Dear Korean bang (“bong”):
It has been my pleasure to visit you on several occasions,
and a variety of you too, at that. You’ve provided me with everything from belting
out karaoke tunes to bathing with naked Korean women in hot, relaxing ginseng
baths to playing video games with an unlimited supply of ice-cream. What more
do I need from life?
Sure, you sound regular - “Bang” translated is simply “room”.
But you’re more than that. You’re a room with a twist.
Korea is home to a multitude of types of “bangs”:
Jimjilbangs, game-bangs, PC-, norebangs, DVD-bangs, multi-bangs and so on.
Here’s a rough guide, because seriously “Bangs”, you confuse
us foreigners.
1)
Jimjilbang: These are public bath houses where
you ... *take a deep breath and just accept it* are naked.
You separate the men and women of course, but this culture is just so
different from many western cultures that it can take some getting used to.
However, soon us foreigners become experts, strutting around in our birthday
suits like we were born here too. Jimjilbangs are full of a variety of saunas, baths
of differing temperatures and differing minerals (such as ginseng), mineral
stone beds and aromatherapy rooms. It is definitely invigorating to go between
the hot and cold baths. Massages are also available for extra money, as are other
spa services. Despite being nervous the first time because I’ve never
experienced a culture so comfortable with being naked in front of people of the
same-sex, I wasn’t scared off completely by it. Nobody was gawking at me as I
walked in, as I had feared they would. Everybody just went about their own
business, enjoying the baths. Many Koreans actually don’t shave the
nether-regions, so us foreigners really don’t need to feel embarrassed by
anything! A lot of the women actually used the time to socialize with the
friends they came with whilst bathing, which seemed a tad odd at first, but it’s
all part of the culture and what they’re used to. I believe there are some jimjilbangs
that cost as little as 6,000 won, but I’ve only been to the one in Yongsan, in
Seoul (one of the most famous jimjilbangs – it actually reminded me of Vegas
with its eccentric decor) and it cost about 12,000 won. This is still a steal
though, if you think about it, especially if you choose to sleep there
overnight! Just be warned, maybe bring an extra pillow or blanket because
sometimes what they provide isn’t comfy enough to get a decent sleep. I’ve been
twice so far to you and I’ll definitely come back!
2)
Game-bang: These have private rooms, often
separated with a curtain, where you can play video games and/or board games. I’ve
been to two different wii-bangs in Bupyeong on Culture street (about 4 times
total!) as well as a PS3-bang once in Bupyeong, where I played FIFA. I’ve also
tried one with only board games in Seoul that was not as much fun, simply
because there wasn’t a good selection of games in English. Game-bangs often
provide customers with a free drink or sometimes unlimited drinks and snacks,
depending where you go. They cost
anywhere from 3,000-10,000 won (with most I’ve seen being around 4,000 won) and
that usually covers 1, 1 and a half, or 2 hours of playing time. Great for a
chill night with friends!
3)
PC-bang: I’ve tried a PC bang once, but just
like I had been warned, it was a little smokey and dark, and not the type of
place I wanted to spend a lot of time. These
are not what you want if you’re looking for a “cute” internet cafe. The
computers were very nice though and the internet was much faster than the 3G on
my phone! And it was quite cheap – 1,000 or 2,000 for an hour, which passes by
fast when there are no windows or clocks (casino vibe perhaps?) It was full of
Korean boys and men either hardcore-gaming around the clock or surfing the
internet, laughing loudly at their screens in annoying outbursts. Will I go
back to you, PC-bang? Probably not... unless my laptop decides to quit on me
*knock on wood*!
4)
DVD-bang: The name is self-explanatory – come here
to watch a dvd in a little private room, often equipped with a couch and
pillows or sometimes even a bed. It cost around 12,000 won for the one I went
to (so 6,000 each if you go with 1 other person). These are notoriously known
for being a place young Korean people go with their boyfriends/girlfriends for “alone
time” (because of strict cultural taboos in unmarried couples). Not sure how
much of the movies they actually watch...! I HAD to check it out once because
of my undying cultural curiosity. The English movie selection was just ok,
slightly lacking, but I settled on a horror film and got comfy! However, it was
slightly disturbing to see a garbage can with a box of tissues beside it...
erm.
5)
Norebang: Pronounced “no-ray-bong”, this is
probably the most entertaining and the most popular of all the “bangs”. Translated
literally, it means “singing room”, which you know better as “karaoke”. They are literally everywhere. Koreans are
CRAZY about norebang and it is one of their most common night pastimes. An
average night out involves dinner out and/or a hof-style bar, other bars or a
club where Koreans get mighty drunk off of soju, followed by a singing session
at a norebang. The rooms are private and soundproofed, so no need to be embarrassed
in public – only in front of your friends (or co-workers, if your school tends
to invite you along, as is pretty common in Korean schools). They range in
cost, often 5,000-15,000 won per hour, depending on how classy the place is.
Sometimes they give you complimentary snacks or a drink too. My warning? Don’t
go if you have a headache – the booming karaoke can be a lot when you have a
room full of drunk people singing! You are definitely worth a visit (or a lot
of visits!) while in Korea!
6)
Multi-bang: Just like it sounds, this type of “bang”
has multiple things to keep you busy. I also had unlimited drinks and snacks
with my friends – even ice-cream! I visited you in Daejeon and although my
friends and I only used the wii, you also had board games, dvds and karaoke. No
hot baths though. Sheesh. Way to fail on being 100% multi-bang! :p
Anyway, I’m off to my own “bang” – bedtime for me! Thanks
for all the memories. Until next time, “Bang”,
Yours truly,
~Leana
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