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Find out more regarding women-only host bars in Gangnam, Korea
South Korea's fast economic development has actually indicated some shocking adjustments within its conservative social framework, including the rise of so-called host bars, where well-off ladies pay the matching of hundreds of dollars for male firm.
In the dark light of a basement, a lots completely groomed boys stoop in rows, calling out their names.
Muscle, with shiny boy-band hairstyles, they pack side by side into the narrow room, waiting for us to make our choice. Outside in the passage, even more of their coworkers are arriving for another night at the workplace. It is 2am, and also we are their very first customers.
Hidden under the pavements of Seoul's ritziest postcode, Gangnam, the men at Bar 123 are component of a growing industry, which expanded out of the lengthy customs of Japanese geisha and also Korea's kisaeng residences however with one vital difference - the consumers right here are all ladies.
Referred to as "host bars", these all-night drinking areas provide women consumers the opportunity to pay and also pick for male buddies, in some cases at an expense of thousands of pounds a night.
One of the ladies I satisfy at Bar 123 is Minkyoung, a waitressing manager for a first-class hotel. Once or twice a month, she claims she comes to host bars.
The appeal of host bars can be subtle. Here, she states, she has more focus from her male friends, more selection and, most importantly, more control.
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" In normal bars the men that consume with me have just one goal - to have a casual sex. I do not want that, so that's why I come below, I want to have enjoyable," she says.
Hosts are hired by bars similar to this one to give companionship as well as amusement. Officially that implies pouring beverages for their customers, dancing and chatting with them, as well as vocal singing karaoke.
Host bar in Seoul
Sex is not formally on deal in a lot of host bars. That would certainly be prohibited however also Minkyoung appears happy to flirt and also touch with her host, and also the guys below approximate that around half the consumers wish to pay for sex, either on or off the facilities.
James has been functioning at Bar 123 for a number of years. In Korean culture, he states, there is a great deal of satisfaction and working out a cost for sex is never done clearly. Instead, he informs me, it is all to the host's very own evaluation.
" The people right here are pros - we understand what we're doing," he says.
" After talking with a girl for a hr we essentially know just how much money she makes and also what she provides for a living. We've currently evaluated her personality and also what she wants to give."
James and various other hosts state their consumers include a few of South Korea's elite, which the money as well as advantages available boggle the mind. One customer James satisfied, throughout his initial week in the work, asked him to sign himself over to her for 2 years.
" She claimed 'allow's make a contract. I've got this notepad as well as I've numbered it 1-5. Whatever you jot down following to those numbers, I'll obtain you.'".
James claims at the time he took it as a joke but because discovered the very same lady spent ₤ 60,000 ($ 97,000) on an additional host.
" If it happened now, I 'd do it - I would certainly be assuming straight.".
Actually maybe, host bars outgrew one of Korea's most established and, some claim, misogynist organization customs - the area hair salon. These are private alcohol consumption spaces where teams of males select, as well as are served by, eye-catching female hostesses.
It was the people hosting' requirement to let off steam after job, states professional host Kim Dong-hee, that developed the preliminary need for host bars, with all-male personnel.
These women are compelled to do things they do not want to do for cash.
" I assume a great deal of them are in discomfort, and also a lot really feel lonesome. Put simply, they want to purchase our time as well as our bodies.".
Hostesses still comprise a big percent of the clients at host bars below, yet at Bar 123, as an example, up to 40% of the customers on a given evening are currently from other walks of life.
The factors for that expanding charm are locked up in South Korea's quick financial surge. Within 50 years, the country shifted from post-war destruction to OECD participant.
But, according to Jasper Kim, head of the Asia-Pacific Global Research Group in Seoul, something essential was shed along the method.
" I think that with all this quick development comes quick adjustment, and also Koreans simply do not understand exactly how to handle it. Progressively, capitalism is overtaking standard social standards that you would certainly anticipate a number of decades earlier.".
Jasper Kim claims South Korea's notoriously long functioning hours have actually left several Korean ladies really feeling lonely, while the country's technological advancement has actually left lots of people really feeling detached.
" The human aspect of Korean society that existed before merely does not exist today. Individuals are concentrated on modern technology, people are concentrated on their tasks, they aren't concentrated on human connections anymore.
" In many methods, Korean society today sort of advises me of 1960s culture in the United States, where it's on the brink of some type of cultural revolution.".
The grandpa of Seoul's host bar scene, Kim Dong-hee, concurs that most of the women who involve host bars are not paying for sex however for friendship, which is why he opened a new chain of freshly-marketed outlets intended at the mainstream market - called Red Model Bars.
Red Model Bar hosts.
Image caption,.
Hosts at Red Model Bars can not touch customers.
" Men want to have aesthetic pleasure and also want to feel points, they're responsive. Ladies like to chat as well as to listen. And that's why I thought about opening up a bar similar to this - a kind of dialogue bar.".
Red Model Bars are various to standard host bars in one essential regard - there is a no-touching regulation. Hosts rest on one side of the table, clients on the various other, and also no physical contact is allowed, and certainly no sex.
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Possibly because of this there is a lack of furtiveness among the people who work or consume alcohol below - the lights are reduced, the design mainly dark red and the area is split right into discreet booths, but it is an open-plan room and also hosts as well as customers are divided in each cubicle by a huge table.
This new company design depends completely on ladies paying the matching of hundreds and even countless bucks to speak to attractive boys over a drink. Still, it appears to be functioning - 3 brand-new branches are due to open this year.
Sitting at a table at one end of the bar was among their normal consumers, a floral designer called Kim Nayu. She tells me she comes below everyday to satisfy her favourite host and go over problems she is having at job.
The cost for this slice of male attention is $487-650 (₤ 300-400) a day.

" Talking to good friends would certainly be less costly" she admits, "but they don't pay attention as much. They're active, and quickly to discuss themselves. Here, people will certainly take notice of me and they'll pay attention to me.".
" I spend a great deal of cash but it's worth it for what I obtain emotionally. People pay to head to see a psycho therapist or psychoanalyst, so it's similar yet much less stressful.".
Nayu's favorite host Sung-il says it can be difficult to maintain his expert and also personal life different.
" Honestly I would certainly be existing if I state I have not been tempted to take points better with some clients, because we're human, we're males, however there are guidelines.".
Among his clients chatted a whole lot to her hubby concerning him as well as when the three of them satisfied, Sung-il and also the hubby ended up being friends.
" No one hides - the employees don't hide that they work below, and consumers can be open too.".
This openness is presenting a brand-new kind of challenge to South Korean society, various from the sometimes sleazy underworld of standard host bars as well as their hinterland of male hooking.
By providing ladies a "respectable" way to test standard sex duties and bend their financial power, these new bars ask inquiries of Korean society that are ending up being more challenging to ignore.
Listen to the full record on BBC Radio 4's Crossing Continents. You can listen by means of the Radio 4 website or via the Crossing Continents podcast.
The appeal of host bars can be subtle. Right here, she claims, she has more focus from her male buddies, even more option as well as, crucially, even more control.
James has actually been functioning at Bar 123 for a pair of years. Rather, he tells me, it is all down to the host's very own assessment.
And that's why I assumed of opening up a bar like this - a kind of dialogue bar.".


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