PC Bangs (Internet café): Unique Korean Institutions
Korea has a history of unique Bang culture. Koreans love to social in small places like da-bang(tearoom), manhwa-bang(comics room),norae-bang(karaoke room) and video-bang(video room). Korea’s bang culture has not only facilitated the absorption of the Internet but also influenced how the technology is used.
Actually, for many Koreans, online gaming is not an anti-social experience but an important means for socializing. PC bangs are the places for them to “gather together, play games, video-chat, hang out and hook up”.
Another reason for the popularity of PC bangs is the lack of privacy space that Korean youth people have in their own house. Due to the Korean traditional Confucian philosophy, most children live with their parents before marriage. Also, the housing expenses are very high, so teenagers are not afford to move out before getting a job.
PC is the dominant game platform in Korea. Console games, on the other hand, failed. Even though parents have accept the current trend that computers and technologies are very crucial, console games are explicitly for playing and will be a distraction for students’ academic performance.
Interestingly, English also plays a role in the online gaming. Since most games’ official language is English, people have to learn some basic words used in the games. To some extent, English accelerates the adoption of the computer and Internet. The computers are perceived as the high-tech tool from the west, easily associated by Koreans with English. At the same time, many Koreans believe that using Internet and computers can help them to improve their English skill.
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