sarangbang

Sarangbang is a traditional Korean private parlor or living room that was historically used by the male members of a household in a hanok. The term is commonly translated as "men's room" or "men's parlor," reflecting its function in a gender-segregated domestic space and its role as a main seating and reception area.

In the Joseon period, households organized space according to social roles. The sarangbang was typically located on the front side of the house and served for reading, writing, discussing affairs with guests, and tea drinking. It contrasted with the women's quarters, such as the anbang, which were used for private family life and domestic tasks. The room was usually furnished with low wooden tables, floor seating with cushions, and shelves for books and writing materials, with restrained decoration and often warm underfloor heating (ondol).

In modern Korea, the term endures in reference to traditional architecture and can denote a public or semi-public lounge or study in hanok accommodations, or a living area in contemporary homes that preserves the label. The sarangbang remains a cultural symbol of historic male-centered spaces and scholarly culture, even as domestic layouts have evolved.

See also: anbang, hanok, ondol.