I am learning how to read Korean with the assistance of this website learnlangs.com. So far it has been great. After just a few hours of studying last night I am able to read and understand some Korean. (For example – I was able to recognize word sauna last night at the gym).

One thing I did not understand was why the Korean word for karaoke is 노래방 (no rae bang). It confused me because I was told that the Korean word for singing is nolaehaneun.

I was doing some practice exercises in a Beginner’s Korean book last night and I saw the word for song is 노래. I had an aha moment and understood why it is called no re bang. The literal translation is song room, it finally made sense.

I have decided that the 노래방 is slightly hazardous to my health. After a party this past weekend a handful of us went there. I didn’t get home until six o’clock in the morning and I have a few small bruises on my hip from the tambourine. It was a lot of fun to be a kasu (가수) for a night but everything in moderation.