MORNING CALM TALES Stuck in Seoul's singing spaces
In 1990 when I arrived in Korea, I discovered that singing was practically a national pastime. I knew about karaoke in Japan, but I had no idea that Koreans had put their own spin on the phenomenon with something called noraebang. Translated literally, it means “singing room” (norae means “song,” bang means “room”), and in the early 1990s, these places were popping up on almost every corner. Here's a brief backstory: The concept of karaoke is generally credited to Japan, where, in the 1970s, Daisuke Inoue popularized the first coin-operated karaoke machines. Korea quickly adopted this technology by creating the private-room format — unlike the large, open-bar settings that are more typical in the West, the noraebang offers you and your friends a personal space to sing your hearts out. The idea surged in popularity partly because it aligned perfectly with social culture in Korea, where going out in groups — friends, coworkers, classmates — has been (and still is) a common way to unwind and connect. When I first arrived, noraebangs had small booths with karaoke machines
May 28, 2025By Jeffrey Miller
