Once crowded with young generations, the PC room is on the path of decline.
The number of PC cafe operators nationwide stood at 7,389 in August, down 26% from December 2019, before the pandemic, according to the IRS statistical portal TASIS.
By region, the number of PC rooms decreased significantly in major regions such as Songpa-gu, Gangnam-gu, and Gwanak-gu in Seoul, and nearly halved in Busan.
The main reasons for the decline in PC rooms are the decrease in the use of the younger generation and the increase in fixed costs.
As of 2022, mobile game sales accounted for 64.4% of sales, far outpacing PC games (28.6%), and the need for PC rooms is decreasing as personal distribution of high-performance PCs increases.
In addition, the absence of popular PC games is also accelerating the downturn in PC rooms.
In response, industry officials point out that the days when PC room start-ups were possible with small capital are over.
Since most PC rooms are operated 24 hours a day, huge electricity bills are fixed, and the cost of hiring part-timers is also increasing due to the rise in the minimum wage.
In the end, PC owners are facing a situation where it's hard to hold on anymore, and business closures are continuing.
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