Singing your Seoul out in Noraebang!

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Say hello to your new favorite hobby

One of the most fun things I have ever done in South Korea (so far) is going to a 노래방 (Noraebang)! Also known as karaoke in English, noraebang is a popular activity to do with friends at the end of the night to sort of wrap things up. Whether you are a good singer or a good screecher, noraebang is for everyone! Personally, I love singing (and I’m very loud), to the point where for my Quinceañera I was gifted my own karaoke machine! So when I learned how popular noraebang is in Korea, I knew I had to check it out.

There are different types of noraebang depending on how large your group is and activities you want to do while you’re singing (like eating or drinking). I’ve been to both the Coin Noraebang and the larger/group noraebang, and both were equally fun!

Coin Noraebang is usually the cheapest and has the least amount of frills. The ‘coin’ part comes from the fact that you can pay coins or insert small bills to pay directly into the machine. I paid ￦7,000 for an hour-long session.

The rooms are small and can seat 1-4 people. It comes with a big TV, a few mics (plus mic covers), and a tablet, as well as a large binder-style book you can use to look up songs and artists. They have Korean, English, and Japanese songs, and depending on which ones you go to, there’s also Vietnamese, Spanish, and Filipino music you can choose from as well. Outside of the noraebang rooms, there are sometimes drink vending machines, but eating inside isn’t allowed. Coin Noraebang is the cheapest and the best for solo singing or with a small group of friends. Overall, it’s accessible and perfect if you just want to focus on singing your favorite songs. 

The other type of noraebang I’ve tried is a larger, group-style noraebang, which is great for bigger gatherings and has such a fun atmosphere. These rooms usually fit around 7–10 people, and some places require reservations ahead of time. Eating inside is allowed, so it’s common to step outside of your room to go up to the front desk to pay for your snacks. However, at newer noraebangs, you can order a wide selection of food and drinks from the tablet, and they get delivered to your room. Other than the space set-up and food upgrade, this Noraebang is very similar to Coin Noraebang and has the same tablet, book, and mic setup. Overall, these are fun because you can have a larger group of people singing together, and it’s a more relaxed setting for talking, singing, and most importantly, getting to spend time with new friends! 

Whether you are a solo singer or a group leader, I would 100% recommend exploring the different Noraebangs when you’re in Seoul! It’s a great way to keep the night going or end a night out with friends.

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