When you arrive in Seoul, the first thing that strikes you is the music everywhere. You can hear it in cafes, in the shops, in the streets, and, most of all, in small private singing rooms, called norebang. Go to highly visited places like Hongdae, Gangnam or Myeongdong and you will come across bright signs asking you to come in and sing your heart out. Norebang is also a popular activity in Seoul and is loved by students, families, workers, and tourists. This is not a boring activity and its history is long.

This article will give you some insight into the origin of norebang, its development, and the reasons it is so relevant to South Korean culture even today.

How Singing Became Part of Korean Life

Koreans had been singing a large proportion of their daily lives long before the modern norebang rooms came into picture. Korean culture had a variety of music, folk songs which were sung by peasants and fishermen, up to royal music performed at a ceremony. Individuals would sing together whenever there was a festival and celebration or even when they were in the community. One of the methods to express emotions, to relieve stress and to unite people was singing.

Thus, when karaoke technology started spreading to Asia, it was not hard to be embraced by Koreans. People already loved to sing and the thought of singing for fun in a non-stressful environment was quite natural.

How Karaoke Arrived in Korea

Karaoke was originally introduced in Japan in the 1970s when instruments of the popular songs started to be played in bars by machines. The concept soon spread to other Asian nations, including South Korea. Initially, Koreans used to have karaoke in open areas such as big restaurants or entertainment halls. These primitive arrangements used to include a microphone, speakers, and a screen with lyrics. But it was not the case with all people who were shy of singing in front of strangers. This gave rise to the concept of designing small rooms where small groups could sing together easily. The idea served as the basis for norebang.

The Start of the Norebang

The term norebang is translated as the singing room in Korean. These are individual singing rooms that were initially found in South Korea in the late 1980s and the early 1990s. The economy of the country was swiftly growing and numerous new entertainment industries were being established. Citizens were working long hours and they required destinations where they could unwind after a hectic day. A perfect escape was found in the norebang rooms.

A norebang usually consisted of a microphone, a television screen displaying the lyrics, and a machine with hundreds of songs. Throughout the years, the technology went overboard with more sound systems, colorful lighting and touch screen menus. By the mid-nineties, norebang was already an ordinary part of the Seoul nightlife and particularly a popular karaoke in Gangnam.

Korean Work Culture and Norebang

The Korean work culture is one of the significant factors that made norebang popular. Workers also participate in group dinners or post-work outings known as hoesik, where colleagues partake in meals, alcohol and connect without going to work. Here, the group usually visits a norebang after such meals. Together singing breaks away the formalities and everybody can relax. It establishes a cordial field to laugh with your boss, congratulate your co-worker or just have fun. This culture ensured that norebang was a significant social venue rather than merely an entertainment venue.

Norebang Experience with Technology

Norebang rooms have now become more comfortable and sophisticated over the years. Most of the destinations now feature good speakers, special effects on echo, and bright neon lights to make it seem like a party. There are even giant-screen rooms or moving graphics in some rooms that make singing more exciting.

Touch-screen song menus enable you to find the songs fast and wireless microphones enable you to move around and dance easily. There are even some norebang businesses that offer snacks, beverages, and themed rooms so that they can have a special atmosphere.

Coin-operated norebang rooms are also available today, in particular in shopping streets and around universities. The smaller rooms allow paying for only one or two songs, so they are ideal for having a quick source of entertainment or relieving stress.

From a young age, we are told for a long time to pursue careers that will make sure that we are financially stable for the rest of our lives.  Some of these jobs are usually those that are found in the private sector, such as doctors, lawyers, and even financial advisors. These are the kind of jobs that people want to pursue, as it usually guarantees financial safety and also makes them an important member of society.

However, there is a reason that these jobs provide financial security and this is because they are extremely difficult to do and even more difficult to get into. This is especially the case when it comes to studying a subject like finance and accounting. Millions of people choose to study these subjects in higher education, which means the market surrounding that particular subject is extremely congested. Because of this fact, most people will either fail to make it to the end of their education, or they won’t be able to make it in such a competitive job market.

Because of this fact, it is important that you achieve the best possible grade that is available to you, as this will make you stand out in the extremely busy market. Here are our 8 helpful tips for studying finance and accounting.

Constant practice

The most common habit of any student is to try not to think about their work when they are away from their course. If you are someone that is studying accountancy, then you don’t really have the luxury of stepping away from your work and focusing on other topics. This is because you have to constantly ensure that you are practicing and preparing for quick mathematics. Maths is something that you need to be able to do off the top of your head, especially if you are looking for work in the industry. For example, if you want to work for an agency that provides qualified personal injury leads, they won’t want you to take a long time to be able to complete simple maths.

Keep a notebook

One of the best tools that you could keep when completing your qualifications is a notebook. A lot of people make the mistake of not keeping a note of what they learn while they are going through the education. This means they often forget useful tips or methods which could make their learning much easier.

Practice with peers

The best people to work with while you are trying to get your qualifications are people that are in the same boat as you. More often than not, these people will have also thought of their own methods and ways to combat some of the equations that you will have struggled with in the past, and vice versa.

Practical application

One of the best ways that you can learn how to be better at quick maths is by applying it whenever you possibly can. Maths can be applied to pretty much every situation that you may encounter, so it’ll do you no harm to try and apply maths whenever you can. This will strengthen your own knowledge and also make a lot of simple maths easier.

Accept additional help

When you are completing further education you are essentially paying for a service. Because of this, your educational institution will do all that they can to make it appear as though they are worth the price that you are paying. As a result of this, it is likely that they will offer you a lot of additional help which will allow you to combat any problems you may be having, so be sure to take advantage of everything that is being offered to you.

Throw away the calculator

One way that you can really let yourself down when trying to get your accounting qualification is by depending too much on your calculator during your everyday life. Doing so can really make you forget how to do simple equations, which could really let you down.

Understand

Another important tip when it comes to studying for your qualification is really understanding the equations that you are doing. It is easy to memorize some of your work, but it is far more beneficial that you understand how the equation really works as this will make learning a far easier process.

Take time to look after yourself

One of the most important elements of studying properly for any exam is making sure that you are looking after yourself. Among all of the stress of education and exams, students can quickly become overwhelmed which is only detrimental to their potential grades. Ensure that you are getting plenty of sleep, as well as eating a balanced and healthy diet. This will keep your brain healthy, which will help you study.