Staffed noraebang
Go to the counter first. Tell staff how many people are singing and how long you want to stay. Confirm whether the price is per room or per person, and ask about any extra charges.
K-CULTURE · 노래방
Karaoke in Korea: your first noraebang visit
Choose a private room, find your song and sing at your own pace. Follow the photo guide, then show staff one of the 30 questions below.
Choose the right room
Coin noraebang
A compact booth for a short visit, alone or with a small group. The machine may sell songs, time or both. Read the available choices and payment instructions before adding money.
From the door to your first song
- 1
Confirm your room and total price
Ask about the room size, booked duration or song count, and any drinks or extra charges. Use the assigned room; do not walk into a booth just because its door is open.
- 2
Check the payment screen
At a kiosk, check the room number and whether you are buying time or songs. Confirm which payment methods it accepts. Keep the receipt or confirmation until your credit appears.
- 3
Get comfortable and check the microphone
Look for the screen, song selector and microphones. Ask for a fresh microphone cover if needed. Begin at a comfortable volume and keep the microphone away from speakers to avoid feedback.
- 4
Search for your song
Look for 검색 (search), 제목 (title), 가수 (artist), or an English/pop category. Try the song number from the venue’s book if typing is difficult. An English-song catalogue does not guarantee an English interface.
- 5
Queue it, then sing
Check the title and artist before pressing 예약 (queue). Use 시작 (start) when ready. A priority button may change the order, so agree with your friends before using it.
- 6
Check remaining time before extending
Look at the remaining time or song credit. Ask the price before adding more; bonus time is not guaranteed. Return equipment as requested and check your phone, wallet and belongings before leaving.
Read the Korean button labels
Layouts differ by brand and model. These are common labels, not a button-by-button map of every machine. Start and priority are different functions.
- 검색 / 제목 / 가수
- Search / Title / Artist
- 예약
- Add to the song queue
- 시작
- Start the selected song
- 취소 / 예약취소
- Stop or cancel; check the selected song first
- 우선예약
- Priority queue: changes the playing order
- 마이크 / 반주
- Microphone / backing music volume
- 음정 / 키
- Raise or lower the key
- 템포 / 에코
- Tempo / microphone echo
SHOW · LISTEN · ASK
30 questions to ask
Tap Listen in Korean, use Slowly, or show the Korean sentence to staff. Answers depend on the venue; these questions do not promise a service or a price.
Arriving & choosing a room
Do you have a room available now?
지금 이용할 수 있는 방이 있나요?Can I use a room on my own?
혼자 이용할 수 있나요?Do you have a room for two people?
두 명이 이용할 수 있는 방이 있나요?How long is the wait?
얼마나 기다려야 하나요?Can children use this room too?
아이들도 이 방을 이용할 수 있나요?Prices & what is included
How much is one hour?
한 시간에 얼마인가요?Is the price per room or per person?
요금은 방 하나 기준인가요, 한 사람 기준인가요?How many songs does this amount pay for?
이 금액으로 몇 곡 부를 수 있나요?Are there any additional charges?
추가 요금이 있나요?Are drinks included in the price?
음료가 요금에 포함되어 있나요?Paying & using the kiosk
Do you accept cards issued overseas?
해외에서 발급된 카드로 결제할 수 있나요?Can I pay in cash?
현금으로 결제할 수 있나요?Where can I exchange money for coins?
어디에서 동전으로 바꿀 수 있나요?Could you show me how to use this payment machine?
이 결제 기계 사용법을 알려 주실 수 있나요?The payment went through, but no time was added. Could you check?
결제는 됐는데 시간이 추가되지 않았어요. 확인해 주실 수 있나요?Finding your song
Are there English songs?
영어 노래가 있나요?Can I change the search language to English?
검색 언어를 영어로 바꿀 수 있나요?How do I search by song title?
노래 제목으로 어떻게 검색하나요?How do I search by artist name?
가수 이름으로 어떻게 검색하나요?Could you help me find this song?
이 노래를 찾는 것을 도와주실 수 있나요?Using the controls
How do I add a song to the queue?
노래를 어떻게 예약하나요?How do I cancel a song I added?
예약한 노래를 어떻게 취소하나요?Could you turn the microphone volume up?
마이크 소리를 높여 주실 수 있나요?Could you turn the music volume down?
반주 소리를 줄여 주실 수 있나요?How do I lower the key?
음정을 어떻게 낮추나요?Help, extra time & facilities
The microphone is not working. Could you check it?
마이크가 작동하지 않아요. 확인해 주실 수 있나요?Could I have a new microphone cover?
새 마이크 커버를 받을 수 있나요?How much time do we have left?
시간이 얼마나 남았나요?How much does it cost to add 30 minutes?
삼십 분 추가하면 얼마인가요?Where is the restroom?
화장실은 어디에 있나요?Find a nearby singing room
Further reading: Korea Tourism Organization — Dailycation: Noraebang. Confirm current prices, equipment and house rules at the venue.