Noraebang, Korea's Iconic Karaoke Culture

Understanding the meaning of "noraebang" as "song room" provides insight into Korea's karaoke culture. If you enjoy music, be sure to visit a noraebang during your Korea trip to experience this lively culture firsthand.

Coin noraebangs allow you to experience this culture affordably without heavy costs. In addition to popular K-pop, you'll find many international hits from the Billboard charts. I've researched popular chains like SU Noraebang and their locations, operating hours, and price ranges.

Noraebang Meaning: Korea's Private Karaoke Rooms

I was a bit shocked by some of the karaoke scenes I've seen in American movies and TV shows. In shows like The Big Bang Theory, The Office, and 500 Days of Summer, the characters would go to karaoke, and they seemed to be singing openly in a full bar where anyone could hear them. They were singing songs in front of complete strangers! 😱

I wouldn't have the courage to sing in front of a big crowd like that. I'm really not a good singer. 😳

The karaoke experience in Korea is quite different. The name "noraebang (노래방)" gives a clue as to what karaoke is like in Korea. "Norae" means "song" in Korean, and "bang" means "room." So when you put the two words together, noraebang literally translates to "song room." Some places are called "noraeyeonseupjang" (노래연습장), directly translating to "a place to practice singing."

There are usually two types of noraebang places - coin rooms and full service. But the big thing they share is private rooms. Both kinds will rent you your own space that has a door you can close. This provides much more privacy - people rent a room just for their group so they can sing and dance hilariously as they want without any embarrassment in front of strangers.

Full-Service Noraebang

Full-service noraebang offer larger private rooms that groups can rent by the hour to sing karaoke.

The following video shows a fun scene from the Korean variety show 'Running Man,' where the members are doing a karaoke-related mission in a noraebang. English subtitles are provided so non-Korean speakers can enjoy too.

⛔ Minors are not allowed to enter noraebangs after 10pm.

📍 The vibe at full-service noraebangs can really differ depending on where they're located. Places near colleges or bustling restaurant districts that get a younger crowd usually have a brighter, safer feel.

However, noraebangs on the outskirts of town or near adult entertainment areas may feel less safe and can have varying room rates determined by the owner. It's best to avoid places with signs displaying heart shapes or female silhouettes. I don't even know what kind of place it is or what happens there.

🧡 Sometimes the staff member of noraebang will generously extend the amount of singing time allowed as well. On the karaoke machine screen, a countdown timer displays the time remaining. If you receive customer service around 10 minutes before it ends, the time will automatically be extended by that same amount.

This is completely random. It depends on whether other customers are waiting and the discretion of the staff. In Korean, it's called "서비스" (seobiseu), and it's the Korean pronunciation of the English word "service."

💲 Price Range: Prices vary depending on the location, day/time, group size and amenities.

• Prices at some places vary from 5,000 to 7,000 won (approx. 4-6 USD) per hour before 12 pm.
• Others charge based on the number of people, typically ranging from 4,000 to 7,000 won (approx. 3-6 USD) per person.
• Higher-end rooms can cost 20,000 to 30,000 won (approx. 16-25 USD) per hour, regardless of group size.

Coin Noraebang

코인노래방 (Coin noraebang) or 코인노래연습장 (Coin noraeyeonseupjang) works differently from full-service noraebang. Instead of paying by the hour, you pay for the songs you sing. And the rooms are typically smaller in size as well. You insert cash or coins directly into the karaoke machine to sing a certain number of songs.

You can watch an episode where the famous Korean comedian Park Myung-soo and Super Junior member Kyuhyun visit a coin noraebang on Park Myung-soo's YouTube channel. English subtitles are provided for non-Korean speakers to enjoy as well.

In Korea, coin noraebang are a popular casual hangout spot. Instead of paying by the hour, you only pay per song. This makes it very convenient for people who want to sing one or two songs leisurely. It's also ideal for students and others watching their budget. When you pay as you go by the track, it's much more affordable than renting an entire private room.

⛔ Minors are not allowed to enter noraebangs after 10pm.

📍 Coin noraebang can be found both inside larger gaming centers or arcades, as well as stand-alone shops that specialize just in coin karaoke rooms. They're often seen in lively areas with lots of restaurants and bars.

💲 Price Range: Prices vary between establishments, but typically you can sing around 2 or 3 songs for 1000 won (around 1 USD).

Some coin noraebangs allow you to book them by the hour, just like full-service noraebangs. It typically costs around 4,000 won (approx. 3.50 USD) for 30 minutes and 7,000 won (approx. 6 USD) for 60 minutes.

⚡ When visiting a coin noraebang, it's a good idea to bring 1000 won bills with you. Some places have coin exchange machines but not all machines are able to make change for bills over 1000 won. Some karaoke machines take paper money, but usually not larger denominations like 5000 or 10,000 won bills.

Popular Noraebang Franchises

In my opinion, when I'm in a lively nightlife area, it's not necessary to look for well-known noraebang chains. They often provide a similar level of safety and quality. But I've listed a few noraebang options that might be helpful for your travel plans.

📍 Su noraebang Hongdae

🕒 Opening Hours: 24 hours

💲 Price Range:

📍 Awesome Coin Noraebang 어썸 코인노래연습장

🕒 Opening Hours:

💲 Price Range:

• In a regular room in a per-song rates:

• Or hourly room rentals:

📍 RockQ Coin Noraebang 락휴코인노래방

🕒 Openig Hours: 9 am - 11:30 pm

💲 Price Range:

• In a regular room in a per-song rates:

• Or hourly room rentals:

Popular Songs in Korean Karaoke

How to Find English Songs in Korean Karaokes

Many noraebangs in Korea use the TJ karaoke software. This makes it easy to find the songs you want to sing.

In every private room, there will be thick books with all the songs listed alphabetically by title. Just find the name and it will tell you the number.

You can also search song numbers online before your visit. The TJ website lets you look up artist and titles and see the numbers. Then at the noraebang, just type in the number at the TV screen to bring up and sing your song!

Check out if your favourite songs are available in this 🔗site.

Wrap-up

In Korean, "noraebang" literally means "song room," and it's Korea's version of karaoke. Noraebang offer not just K-pop like BTS or Blackpink but also popular English songs by artists like Beyoncé, Ariana Grande, and more.

Experiencing noraebang culture firsthand is a fun must-do in Korea. You have options - chains like Su Noraebang offer private rooms by the hour. Or coin noraebang lets you sing a few songs cheaply without reservations in lively neighborhoods. Keep in mind that minors are not allowed to enter after 10 pm. When you visit Korea, sing your heart out to de-stress in a private Korean karaoke, noraebang Korea!