Entrance to the Pink Tiger arcade in Sosabeol district, Pyeongtaek, South Korea, Sept. 13, 2023. (Christopher Green/Stars and Stripes)
The word arcade unleashes a flood of fun, youthful memories, of pockets stuffed with quarters and high scores waiting to be bested.
Remember running to classic machines like Street Fighter, Mortal Kombat and Space Invaders?
Although traditional American arcades can be fun, they have nothing on the South Korean arcades, especially the Pink Tiger, a two-story gaming site in Pyeongtaek city, where Camp Humphreys and Osan Air Base are located.
Pink Tiger, in the Sosabeol commercial district of the city, is one of the most popular attractions in Pyeongtaek. It is surrounded by plenty of restaurants, themed cafés and other activities.
On the first floor, Pink Tiger has sports-themed games, including shooting ranges, archery, baseball, football, bowling, darts, and virtual reality and racing games.
On the second floor, gamers will find basketball hoops, claw machines and arcade machines where they may win prizes like plushies and other small toys. The upper level also has several rooms for karaoke.
A one-hour, unlimited-use pass for one costs 17,000 won.
My personal favorite were VR games. It was a very immersive experience. I played almost every game from modern takes on VR to older games like Street Fighter.
The Pink Tiger is a wonderful place for families and friends. Reservations are available for parties of up to 50 people. If you want to relive the good old days or make memories with your kids, visit Pink Tiger.
Pink Tiger
Address: Gyeonggi-do, Pyeongtaek-si, Bijeon-dong, 1100-3 Seoul, South Korea
Directions: A 30-minute drive from Osan Air Base or by bus from Pyeongtaek Station.
Times: Open 1 p.m. to 12 a.m. Monday through Thursday, 12 p.m. to 12 a.m. Friday and 11 a.m. to 12 a.m. Saturday and Sunday,
Costs: One hour Monday to Thursday, 17,000 won. Two hours Friday to Sunday, 20,000 won.
Food: A bar inside the arcade with snacks, beer, and other drinks and various restaurants around the arcade.
Information: 010-9959-3889; online: https://blog.naver.com/tjalsrb321
