Notes

Discover even more concerning women-only host bars in Gangnam, Korea
South Korea's fast economic development has actually indicated some startling adjustments within its conventional social structure, including the increase of supposed host bars, where well-off ladies pay the equivalent of hundreds of dollars for male firm.

In the dim light of a basement, a loads flawlessly brushed boys stoop in rows, calling out their names.

Muscle, with shiny boy-band hairdos, they cram side by side right into the narrow area, waiting on us to make our option. Outdoors in the passage, even more of their colleagues are showing up for another evening at job. It is 2am, and we are their initial consumers.

Covert beneath the pavements of Seoul's ritziest postcode, Gangnam, the men at Bar 123 belong to an expanding sector, which grew out of the long traditions of Japanese geisha and Korea's kisaeng residences but with one vital distinction - the customers right here are all women.

Referred to as "host bars", these all-night alcohol consumption spaces offer female clients the possibility to pay as well as pick for male buddies, often at a cost of countless extra pounds a night.

One of the ladies I satisfy at Bar 123 is Minkyoung, a waitressing manager for a first-class hotel. She states she concerns host bars one or two times a month.


Minkyoung is extremely pretty and also her clothes are immaculate. She does not look like a person who would certainly require to spend for male company. However the appeal of host bars can be refined. Right here, she claims, she has even more attention from her male friends, even more selection as well as, crucially, even more control.
PROMOTION



" In normal bars the men that drink with me have just one goal - to have a casual sex. But I don't desire that, to ensure that's why I come here, I wish to have enjoyable," she states.

Hosts are worked with by bars such as this one to offer friendship as well as enjoyment. Officially that suggests pouring beverages for their clients, talking as well as dancing with them, as well as singing karaoke.

Host bar in Seoul
Sex is not officially available in the majority of host bars. That would be unlawful however also Minkyoung appears satisfied to tease and also touch with her host, as well as the guys here estimate that around half the customers wish to spend for sex, either on or off the properties.

James has been working at Bar 123 for a number of years. In Korean culture, he says, there is a great deal of pride as well as negotiating a rate for sex is never done explicitly. Instead, he informs me, it is all down to the host's very own analysis.

" The people here are pros - we understand what we're doing," he claims.

" After speaking with a woman for a hr we basically understand just how much cash she makes and also what she provides for a living. We've already analysed her individuality and also what she agrees to provide."


James and also other hosts state their consumers consist of a few of South Korea's elite, as well as that the cash and rewards available boggle the mind. One client James met, during his first week in the work, asked him to authorize himself over to her for two years.

" She claimed 'allow's make a contract. I've got this piece of paper 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 but because figured out the same lady spent ₤ 60,000 ($ 97,000) on one more host.

" If it took place now, I would certainly do it - I would certainly be thinking straight.".

Paradoxically possibly, host bars outgrew one of Korea's most established and also, some say, misogynist service practices - the space beauty salon. These are exclusive alcohol consumption rooms where groups of males select, as well as are served by, attractive women hostesses.

It was the people hosting' requirement to allow off vapor after job, states veteran host Kim Dong-hee, that created the preliminary demand for host bars, with all-male staff.

These ladies are compelled to do points they do not desire to do for money.

" I think a whole lot of them are in pain, and a lot feel lonesome. Basically, they intend to acquire our time and also our bodies.".

Hostesses still make up a huge percent of the clients at host bars below, however at Bar 123, for instance, as much as 40% of the clients on a provided night are now from other strolls of life.

The factors for that expanding allure are linked up in South Korea's fast financial rise. Within 50 years, the nation moved from post-war devastation to OECD participant.

Yet, according to Jasper Kim, head of the Asia-Pacific Global Research Group in Seoul, something crucial was shed along the way.

" I think that with all this rapid growth comes fast change, as well as Koreans just do not understand just how to deal with it. Increasingly, industrialism is overtaking fundamental social norms that you would anticipate a couple of decades ago.".

Jasper Kim claims South Korea's notoriously long functioning hrs have left many Korean women feeling lonely, while the country's technical advancement has actually left lots of individuals feeling removed.

" The human element of Korean society that existed before merely does not exist today. People are concentrated on modern technology, people are concentrated on their tasks, they aren't concentrated on human relationships anymore.

" In numerous methods, Korean society today type of advises me of 1960s society in the United States, where it's on the verge of some sort of social revolution.".

The grandfather of Seoul's host bar scene, Kim Dong-hee, concurs that several of the ladies who come to host bars are not spending for sex but also for companionship, which is why he opened up a brand-new chain of freshly-marketed outlets focused on the mainstream market - called Red Model Bars.

Red Model Bar hosts.
Photo caption,.
Hosts at Red Model Bars can not touch customers.
" Men desire to have aesthetic pleasure as well as wish to feel points, they're responsive. Females like to talk and also to listen. Which's why I considered opening a bar like this - a kind of discussion bar.".

Red Model Bars are different to conventional host bars in one key regard - there is a no-touching policy. Hosts rest on one side of the table, customers on the other, and no physical get in touch with is enabled, and absolutely no sex.

분당노래방 Perhaps therefore there is a lack of furtiveness amongst the people who function or consume alcohol right here - the lights are reduced, the decoration mainly dark red and the space is split right into very discreet cubicles, but it is an open-plan area and also hosts as well as clients are split in each cubicle by a huge table.

This brand-new organization model depends totally on ladies paying the matching of hundreds or even hundreds of dollars to speak with fine-looking boys over a beverage. Still, it seems to be working - three brand-new branches are due to open this year.

Resting at a table at one end of the bar was one of their normal clients, a florist called Kim Nayu. She informs me she comes right here daily to meet her preferred host and discuss problems she is having at job.

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

" Talking to buddies would certainly be less costly" she confesses, "however they don't pay attention as much. They're hectic, and quickly to speak about themselves. Right here, people will certainly focus on me as well as they'll listen to me.".

" I spend a lot of cash however it's worth it wherefore I get mentally. Individuals pay to visit see a psycho therapist or psychoanalyst, so it's similar yet much less difficult.".

Nayu's favorite host Sung-il claims it can be tough to maintain his professional and also personal life separate.

" Honestly I would certainly be lying if I say I haven't been lured to take points even more with some clients, due to the fact that we're human, we're guys, yet there are rules.".

Among his consumers chatted a whole lot to her hubby regarding him as well as when the 3 of them fulfilled, Sung-il and also the husband became close good friends.

" No one hides - the workers don't hide that they work below, and customers can be open as well.".

This visibility is presenting a new kind of obstacle to South Korean society, different from the often shabby underworld of conventional host bars and their hinterland of male hooking.

By supplying ladies a "decent" means to challenge typical sex functions and also bend their financial power, these brand-new bars ask concerns of Korean society that are becoming tougher to neglect.

Hear the complete record on BBC Radio 4's Crossing Continents. You can listen through the Radio 4 internet site or by means of the Crossing Continents podcast.


The appeal of host bars can be subtle. Right here, she says, she has more focus from her male friends, even more selection as well as, crucially, 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 own analysis.

And also that's why I believed of opening up a bar like this - a kind of dialogue bar.".

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