Korean ‘Bang’ Culture

There are various ‘bang’s in Korea, such as multi-bangs, PC-bangs, video-bangs, and so on. ‘Bang,’ meaning ‘room,’ has become a unique culture of Korea. Norae-bangs and jjimjil-bangs are some of the most unique and interesting ‘bang’s of Korea.

Norae-bang is a place where people gather together by singing and dancing. According to a research conducted in 2009, there were about 30,000 norae-bang facilities, and about 2,000,000 people used them on one day. The reason why norae-bangs are so popular is because they provide services that everyone can enjoy; TV show title songs that children like, old songs that elder people enjoy, and even traditional folk songs.

When surveyed 124 people of various ages about the positive effects of norae-bangs, 62.1 percent of them answered that norae-bang facilities help people relieve their stress. 29.1 percent answered that norae-bangs have a positive effect in the society by becoming a part of Korea’s culture. However, when researchers asked about the negative effects of norae-bangs, 46.8 percent of the people answered that it might urge teenagers to derive from the right path. 43.5 percent  answered that norae-bangs facilities have many defects.

Although norae-bangs have its strengths and weaknesses, it has sternly become a part of Korean culture.

Another interesting type of bang is jjimjil-bang. Jjimjil-bang is a unique facility only found in Korea. It is also known as a ‘Korean dry sauna.’ People visit jjimjil-bangs with their friends and family to bathe and get together. Some travelers even choose jjimjil-bangs as a means of sleeping, since they are open 24 hours and some even have facilities for sleeping. Jjimjil-bangs include dry saunas—in rooms made out of ice, yellow soil, amethysts and so on—, various baths and showers. It does not only have dry saunas, but various other conveniences.

Most jjimjil-bangs include stores and massage centers. Some even have gyms, restaurants, and stages, on which many events are held.

 More ‘bang’s are established even now, and even new types of ‘bang’s are being developed. It is expected that these ‘bang’s will start to create a new part of Korean culture.