While traveling, I usually do check where to access the internet. I need to google travel tips or look at google maps of the area. I often go to internet café to check my email or search information. In Seoul, you can find and enjoy a fast internet connection everywhere. You also have free Wi-Fi in the subway, cafes and tourist spots.
Nevertheless, I’d like to recommend visiting Korean internet café for fun. In Korea internet cafe is called PC Bang. I think it is an interesting place for foreigner visitors. If you enjoy any computer online games, then PC Bang is going to be a paradise for you. Even if you are not, it is still worth! What if you get sudden free time during the travel because a part of your schedule is cancelled, or just want to take a rest staying one place due to bad weather? The answer is PC Bang! PC Bang is a perfect place if you have some time to kill.
Korea takes the top spot of internet speed. It has changed Korean Internet culture. World’s fastest Internet connection speed allows people to enjoy computer games. Have you heard of E-sports? It has developed the computer game industry and e-sports field. For one game of E-sports, StarCraft had its leagues and the tournaments were broadcast on cable channel. Professional gamer is children’s top dream job. Many computer online games still have a huge following. The highest-paid Korean pro-gamer of ‘League of Legends’, aka LoL, makes 3 billion won per year. \Korea has been a huge market of online game industries.
- Famous Game, StarCraft
The most popular game was ‘StarCraft’ of Blizzard, American Entertainment Company. Actually online games is not my thing, but even I made a stab at the game, StarCraft. Korea has been a huge market of online game industries. The most popular game was ‘StarCraft’ of Blizzard, American Entertainment Company.
Online games is not my thing, but even I made a stab at the game, StarCraft. The game was so popular in Korea that it had its reopened ceremony for the recent remastered version at Gwangalli Beach in Busan, Korea. More than 10,000 people came to see the event. The company regarded Korea as a special market since 40% of their sales came from Korea. At the same time, PC Bang became popular in Korea. It is a playground for teenagers no matter what the weather is like, and sometimes a work space for students doing class assignments together.
- In the PC Bang
I occasionally go to PC bang to kill time while waited. Numerous Internet cafés are in Seoul. You can find it easily near subway stations or university areas with the signboards of ‘PC’. PC Bang opens 24 hours a day. It is a really nice place to spend time, enjoying surfing. The cost is generally about $1 per hour. It doesn’t cost a lot for spending a few hours. Internet cafes have different payment systems. There are usually two types, a prepaid or deferred payment.
First of all, sit in any empty seat and sign up on the screen to unlock the computer. (Well…it’s a little tip for you. Actually I fill the form out with a fake information. Lol. I don’t think you have to put all your true personal information.) After signing up, then ask the staff of the PC Bang how to pay for it, telling your new account name (he may ask you what your I.D. is, then I.D. means the account name). Using Self-payment machine is quite difficult. Most information in local PC Bang is only in Korean. It doesn’t hurt to ask when you get confused. After charging to your account by paying in advance or later, now it is time to have fun on in a comfortable overstuffed chair with a large 32-inch monitor.
- Snack Bar
For me, the most attractive thing in PC bang is the snack bar! You can order food from your seat, then a staff will bring it to you. I am happy with an extensive menu on the screen. I clicked Ramen, an instant noodle, to order.
Having a noodle for lunch at my desk on the computer with just a few clicks?! It is amazing for a lazy bum like me! And I am sure you will get a kick out of it, too!
[…] Source link http://seoulinsidersguide.com/pcbang/ […]
Is it possible that there are private rooms there? Personally I enjoy playing in private more and it would be more comfortable for me.
Hi Natalia,
As far as I know, there is no PC Bang having a private room in Korea.
It would have been nicer if there is a private space to play games in a good hygienic condition.
Hello Ji-Yon and Sin-Young my name is Jason De Los Santos and I am a Sophomore at the University of Texas at Austin with a major in Radio-Television-Film. For a journalism course, I am doing a report on internet cafe’s in Japan and South Korea and their affects on community mental health. If you are available and interested to help me by answering a few questions, I would be very grateful. You can contact me at my email jasondls@utexas.edu. Please let me know as soon as you are able, and we can conduct a short interview over email or a video chat service. Thank you, and be well. Best, Jason
Hi Jason. You can send us questions to our email, seoulinsidersguide@gmail.com. 🙂
What Pc Bang is this? Do you have an addres?
Unfortunately I don’t have its address but this PC Bang is very common one in Korea. PC Bang like this can be easily found in major areas like Hongdae, Myeong-dong and Gangnam. I hope you enjoy Korean PC bang culture. It would be a perfect cool spot to spend your day, especially in this hot summer weather. 🙂
Thank you for the great explanation! I will definitely try this when I go to Seoul!
Thank you for the nice comment. 🙂
We both hope you will have a great time at PC Bang and of course in Seoul. 😉
Where can I find PC Bang near Itaewon?
I’ve never been to any PC Bang near Iteawon. So, I don’t personally know any specific place in and around Iteawon.
I recommend typing “PC방” (PC Bang) on google maps. Then you will have many places near your location. PC Bang in Korean is either “PC방” or “피씨방”. So you can just copy either word and paste it on google maps. 😉
Hope you have fun at PC Bang soon!
Cheers!
In Japan, you can get a private room and stay overnight in a net cafe. Can you do the same thing in a Korean PC Bang? And is it a good deal?
Most PC Bangs are open 24/7 and there are some PC Bangs which offer private rooms.
I would say it is a good deal in general. 😉
How do you pay for the food if you order from the on screen menu?
Most PC Bangs have prepay system for using the computer, but ordering food menu is postpaid. Or need to pay when your food is served.
Where do you find those kind of chair?
Almost every PC Bangs are equipped with those kind of chairs.
Do Cyber Cafes provide controllers for pc controller games?
Usually they don’t provide controllers. If you want to play controller games, they usually bring their own controllers to the cyber cafe.
Hi there, I enjoy reading through your article. I like to write a little comment to support you.|
Hi,
I’m working on a documentary and i’m looking for families with technology addictions.
The documentary talks about global civilization, unified by the “screen culture “, as Bruno Patino said in his book “la civilisation du poisson rouge”. To illustrate his ideas, sometimes too theoric, we will follow four families around the world. From South Corea to America, through France, we will follow four families for each country in their daily life. From the morning to the evening, with specialists’ analysis, we will try to understand the impact of screens and internet in our lives.
In Séoul, i’m looking for a gamer who want to become professional. Do you think that you can help me ?
Thank you very much for your help,
Kind regards,
Lola Gantillon
Hi Lola,
I am afraid to say that we can’t be helpful in this matter.
I don’t know any gamer or family whose member is a gamer.
Wish you all the best on your documentary which sounds very interesting!
Best regards,
Jiyon Ko
[…] Photo by Seoul insiders guide […]
$24 a day is not cheap any more, since with $20 you can get a love motel room which actually has a PC too. PC Bang has fun and lively atmosphere, and you can order food there without going out far. About playing games online i think it is pure entertaining, as the purpose of going to PC Bang serves more as a nice duckhole to avoid domestic issues
[…] Photo by Seoul insiders guide […]
[…] An example of a PC bang in South Korea. Photo Credit: Seoul Insiders’ Guide […]
[…] Source: PC Bang, Korean Internet Cafe […]
[…] Fun fact: South Korea is home to a number of PC rooms where people go to game for an hourly fee. There is a fun social aspect to gaming in a PC room as well. You don’t have to game though, you can simply pay to spend an hour or so of your time. Learn more via Seoul Insider Guide. […]
Dear Sin-Young Son –
My name is Kim Sanford. I am the Assistant Director of Education at the Spurlock Museum of World Cultures at the University of Illinois. We are in the process of updating our East Asian exhibit, and the Korean student who is working with me would love it if we could use one of the photos from this webpage on a wall of modern East Asian images that will be a part of the exhibit. I would love to talk with you about this. You would be acknowledged in the label as the source of the image. Are you also the photographer?
I look forward to hearing from you.
Thanks for sharing this article with us. It is really very helpful to us as a beginner in this field. Such a great post!!
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