PC bangs are part of the reason that young Koreans have embraced the Internet with the same gusto expressed by the previous generation while industrializing the nation. Among Asian countries, South Korea has experienced the fastest and most enthusiastic explosion in Internet growth. Although they earn less than half of Japan's per capita income, Koreans spend more than their richer neighbor shopping online. Cybertrading accounts for half of the exchanges on Korea's stock market. By year-end, nearly a third of Korea's 45 million people may be online.
Government officials gush about the potential of the PC bang.
About 60 percent of PC bang customers here are glued to their monitors playing a hugely popular network video game. Plopped on comfy chairs, moving nothing but their eyeballs and a mouse, up to eight players nurture civilizations with which to annihilate one another. The real-time network game involves managing resources in an ugly futuristic world of silver drones, gooey hatcheries, and steaming volcanoes. Since it requires high-speed access, most people still can't play at home. Pro-players win thousands of dollars per tournament, and are offered movie roles and product endorsements.