I knew that when I came to Korea, I would be singing a lot of karaoke. And so I did lolol. Karaoke, or noraebang (노래방) is a super common pastime in Korea, and is deeply rooted in their culture. I personally think this is why there's a lot of talented singers in the country. Coin noraebangs typically have smaller rooms compared to regular noraebang bars, meaning they're also cheaper. It depends on the coin noraebang, but sometimes you pay at a machine near the entrance, or even in the room. People usually pay by the hour, but you can also pay by the number of songs. It's called coin noraebang, but most places accept card. Just in case, I would still recommend bringing coins.
I stuck to one branch called Rock-Q Coin Noraebang. Their facilities are always clean and neat, making them really dependable. Plus, there are plenty of of Rock-Qs around Seoul. There was one near our apartment, so I would often stop by for a karaoke session before going home lollll. But going to noraebangs alone is common in Korea, so it's not awkward at all! Maybe just the first time is...
Make sure to take a microphone cover before you enter the room! They're usually either near the front, or even inside the rooms. Make sure you also know what you want to sing if you're paying by the hour. When it comes to noraebang, time is money! The same goes for if you choose to pay by the number of songs; the machine will randomly pick a song for you if you take too long choosing lol. It has happened a couple of times, sadly.
Noraebang is super fun with friends and a great way to relieve stress if you’re looking for some solo time too.
TIP: When looking for noraebangs in the area on Naver Maps, sometimes typing it in English will not be as effective as typing it in Korean. If you're specifically looking for coin noraebangs, be sure to search in Korean (코인노래방). This will give you more accurate results, and most likely help you find what you're looking for.