Korean PC Bang Guide: Why It’s Actually a Ramen Restaurant

In the West, an “Internet Cafe” is a sad place with slow computers where you go to print a PDF. In Korea, a PC Bang (PC Room) is a neon-lit palace of high-end technology and gastronomy.

Imagine a place with the fastest internet on Earth, computers powerful enough to launch a rocket, and… a full restaurant menu delivered to your seat. Yes, you can order a steak rice bowl while playing League of Legends.

But for a first-timer, it is intimidating. How do you log in? Why is everyone screaming? Welcome to Level 1. Let me tell you how I went to send an email and ended up eating a three-course meal.

The Level 1 Logs: The Email That Cost 500 Calories

Flashback: 2 years ago. Sinchon.

I needed to send a large file for work. My home Wi-Fi was slow, so I ran into a “PC Bang.” I expected a quiet room. Instead, I walked into a spaceship. Rows of curved monitors. Teenagers shouting commands. The sound of mechanical keyboards clicking like machine guns.

I sat down. The screen asked for a login. Everything was in Korean. I felt like a grandma. Then I smelled it. Ramen. I looked around. Everyone was eating. The guy next to me was eating a hot dog with one hand and clicking his mouse with the other. I forgot about my email. I just wanted to know: How do I order that hot dog?

Enter “Ssam” (The Pro Gamer)

I called Ssam for tech support. “Ssam, I’m at a PC Bang. I can’t turn on the computer, but I’m hungry.”

Ssam laughed. “Alice, you stumbled into a gamer’s heaven. First, go to the kiosk machine at the entrance.”

He explained the PC Bang Ecosystem: “It’s cheap (about $1 per hour). It’s fast. And yes, the food is the main attraction. We call it ‘PC-ca’ (PC + Cafe).”

Level 3 Wisdom: How to Use a PC Bang

Don’t be intimidated by the flashing lights. Follow these steps.

1. Member vs. Non-Member (Bi-Hoe-Won)

Go to the Kiosk machine near the door.

Member (회원): Requires a Korean phone number. You get bonus time.
Non-Member (비회원): Choose this if you are a tourist.
Action: Select “Non-Member,” pay with cash or card (e.g., 2 hours), and get a receipt with a Number Code. Type that code into your computer to log in.

2. The Food Menu (Click to Eat)

Once logged in, look for a food icon (usually a burger or noodle picture) on the desktop toolbar. Click it. A menu will pop up.

Menu: Ramen, Fried Rice (Kimchi Bokkeumbap), Dumplings, Soda, Iced Coffee.
Payment: You can usually pay at your seat (cash/card) when the staff brings the food.
Alice’s Pick: Jjapaghetti with a fried egg. It tastes better here than at home. It’s science.

3. The Gaming Etiquette

Noise: It’s okay to be a little loud (gaming call-outs), but don’t scream.
Smoking: There is usually a separate “Smoking Room” inside. The main area is smoke-free (mostly).
Leaving: Just click “Log Out” and leave. The computer wipes your data automatically.

Level 4: The Deep Dive (Ssam’s Insight)

(Why is Korea the Mecca of eSports?)

The Birth of eSports and PC Bangs

You know Faker? You know why Koreans dominate video games? It started with a crisis.

1. The IMF Crisis (1997) When the Korean economy crashed, the government pushed IT infrastructure as a way to rebuild. They laid high-speed internet cables everywhere. At the same time, many unemployed people opened “PC Bangs” as a cheap business.

2. StarCraft: The National Pastime A game called StarCraft arrived. With the new super-fast internet and cheap PC Bangs, playing games became a national hobby. It was cheaper than drinking or shopping. TV channels began broadcasting StarCraft matches. eSports was born.

3. The Culture of “Access over Ownership” In the US, you buy a console (Xbox/PlayStation) for your living room. In Korea, you go to a PC Bang. It created a community culture. Kids didn’t play alone in their bedrooms; they played together in PC Bangs after school. This competitive, social environment created the pro players you see today.

Alice’s Bottom Line: Play (and Eat) Hard

Even if you don’t play games, go to a PC Bang. Pay $1 for an hour. Surf the web at light speed. Order a bowl of ramen. It is the cheapest and most uniquely Korean vacation you can have in 60 minutes.

Just don’t spill soup on the keyboard.

Survival Hangul: At the PC Bang

“비회원이에요. (Bi-hoe-won-i-e-yo.)”
- Meaning: “I am a non-member.” (Use this if you need help logging in).
“선불이에요? (Seon-bul-i-e-yo?)”
- Meaning: “Is it pre-paid?” (Most kiosks are pre-paid).
“라면 하나 주세요. (Ramen hana juseyo.)”
- Meaning: “One ramen, please.” (Or just click the button).

Read This Next (Before You Make Another Mistake)

Full of ramen and gaming? Now explore the real world.