't anything particularly special at the theater, and you just want to spend a few hours kicking back to a movie but still hang out with your friends or significant other – it's a great option. For about the price of one ticket at a movie theater, you can rent a room with comfy couches and pick from a very wide selection of DVDs from classics to more recent films.
The other big plus of watching movies here is that you chat with your friends as loudly as you want without feeling obnoxious.
You can even do this! Photo Credit
Norae Bang
It's safe to say that anyone who has worked for a company in Korea has been to a norae bang, as it's a favorite spot for hweshiks (company outings). "Norae" means singing in Korean, so a noraebang is literally a singing room, or karaoke as many know it. The rooms at a norae bang vary by size and the average cost to rent one usually starts at about 20,000 KRW an hour.
The norae bangs in Korea are also high tech as:
There are usually some sort of disco lights that flicker to the beat of the song. Each room comes with remote controls to punch in the number to your favorite jam. Many play high-quality music videos in the background as the song lyrics come up. The latest hits are available, even if the song was released 24 hours ago. Some rooms have flat screen TVs or multiple screens (helps ensure that everyone in the room get a great view of the music videos and the lyrics.
The only reason I'm not such a big fan of norae bangs is because I'm tone deaf - I'm usually the designated tambourine player. (Yes there are tambourines; some rooms even have full drum sets and other instruments!) For those who can carry a tune, it's a fun place to go and relieve stress by singing at the top of your lungs. The singing usually evolves into a dance party by the end of the session.
Photo Credit: DKB News
PC Bang
The PC bang came about as gaming became popular in Korea. PC bangs have high-spec computers with ultra-fast processors and advanced graphics cards to give players the best gaming experience. Going to a PC bang is very inexpensive, as I've seen some that charge only 500 KRW an hour. They're usually about 2,000 KRW an hour.
Though mostly frequented by a younger crowd, people of all ages can be seen at a PC bangs playing their favorites games or surfing the Internet.
For me, PC bangs have been life savers in situations where I suddenly needed a printer at some odd hour.
Photo Credit: Changup News
Last but not least, and my personal favorite, is the multimedia bang, often shortened to multi bang. The multimedia bang is like the DVD, norae and PC bang all-in-one. As such, it's the most expensive of the bangs. The average hourly rental fee for an hour is around 20-25,000 KRW.
They're the perfect thing for someone who doesn't like to do one thing for a long period of time. You can sing a few songs, then surf the 'net, and maybe watch a movie. If you get tired of that and want to move around a bit, most multimedia bangs have video game systems like the group-friendly Nintendo Wii.
On weekends when I just want a fun, cheap night out with a few friends, we sometimes go to a multimedia bang and hang out until three or four in the morning. The video clip below gives you a better look into what a multimedia bang has to offer.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=g4mAdBg_JAY
By Donna Choi
Born and raised in the States, I came to Seoul in 2009 and have loved living and working in such a high-tech and connected city ever since. I enjoy collecting unique, cute gadgets/items (I have a bread-scented smartphone case!) and traveling around Korea. My personal mission while living in Korea: Try every type of Korean food known to exist
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