The Korean PC Bang: Everything To Know Before You Go!
In an electronically advanced city like Seoul, there lies an active underground society that spends day after day in the safe area of their own temporary personal cubicle. With access to the internet, food, and familiarity—who would ever want to leave? The legendary PC bang. PC rooms are a safe haven for gamers of all games, or people that don’t want the hassle of buying a personal computer.
PC bangs are multifaceted and useful to any foreigner when it comes to having a consistent connection to the rest of the world via the internet. If you want to learn more about the Korean PC room and how to find one, then there are a few things you should know before embarking on your own quest for greatness.
Table of Contents
- What is a PC bang?
- The History of the Korean PC Bang
- Is a PC Room the same as a PC Bang?
- How To find a PC bang
- Can anyone use a PC room?
- Do I need to speak Korean to use a PC Room?
- How much does it cost to use a PC Room?
- What time do PC rooms open in Korea?
- What is the most commonly played game in a PC bang?
- Are all PC bangs the same?
- Trendy vs traditional
- Do PC rooms have food and drinks?
- Are there age restrictions for PC rooms in Korea?
- What else can you do besides gaming in a PC room?
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What is a PC bang?
PC방 or ‘PC bang’/’PC room’, is the South Korean term for internet cafes that are designed primarily for gaming.
The History of the Korean PC bang
The first PC bang, or what PC bangs came from was the 전자 카페, or ‘jeonja kape’, which literally translates to ‘electronic cafe’ which was opened in the late 80’s by Ahn Sang-Soo and Geum Nu-Ree. It wasn’t quite hip yet and was only known by the locals in the Hongik University area where it was established, but the electronic cafe featured two 16-bit computers that were connected by a telephone line. Thus, the origin story of the famous Korean PC bang.
In 1994, Jung Min Ho opened the first public internet cafe, or cyber cafe, called BNC in Seocho District and a trend began. PC rooms became popular in the late 90s during the economic crisis that left many without jobs. They spent their time in these cafes monitoring the stock market but also playing the popular game, Starcraft, which was released in 1998.
Over time, they evolved from stock rooms to places where gaming primarily took place for a cheap price—no computer or console needed. As of 2002, 25 million citizens were using the internet and on top of that 14.4 million Korean homes were equipped with internet access.
Is a PC Room the same as a PC bang?
Yes, bang (방) is the Korean word for “room” so a PC room is the same as a PC bang. Also, if you haven’t learned Korean yet, then you’re probably pronouncing it wrong too. It’s not “bang bang” like a gun in comics, it’s more like “bong” which is useful to know if you plan on going around asking people in your neighborhood where the closest one is.
How To find a PC bang
There are over 1500 PC rooms just in Seoul to choose from. A very large “PC” sign in bold letters is usually the best way to locate one. Most PC bangs are located downstairs on a basement floor or upstairs in a building, but seldom on the first floor of buildings so keep that in mind if you’re just trying to scout one out on your own.
Can anyone use a PC room?
Yes. Anyone can use a PC room but generally speaking, they are most popular with male gamers in their teens and twenties.
Do I need to speak Korean to use a PC room?
While the majority of people in a PC room are Korean speakers, many dabble in English and can assist you if you ask or don’t understand something. Papago/Google Translate on your mobile phone will be crucial if you can’t find anyone that speaks English or if you are afraid of disturbing them while they enjoy their time there though. The first visit can be a bit daunting as you won’t know what to expect, but it’s a pretty straightforward experience and you can get the hang of it pretty quickly and easily. Don’t be afraid to ask for assistance.
How much does it cost to use a PC room?
It can vary slightly from brand to brand, but your average PC room will cost between W1,000 and W5,000 depending on how many hours you’re looking to stay there. If you’re looking to stay for less than an hour, expect to pay around W1,000. If you’ll stay for two hours or less, expect to pay around W3,000. And if you’re looking to stay for three hours or less, expect to pay around W5,000.
Members (which you can sign up to be if you know your way around the Korean language or Papago/Google Translate) can use a credit card to pay for hours at the machine and have access to more packages for more hours, while non-members can only use cash and choose between various options based on time. One I went to recently had three options: 45 minutes, 1 hour and 45 minutes, or 3 hours. How long do you think I stayed?
What time do PC rooms open in Korea?
Most PC rooms are open 24 hours a day so if you’re not a night owl, it’s one of the best things to do at night in Seoul. The clientele inside a PC bang changes throughout the day though with adult males in their 30s to 50s opting to visit in the morning. In the afternoons, young men usually visit and thus PC rooms can be the noisiest. After dinner, teenagers and young adults will visit and opt to get online to play games. More competitive players usually head in to their favorite PC bangs from 8:00pm onward and stay into the night.
What is the most commonly played game in a PC bang?
According to Statista, nearly 50 percent of what is played in PC bangs is the popular game from America, League of Legends. With low to no lag time due to the close connection to the local servers as well as a great place to play with your friends as a cohesive team, it’s not unnatural that one of the biggest games around the globe has such an active presence in PC bangs and esports in Korea.
If you want a glorified gaming experience with some friends, it’s the best place to play out your pro-gamer fantasy. A super common birthday party location for groups of teenagers in Korea is PC rooms where they can all log on and play together.
Are all PC bangs the same?
No. There are actually a lot of themed PC cafes as well that are more expensive, but provide a more immersive and especially pleasing experience if you’re just looking to have a one-time experience. If you live in Korea, you’ll likely visit your more local basic PC rooms which you can find in every neighborhood. But there are some special PC rooms if you’re looking for something different or maybe want to have a PC room party like the Korean kids do to celebrate their birthdays.
Trendy vs Traditional
There are many themed PC cafes that cost more but provide a unique theme and experience. The price will go up, but if you are looking for the kind of thing to accompany your cafe experience, then it’s a nice thing to look out for. The traditional is just as I explained—a pc with access to a printer, decent wifi, food, and drinks, as well as snacks and games. Themed cafes will usually have a more colorful and appealing aesthetic to them as well as a unique name to go with them. One such themed PC bang is Miss Terry’s Oasis.
Miss Terry’s Oasis
Miss Terry’s Oasis is a good example of a themed PC bang. Located right next to Gildong Station on the right-hand side is a blazing yellow sign welcoming you downstairs. The first thing you will notice after making the abyssal descent is the palm tree aesthetic, reminiscent of Southern California, right outside the door. The inside is the same, giving a cool and calm vibe to all its inhabitants through its great use of bright and analogous colors.
Unlike typical PC cafes, Terry’s allowed non-members to use credit/debit cards to both purchase hours and food. It makes it a lot easier as a foreigner than having to rely on cash the whole time. As for the prices, they are slightly more expensive as I mentioned earlier, but will also provide you with more options than if you were a member of a typical PC room. W1,000 for 30 minutes, W2,000 for an hour, W4,000 for 2 hours, W6,000 for 3 hours, and W8,000 for 4 hours. You can also ask the employee to add more time to your PC by letting him know and handing them cash or a card. They are also extraordinarily friendly and easy to communicate with. Looking for just one fun PC room experience? Try this one!
- Address: 484-1, Yangjae-daero, Gangdong-gu, Seoul (서울특별시 강동구 양재대로 1484-1)
Do PC rooms have food and drinks?
Yes! Actually, people often talk about how good the food is at some of their favorite PC rooms. The food and drink add a lot to a PC bang experience.
Usually, for under W10,000, there are different types of drinks including coffee, and even smoothies for around W5,000 to W6,000. There are cheaper snacks like chips and candy to purchase as well as food like pork cutlets or spicy tuna on rice. The quality of the food is pretty terrific for the price as well.
The food and drinks can be bought with both card and cash after the order is delivered. The most fascinating part is that you can order directly from your computer and have it brought to your desk while you are working, gaming, or doing something else.
Are there age restrictions for PC Rooms in Korea?
There aren’t age restrictions for PC rooms. There used to be a Youth Protection Revision Act in effect. It stopped kids under 16 from playing at PC bangs from midnight to 6 am. Companies that broke the law could be fined up to 10 million won (over 8,000 USD). Individuals that broke it could face up to two years in prison. The law was struck down in 2022 so there is no longer a restriction on the hours that minors can go to a PC room.
What else can you do besides gaming in a PC Room?
With headphones and food and snacks at the ready, it’s a great place to do work if you are a student or a traveler. If you’re moving to Korea, it’s common for it to take a bit of time to get your internet hooked up, and PC rooms will come in handy if you need to hop online to shoot emails home telling the fam you’re doing well. If you’re out and about and need to hop onto the internet or print something real quick, PC rooms can also come in handy. Going to a PC cafe is a great way to get your work done for cheap with both decent internet and air conditioning.
If you haven’t had a PC bang experience in Korea yet? I think you’re ready to find one now. They’re all over and you can’t walk 10 steps without spotting a sign for these fast internet heavens. Head in the next time and have some fun with the other gamers, travelers, or workers around you.
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