Spread of Mobile and Console Games...
No More Reason to Visit PC Rooms
Industry Seeks Survival Through AI and Food Integration
Experts: "Urgent Need for Tailored Support Measures"
PC rooms, once a hugely popular hangout spot for teenagers and young adults, are now experiencing a rapid decline. At their peak, there were more than 10,000 establishments nationwide, but over the past five years, more than 3,000 have closed, dropping the total below 7,000. Analysts attribute this sharp fall in usage among teens and people in their twenties primarily to the continued rise of mobile and console games.
Spread of Mobile and Console Games... No More Reason to Visit PC Rooms
According to the National Tax Statistics Portal (TASIS) on September 2, the number of PC rooms dropped from 9,459 in August 2018 to 6,990 as of July this year, a decline of 2,469 in five years. Even the 7,000 mark, which had barely been maintained, has now been breached. The expansion of high-performance PCs at home since the COVID-19 pandemic and the explosive growth of the mobile gaming market have led to a widespread perception that "there is no real need to go to a PC room." Industry insiders even pessimistically estimate that, considering PC rooms that have not officially reported closure, the actual number of operating PC rooms may be below 6,500.
In fact, according to the Korea Creative Content Agency's "Game User Survey," the percentage of people visiting PC rooms at least once a week plummeted from 12.1% in 2023 to 7.4% last year. Conversely, the proportion of respondents who said they never use PC rooms increased from 43.2% to 52.8% over the same period. This shows that PC rooms have shifted from being an "essential gaming space" to a place people "no longer feel the need to visit."
Industry Seeks Survival Through AI and Food Integration
While user numbers are dropping rapidly, operating costs such as rent, electricity, and maintenance are actually rising, increasing the management burden. Some establishments are attempting to survive by transforming from "gaming spaces" into "multi-service spaces." There is a growing trend of strengthening food and beverage sales or incorporating artificial intelligence (AI) to provide personalized services to users.
For example, Big Picture Interactive's management program "World Class" increases repeat visits with its mission and tournament features, while its AI-powered recommendation menu suggests energy drinks to long-term users and watermelon juice in the summer, generating additional revenue. Industry insiders explain that such efforts are "survival strategies to move beyond simple gaming spaces and evolve into comprehensive entertainment platforms."
Experts: "Urgent Need for Tailored Support Measures"
Experts point out that the culture of visiting PC rooms with friends has declined since COVID-19, and the shift toward mobile and console-based solo gaming has made the contraction of the PC room industry inevitable. They emphasize, "The decrease in PC rooms is not just the decline of a single industry, but a fundamental change in the leisure consumption patterns of teenagers and young adults." They add, "It is necessary to develop new environments where young people can gather and to prepare tailored support measures so that self-employed business owners can adapt to the changing landscape."
© The Asia Business Daily(www.asiae.co.kr). All rights reserved.
