Day 13 (8.25)- PC Bang- Where Gamers Reach Nirvana
The PC Bang is a ubiquitous part of Korean culture that simply just hasn’t caught on in the States, so naturally, I had to see why. Bang culture is huge in Seoul and outside the city, as it incorporates the idea of a place to hang out with friends outside of the confines of a small apartment. In our home base of Hyehwa, PC Bangs are on every block, usually placed on the second or third floor of a building complex.
The unassuming location, just 2 blocks from the university.
The thing about the PC bang is that it’s much different from a normal internet cafe, mainly because it is not catered to business people, but to teenagers and college kids that use it to game with their friends on their off-time. Calling these places PC cafes doesn’t really do them justice…
Rows and rows of computers the size of small TV screens, each accompanied with a padded chair fit for a king, noise-cancelling headphones with mics, and a keyboard that looks like this…
Extra is the PC Bang’s middle name, as it’s clear they spare no expense. Every game available on a PC under the sun is already installed, and all anyone must do to use the machines as long as they wish is make an account, sign in at the kiosk at the front, and pay just 2 Korean Won for 2 hours on the computer.
Naturally, my trip was not only just to investigate one of these establishments, but to also catch up on some lost time on Overwatch, my, and recently Korea’s favorite game.
Korean gamers are big on Blizzard games in particular, Starcraft being essentially a national sport, and Overwatch quickly gaining traction, possibly due to its competitive gameplay mixed with colorful characters with strong storylines, one in particular being D.Va from Overwatch, a character who is the epitome of Korean gamer culture….she’s a professional Starcraft champion-turned Mech-powered hero that protects her home country from giant, city-leveling robots. She’s also just 19 years old, a child prodigy, just like the gamers who play her. Her story originates in the PC bang itself.
Looking at my neighbors around me, all of the computers with Overwatch loaded up were playing as her…National pride is strong in Korea even amongst gamers…Plus she’s amazingly fun to play, and my personal best.
If you haven’t noticed yet, every screen on these computers and the games are shown in Hangul, so it took some getting used to, but it was quite an immersive experience.
So why are these places so popular in Korea but incredibly rare in the United States, even gamer-hubs like Seattle? I believe it has to do with the idea of social anti-socialization that is deeply ingrained in Korea’s society, especially the youth culture as well a the strive to succeed. In the US, a social experience usually means disconnecting from technology and spending time with others undistracted, such as grabbing lunch, going bowling, or seeing a movie, the idea being that everyone is focused on the same activity together. In Korea, those activities can be done together just as easily when glued to a computer screen. Rather than go to a movie, youth will hit the PC bang with their friends, get a few rounds in with their buddies, order food (which is available in concession at most of these establishments, like a bowling alley has), and even a smoking room so that smokers don’t even have to leave the facility to take a break. It’s meant to be a place to take one’s time and enjoy together.
The second difference has to do with the focus on goals that Korean culture emphasizes that American culture simply doesn’t. American children are raised to choose their own path, take their time, and find their way through life, while Korean children are pushed to make goals and to achieve them much earlier. This turns gaming into more than just a pastime or hobby as it is in the US. It’s a form of goal-setting, so Korean gamers are much more motivated to improve their skills. Thats why E-Sports is so prevalent in Korea that Seoul has its own arena dedicated to gaming events. The hope I have is that the US can take a look at these differences and try to bridge the gap. I think the PC Bang could be extremely popular in a city like Seattle, especially if handled the same way as in Seoul…as a gathering place for local gamers to work on their skills, enjoy each other’s company, and of course, have a good time.
Until next time… 다시 한 판 해보자고!
