Pubs and noraebang suffer post-Covid as Koreans' after-work activities evolve

Industry

Published: 03 Aug. 2022, 17:31 Updated: 03 Aug. 2022, 19:34

Pubs and noraebang suffer post-Covid as Koreans' after-work activities evolve

The number of pubs in the country fell 4.9 percent while that of small bars dropped 7.5 percent on year in May, according to the National Tax Service on Tuesday. [YONHAP]

The owner of a noraebang (singing room) in Seocho District, southern Seoul, is planning to shut down and consider switching to another business.

“I thought to myself, everything will be better once the pandemic ends and once all social distancing measures are lifted; but in reality, that has not been the case,” the owner said.

“The summer holiday may be affecting low sales currently, but sales are still at half the level of those before the pandemic.”

The Covid-19 pandemic has completely overhauled the leisure culture in Korea. PC bang (internet cafes), noraebang and pubs are still suffering from low sales even though the social distancing regulations have been lifted.

There were 9,312 PC bang in the country in May, down 3 percent on year from the same month last year.

The number of noraebang fell 1.8 percent during the same period to 27,754.

The situation was tougher for pubs and bars. There were 26,481 pubs in May, down 5 percent on year, and 866 small bars, a 7.5 percent on-year decline.

Meanwhile, some other businesses that were also heavily affected by the pandemic are rapidly recovering.

Travel agencies are a prime example. More travel agencies opened up this year, with the number standing at 13,930 in May, up 3.8 percent on year. The figure is only slightly down from the 14,046 in May 2020.

Other facilities that require face-to-face services are even expanding their businesses.

The number of gyms increased by 19.9 percent, and that of screen golf facilities surged 22.1 percent.

Openings of other sports facilities, such as tennis and table tennis facilities, are also rising.

Experts say the end of the Covid-19 pandemic will not be the answer to all the problems of the then-popular entertainment facilities. The leisure culture has changed, and a growing number of people now value more of a work-life balance and want to get off work and enjoy their after-work life.

A decline in hoesik, or after-work dinners with colleagues, is one driving factor. Pubs and noraebang were go-tos when having hoesik.

“The so-called MZ generation values their personal life more than the community or the company they belong to,” said Lee Byoung-hoon, a sociology professor at Chung-Ang University.

“The country’s safety measures have also hastened the structural change of self-employed businesses.”

The low fertility rate and a structural change in the population has also contributed to the change.

The rapidly shrinking population of teenagers and those in their 20s has heavily affected businesses, including that of PC bang and noraebang, as the younger population is the major customer of these businesses.

The population of those aged 10 to 29 dropped from around 13.2 million in 2010 to 11.5 million in 2021, according to Statistics Korea.

“The young generation who quickly adjusts to changes have been playing games at home or with their phones for the past two years,” said a PC bang owner who asked not to be named.

BY JEONG JIN-HO [cho.jungwoo1@joongang.co.kr]