Notes

Figure out even more concerning women-only host bars in Gangnam, Korea
South Korea's fast economic advancement has actually meant some surprising modifications within its conventional social framework, including the increase of so-called host bars, where rich women pay the equivalent of hundreds of dollars for male firm.
In the dim light of a below ground space, a lots perfectly brushed boys stoop in rows, calling out their names.
Muscular, with shiny boy-band hairstyles, they cram alongside right into the narrow space, awaiting us to make our option. Outdoors in the corridor, even more of their coworkers are showing up for an additional night at the office. It is 2am, and we are their first clients.
Concealed beneath the pavements of Seoul's ritziest postal code, Gangnam, the men at Bar 123 are part of an expanding industry, which expanded out of the long practices of Japanese geisha and also Korea's kisaeng houses but with one essential distinction - the clients below are all ladies.
Referred to as "host bars", these all-night drinking spaces provide women clients the chance to pay as well as choose for male buddies, occasionally at an expense of countless extra pounds an evening.
One of the women I satisfy at Bar 123 is Minkyoung, a waitressing manager for a five-star hotel. She claims she involves host bars as soon as or twice a month.
The appeal of host bars can be refined. Below, she states, she has more focus from her male friends, even more option as well as, most importantly, more control.
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" In normal bars the individuals that consume alcohol with me have just one objective - to have a casual sex. I don't want that, so that's why I come right here, I desire to have enjoyable," she states.
Hosts are employed by bars such as this one to give companionship and enjoyment. Officially that means putting beverages for their consumers, chatting as well as dancing with them, as well as singing karaoke.
Host bar in Seoul
Sex is not formally available in many host bars. That would certainly be unlawful but even Minkyoung seems delighted to tease and also touch with her host, as well as the males here approximate that around half the consumers wish to spend for sex, either on or off the facilities.
James has actually been functioning at Bar 123 for a number of years. In Korean society, he states, there is a great deal of pride and working out a rate for sex is never ever done explicitly. Instead, he informs me, it is all to the host's own assessment.
" The individuals right here are pros - we recognize what we're doing," he says.
" After talking with a woman for a hr we primarily recognize just how much cash she makes and also what she does for a living. We've already evaluated her personality as well as what she agrees to provide."
James and other hosts claim their consumers consist of a few of South Korea's elite, which the cash and perks on deal boggle the mind. One customer James met, throughout his first week in the job, asked him to sign himself over to her for two years.
" She said 'allow's make an agreement. I've got this paper and I've numbered it 1-5. Whatever you create down following to those numbers, I'll obtain you.'".
James says at the time he took it as a joke however considering that discovered the same female invested ₤ 60,000 ($ 97,000) on one more host.
" If it occurred currently, I would certainly do it - I would certainly be believing straight.".
Actually maybe, host bars outgrew one of Korea's most entrenched and also, some claim, misogynist business practices - the space salon. These are personal drinking areas where teams of guys choose, as well as are offered by, appealing female hostesses.
It was the people hosting' demand to allow off vapor after job, states expert host Kim Dong-hee, that developed the first need for host bars, with all-male staff.
" What these people hosting desire is to [make us] do the same point they had to carry out in their very own workplace. These girls are required to do points they do not wish to do for cash.
" I think a whole lot of them are in pain, and a whole lot really feel lonely. Basically, they wish to purchase our time as well as our bodies.".
Hostesses still comprise a huge percent of the customers at host bars below, however at Bar 123, for example, as much as 40% of the consumers on a given evening are now from various other profession.
The factors for that expanding charm are locked up in South Korea's rapid financial rise. Within 50 years, the country changed from post-war destruction to OECD member.
According to Jasper Kim, head of the Asia-Pacific Global Research Group in Seoul, something essential was lost along the method.
" I believe that with all this fast growth comes rapid adjustment, and Koreans just don't understand how to cope with it. Increasingly, commercialism is surpassing standard social norms that you would certainly expect a pair of decades earlier.".
Jasper Kim says South Korea's notoriously long functioning hours have actually left several Korean women feeling lonely, while the nation's technical advance has left many individuals feeling removed.
" The human aspect of Korean culture that existed before simply doesn't exist today. People are concentrated on technology, people are concentrated on their jobs, they aren't concentrated on human connections any longer.
" In numerous methods, Korean society today kind of advises me of 1960s culture in the US, where it's on the verge of some sort of cultural revolution.".
The grandfather of Seoul's host bar scene, Kim Dong-hee, agrees that a number of the females who involve host bars are not paying for sex but also for companionship, which is why he opened up a brand-new chain of freshly-marketed outlets intended at the mainstream market - called Red Model Bars.
Red Model Bar hosts.
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Hosts at Red Model Bars can not touch customers.
" Men desire to have visual enjoyment and intend to feel things, they're tactile. Females like to talk as well as to listen. And also that's why I assumed of opening a bar such as this - a kind of dialogue bar.".
Red Model Bars are various to standard host bars in one vital respect - there is a no-touching rule. Hosts sit on one side of the table, customers on the other, as well as no physical get in touch with is enabled, and also definitely no sex.
Perhaps as a result there is an absence of furtiveness amongst the individuals who function or consume alcohol right here - the lights are low, the design mostly dark red as well as the area is divided into discreet cubicles, yet it is an open-plan area as well as hosts and consumers are separated in each cubicle by a large table.
This new company version depends totally on women paying the matching of hundreds or also hundreds of dollars to speak to attractive young men over a drink. Still, it appears to be working - 3 new branches are because of open this year.
Sitting at a table at one end of bench was among their normal customers, a floral designer called Kim Nayu. She informs me she comes here on a daily basis to satisfy her preferred host as well as talk about concerns she is having at work.
The price for this piece of male attention is $487-650 (₤ 300-400) a day.
" Talking to close friends would certainly be less expensive" she confesses, "but they do not listen as much. They're hectic, as well as quickly to discuss themselves. Below, individuals will certainly take notice of me as well as they'll listen to me.".
" I invest a great deal of money but it's worth it for what I obtain psychologically. People pay to visit see a psychologist or psychiatrist, so it's similar but less difficult.".
Nayu's preferred host Sung-il states it can be difficult to keep his personal and expert life different.
" Honestly I 'd be lying if I say I have not been attracted to take points further with some consumers, since we're human, we're guys, however there are guidelines.".
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Among his clients spoke a great deal to her spouse concerning him and when the three of them met, Sung-il and also the hubby came to be friends.
" No one conceals - the workers don't hide that they work right here, and customers can be open also.".
This visibility is posturing a brand-new type of obstacle to South Korean society, various from the in some cases shabby underworld of typical host bars and also their hinterland of male prostitution.
By using ladies a "respectable" method to challenge conventional sex functions and flex their financial power, these brand-new bars ask concerns of Korean culture that are becoming tougher to ignore.
Listen to the full record on BBC Radio 4's Crossing Continents. You can pay attention through the Radio 4 website or via the Crossing Continents podcast.
The attraction of host bars can be refined. Here, she states, she has more interest from her male companions, even more selection as well as, most importantly, more control.

James has been working at Bar 123 for a couple of years. Rather, he tells me, it is all down to the host's own assessment.
And also that's why I thought of opening up a bar like this - a kind of discussion bar.".


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