Other nightlife entertainments in Seoul, typically Korean
In addition to clubs and bars, in Seoul, like in other
South Korean cities, you will find other forms of night
entertainment that are typically Korean.
Very Korean are norae bang (rooms for singing), the Korean
version of karaoke. Unlike in Western countries, Korean
karaoke does not take place in big rooms with a lot of
people listening. Instead, Koreans sing in places called
norae bang; these are establishments with a few individual
rooms for singing. These rooms or norae bang are equipped
with sofas, microphones and a screen on which music videos
are displayed, subtitled with the songs’ words.
In norae bang, or Korean karaoke, it is possible to choose
between Korean, English, Japanese or other Asian songs.
Koreans love singing and they often go to norae bang with
their friends, or sometimes alone if they just feel like
singing and relaxing on their own.
If you are hungry or feel like drinking
late at night in Korea, then every Korean city has
pojang macha, also called by foreigners soju tents. These
are open-air stalls with a few tables, which sell soju,
local beer (like Cass) and anju (Korean snacks) and you
will of course find the Korean
speciality Kimchi (Kimchee). Pojang macha are covered
by a plastic tent. In winter, the side of these plastic
tents are pulled down to cover the sides of the stalls
and heaters are lit, so customers can stay warm. Pojang
macha (or soju tents) are an important part of Korean
drinking culture and nightlife.
Other things you can do at night in Seoul or in other
Korean cities include shopping (some malls in Dongdaemun
Market are open until 5 am); going to a jjimjilbang (Korean
saunas that open 24 hours); going to a PC bang (PC rooms,
where you can play video games or surf the internet. PC
bang are very popular with Koreans and some of them stay
open until late at night) or go and watch a movie in a
DVD bang. DVD bang, literally DVD room, is a place where
you can rent a movie on DVD and watch it in one of the
rooms provided. DVD rooms or bang are equipped with a
sofa and it is possible to buy soft drinks.
