Notes

Find out more regarding women-only host bars in Gangnam, Korea
South Korea's quick economic growth has actually indicated some startling changes within its conventional social framework, including the surge of supposed host bars, where wealthy ladies pay the equivalent of countless bucks for male business.
In the dark light of a basement, a loads flawlessly brushed young guys kneel in rows, calling out their names.
Muscle, with shiny boy-band hairstyles, they cram side-by-side into the narrow space, awaiting us to make our choice. Outdoors in the corridor, more of their colleagues are getting here for one more evening at the office. It is 2am, and we are their initial consumers.
Covert under the sidewalks of Seoul's ritziest postcode, Gangnam, the guys at Bar 123 become part of an expanding industry, which grew out of the long traditions of Japanese geisha and also Korea's kisaeng houses but with one important difference - the customers right here are all females.
Referred to as "host bars", these all-night drinking spaces offer female customers the opportunity to pay as well as choose for male companions, sometimes at a price of countless extra pounds a night.
One of the females I meet at Bar 123 is Minkyoung, a waitressing manager for a five-star resort. She states she involves host bars when or two times a month.
Minkyoung is very rather and her garments are spotless. She does not look like someone that would certainly require to pay for male firm. Yet the attraction of host bars can be refined. Right here, she says, she has more interest from her male buddies, even more option as well as, most importantly, even more control.
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" In normal bars the guys that drink with me have just one goal - to have an one-night stand. However I don't desire that, to make sure that's why I come right here, I intend to have fun," she claims.
Hosts are worked with by bars similar to this one to offer companionship and amusement. Formally that means putting drinks for their customers, dancing and also talking with them, as well as singing karaoke.
Host bar in Seoul
Sex is not officially available in a lot of host bars. That would certainly be unlawful but also Minkyoung seems satisfied to touch and tease with her host, as well as the men right here estimate that around half the customers desire to pay for sex, either on or off the properties.
James has been working at Bar 123 for a pair of years. In Korean society, he claims, there is a great deal of satisfaction and also negotiating a rate for sex is never ever done clearly. Rather, he tells me, it is all to the host's very own analysis.
" The people right here are pros - we understand what we're doing," he claims.
" After speaking to a woman for an hour we generally know just how much cash she makes and what she does for a living. We've already evaluated her personality and also what she wants to give."
James as well as various other hosts state their clients consist of several of South Korea's elite, and also that the cash as well as perks available are extraordinary. One customer James satisfied, throughout his first week in the job, asked him to authorize himself over to her for 2 years.
" She said 'let's make an agreement. I've obtained this notepad and I've numbered it 1-5. Whatever you document beside those numbers, I'll get you.'".
James claims at the time he took it as a joke but since figured out the exact same woman invested ₤ 60,000 ($ 97,000) on one more host.
" If it took place now, I would certainly do it - I would certainly be thinking straight.".
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Paradoxically perhaps, host bars grew out of among Korea's most established as well as, some say, misogynist company customs - the room hair salon. These are personal drinking rooms where groups of males choose, and also are offered by, eye-catching women hostesses.
It was the hostesses' demand to let off steam after job, claims expert host Kim Dong-hee, that created the first demand for host bars, with all-male personnel.
These ladies are compelled to do points they do not want to do for cash.
" I think a lot of them are in pain, and also a whole lot feel lonesome. Put simply, they want to purchase our time and also our bodies.".
People hosting still make up a big portion of the customers at host bars here, but at Bar 123, for instance, as much as 40% of the consumers on a given night are currently from other profession.
The factors for that expanding charm are linked up in South Korea's rapid financial surge. Within 50 years, the nation shifted from post-war devastation to OECD participant.
According to Jasper Kim, head of the Asia-Pacific Global Research Group in Seoul, something vital was lost along the means.
" I think that with all this fast growth comes rapid adjustment, as well as Koreans just do not understand how to cope with it. Progressively, commercialism is overtaking basic societal standards that you would anticipate a couple of years back.".

Jasper Kim says South Korea's notoriously long working hrs have left lots of Korean ladies really feeling lonely, while the country's technical advancement has left several individuals really feeling detached.
" The human component of Korean culture that existed before just doesn't exist today. People are concentrated on modern technology, people are focused on their jobs, they aren't concentrated on human connections any longer.
" In several means, Korean culture today sort of advises me of 1960s culture in the US, where it's on the edge of some sort of social transformation.".
The grandfather of Seoul's host bar scene, Kim Dong-hee, agrees that a lot of the women that concern host bars are not spending for sex however, for friendship, which is why he opened a brand-new chain of freshly-marketed electrical outlets intended at the mainstream market - called Red Model Bars.
Red Model Bar hosts.
Photo caption,.
Hosts at Red Model Bars can not touch customers.
" Men wish to have aesthetic satisfaction and intend to really feel points, they're tactile. Females like to talk as well as to listen. And that's why I thought about opening up a bar such as this - a sort of discussion bar.".
Red Model Bars are different to traditional host bars in one vital regard - there is a no-touching guideline. Hosts remain on one side of the table, customers on the other, and also no physical contact is permitted, and also certainly no sex.
Possibly because of this there is an absence of furtiveness among the individuals who work or consume alcohol here - the lights are low, the design generally dark red as well as the space is divided right into very discreet cubicles, however it is an open-plan area as well as consumers and hosts are split in each booth by a huge table.
This new organization design depends totally on ladies paying the matching of hundreds or even thousands of dollars to speak with attractive boys over a beverage. Still, it seems to be working - three brand-new branches are due to open this year.
Sitting at a table at one end of the bar was among their regular customers, a floral designer called Kim Nayu. She informs me she comes right here every day to fulfill her much-loved host and discuss issues she is having at work.
The price for this slice of male focus is $487-650 (₤ 300-400) a day.
" Talking to good friends would certainly be less costly" she admits, "however they don't pay attention as much. They're active, and in a rush to speak about themselves. Right here, people will certainly focus on me as well as they'll pay attention to me.".
" I spend a great deal of cash however it's worth it of what I get emotionally. People pay to go to see a psychologist or psychiatrist, so it's comparable yet much less difficult.".
Nayu's favourite host Sung-il claims it can be difficult to keep his professional as well as individual life different.
" Honestly I would certainly be existing if I claim I have not been tempted to take points further with some customers, since we're human, we're males, yet there are regulations.".
One of his consumers talked a lot to her husband concerning him and also when the three of them fulfilled, Sung-il and also the other half became close buddies.
" No one hides - the workers don't conceal that they work here, and also consumers can be open as well.".
This openness is positioning a new kind of obstacle to South Korean culture, various from the often seedy abyss of traditional host bars and also their hinterland of male prostitution.
By supplying ladies a "reputable" means to test traditional gender duties and flex their financial power, these brand-new bars ask inquiries of Korean culture that are coming to be more difficult to disregard.
Hear the complete report on BBC Radio 4's Crossing Continents. You can listen using the Radio 4 site or using the Crossing Continents podcast.
The appeal of host bars can be subtle. Right here, she says, she has more interest from her male companions, more choice as well as, crucially, more control.
James has actually been functioning at Bar 123 for a couple of years. Instead, he tells me, it is all down to the host's own evaluation.
And that's why I thought of opening a bar like this - a kind of discussion bar.".


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