PC Bangs Emerge as Unlikely Tourist Hotspots for Foreign Visitors to Korea

SEOUL, Sept. 24 (Korea Bizwire) — On a recent evening at a sprawling PC bang near Hongdae Station, the crowd was strikingly international. Foreign visitors, headphones on, were absorbed in marathon sessions of Valorant and League of Legends. Some huddled in groups, strategizing in real time, while others queued for a turn at high-powered gaming machines.

Once regarded simply as late-night haunts for students, South Korea’s internet cafés — known locally as PC bangs — are fast becoming destinations in their own right for overseas tourists.

Foreign Demand Rising

According to data from Shinhan Card’s Big Data Research Institute, the number of foreign visitors using PC bangs between January and July jumped 36 percent from a year earlier. Analysts link the surge to the broader global fascination with K-culture, from K-pop to e-sports.

At “T” PC bang in Hongdae, founded by the professional team of global star player Faker (Lee Sang-hyeok), tourists from Europe and the United States mingle with local gamers. The venue doubles as an e-sports shrine, featuring team merchandise, giant viewing screens and themed décor.

“I’ve never been to a PC bang back home — they don’t exist in Belgium,” said Youssef, a 21-year-old tourist, who described his first visit as “a mix of playing favorite games, buying team goods and meeting new players.” Another visitor, Lucas, from France, said he came “to test skills against Korean gamers” and was impressed by the sheer scale of the operation.

Employees report that foreigners now account for nearly a quarter of customers at some branches, particularly those near tourist hubs or e-sports arenas.

Food and Culture Appeal

Social media has amplified the allure. YouTube channel More Best Ever Food Review Show, with 3.4 million subscribers, recently posted a video comparing $10 and $120 PC bang meals, from tteokbokki and kimchi fried rice to waffles and honey-butter fries. The video has drawn nearly two million views and comments like, “This makes me want to go to Korea just to visit a PC bang.”

On TikTok, clips tagged “PC bang” show tourists praising the comfort, affordability and unusual menu offerings. “I spent two hours gaming and eating spam fried rice,” one user wrote. Another admitted their planned short stay stretched into five hours.

Barriers Remain

Still, obstacles remain for international visitors. Most PC bangs require prepayment or membership through kiosks that function only in Korean. At one venue, a tourist gave up after failing to navigate the machine, lamenting via translation app, “There’s no option to switch to English.”

Employees say language barriers and unfamiliar payment systems are the biggest hurdles. Some shops offer instruction leaflets, but many foreign guests end up seeking staff assistance.

Even so, as global interest in e-sports and K-culture continues to swell, South Korea’s PC bangs appear well on their way to joining the ranks of the country’s unconventional tourist attractions — alongside K-pop landmarks, themed cafés and beauty stores.

Lina Jang (linajang@koreabizwire.com)