Notes

Learn more regarding women-only host bars in Gangnam, Korea

South Korea's quick financial advancement has indicated some shocking adjustments within its traditional social structure, consisting of the rise of supposed host bars, where well-off females pay the equivalent of countless bucks for male company.

In the dim light of a basement, a lots completely groomed boys kneel in rows, calling out their names.

Muscle, with shiny boy-band hairstyles, they pack alongside into the narrow space, waiting for us to make our choice. Outside in the corridor, even more of their coworkers are showing up for another night at the office. It is 2am, and also we are their initial clients.

Covert underneath the pavements of Seoul's ritziest postal code, Gangnam, the males at Bar 123 belong to an expanding industry, which grew out of the lengthy practices of Japanese geisha and Korea's kisaeng houses but with one vital difference - the clients below are all females.

Understood as "host bars", these all-night alcohol consumption rooms supply female customers the chance to pay as well as select for male friends, often at a price of countless pounds an evening.

Among the females I satisfy at Bar 123 is Minkyoung, a waitressing supervisor for a five-star hotel. When or twice a month, she states she comes to host bars.


The attraction of host bars can be subtle. Below, she claims, she has more focus from her male buddies, even more choice and, crucially, even more control.
PROMOTION



" In normal bars the individuals who consume with me have just one objective - to have an one-night stand. However I don't desire that, to ensure that's why I come below, I intend to enjoy," she says.

Hosts are hired by bars such as this one to offer friendship and home entertainment. Formally that suggests pouring drinks for their customers, speaking and also dancing with them, and also vocal singing karaoke.

Host bar in Seoul
Sex is not formally available in most host bars. That would certainly be prohibited but even Minkyoung seems happy to touch and tease with her host, and also the males right here estimate that around half the clients desire to pay for sex, either on or off the premises.

James has actually been functioning at Bar 123 for a couple of years. In Korean society, he claims, there is a whole lot of satisfaction as well as bargaining a price for sex is never done explicitly. Instead, he informs me, it is all down to the host's very own assessment.

" The guys below are pros - we understand what we're doing," he says.

" After speaking to a lady for an hour we generally recognize just how much money she makes and also what she does for a living. We've already evaluated her character and also what she agrees to give."

James and other hosts claim their consumers include some of South Korea's elite, and also that the cash as well as perks available are unbelievable. One customer James satisfied, during his initial week in the task, asked him to sign himself over to her for two years.

" She stated 'allow's make an agreement. I've got this notepad and I've numbered it 1-5. Whatever you document beside those numbers, I'll get you.'".

James states at the time he took it as a joke yet because found out the same woman spent ₤ 60,000 ($ 97,000) on an additional host.

" If it occurred currently, I 'd do it - I 'd be assuming straight.".

Actually perhaps, host bars outgrew one of Korea's most entrenched and, some claim, misogynist company practices - the area salon. These are exclusive drinking spaces where teams of males choose, and are offered by, eye-catching women people hosting.

강남호빠 It was the hostesses' requirement to allow off steam after work, claims professional host Kim Dong-hee, that produced the preliminary need for host bars, with all-male personnel.

These ladies are forced to do things they don't want to do for cash.

" I assume a great deal of them are in discomfort, as well as a great deal feel lonesome. Merely put, they intend to get our time and also our bodies.".

Hostesses still compose a big portion of the clients at host bars below, however at Bar 123, as an example, up to 40% of the customers on a provided evening are currently from various other strolls of life.

The factors for that expanding appeal are bound in South Korea's fast financial increase. Within 50 years, the nation changed from post-war destruction to OECD participant.

According to Jasper Kim, head of the Asia-Pacific Global Research Group in Seoul, something important was shed along the method.

" I believe that with all this quick growth comes quick modification, as well as Koreans just don't know just how to deal with it. Significantly, capitalism is overtaking standard societal standards that you would certainly anticipate a couple of years back.".

Jasper Kim claims South Korea's notoriously lengthy functioning hrs have actually left many Korean women feeling lonely, while the country's technical development has actually left many individuals feeling separated.

" The human component of Korean culture that existed in the past simply doesn't exist today. Individuals are concentrated on technology, individuals are concentrated on their jobs, they aren't concentrated on human connections anymore.

" In numerous means, Korean culture today type of reminds me of 1960s culture in the US, where it's on the verge of some kind of cultural revolution.".

The grandfather of Seoul's host bar scene, Kim Dong-hee, concurs that most of the females that involve host bars are not spending for sex but also for companionship, which is why he opened up a brand-new chain of freshly-marketed electrical outlets aimed at the mainstream market - called Red Model Bars.

Red Model Bar hosts.
Photo subtitle,.
Hosts at Red Model Bars can not touch clients.
" Men want to have visual satisfaction and also desire to really feel things, they're responsive. Females like to speak as well as to listen. Which's why I considered opening a bar like this - a sort of discussion bar.".

Red Model Bars are different to standard host bars in one crucial regard - there is a no-touching regulation. Hosts rest on one side of the table, customers on the various other, and also no physical call is permitted, as well as absolutely no sex.

Maybe because of this there is an absence of furtiveness amongst the people who work or consume alcohol here - the lights are reduced, the style mostly dark red and also the area is split into very discreet cubicles, however it is an open-plan area and also consumers and hosts are divided in each booth by a large table.

This brand-new service version depends totally on ladies paying the matching of hundreds and even countless bucks to talk with fine-looking young males over a drink. Still, it seems to be functioning - three new branches are because of open this year.

Sitting at a table at one end of the bar was among their routine consumers, a flower shop called Kim Nayu. She tells me she comes below daily to fulfill her preferred host as well as review concerns she is having at work.

The cost for this slice of male focus is $487-650 (₤ 300-400) a day.

" Talking to buddies would be less costly" she confesses, "yet they don't pay attention as much. They're busy, as well as in a hurry to speak concerning themselves. Right here, individuals will take note of me as well as they'll listen to me.".

" I invest a lot of money however it deserves it for what I obtain emotionally. People pay to head to see a psychologist or psychoanalyst, so it's similar yet much less demanding.".

Nayu's favorite host Sung-il claims it can be difficult to maintain his specialist as well as personal life separate.

" Honestly I would certainly be existing if I claim I have not been lured to take things further with some consumers, because we're human, we're men, but there are regulations.".

Among his clients talked a lot to her hubby regarding him and when the three of them met, Sung-il and the spouse became buddies.

" No one conceals - the employees do not hide that they function below, as well as customers can be open as well.".

This openness is posing a brand-new type of obstacle to South Korean society, various from the often shabby underworld of conventional host bars as well as their hinterland of male prostitution.

By supplying ladies a "reputable" method to challenge traditional sex roles as well as flex their economic power, these new bars ask inquiries of Korean culture that are becoming tougher to overlook.

Listen to the complete record on BBC Radio 4's Crossing Continents. You can pay attention using the Radio 4 web site or via the Crossing Continents podcast.


The allure of host bars can be subtle. Here, she states, she has more interest from her male friends, more choice and, most importantly, even more control.
James has been functioning at Bar 123 for a pair of years. Rather, he tells me, it is all down to the host's own analysis.

And also that's why I thought of opening up a bar like this - a kind of dialogue bar.".
Read More: https://kangnamhoppa.com/