Notes

Discover more concerning women-only host bars in Gangnam, Korea
South Korea's fast economic development has actually indicated some startling changes within its traditional social structure, consisting of the surge of so-called host bars, where rich ladies pay the equivalent of thousands of dollars for male company.
In the dark light of an underground space, a loads perfectly groomed boys kneel in rows, calling out their names.
Muscle, with glossy boy-band hairdos, they cram side-by-side into the narrow area, waiting for us to make our choice. Outside in the hallway, even more of their coworkers are arriving for one more night at the office. It is 2am, and we are their initial customers.
Concealed under the pavements of Seoul's ritziest postal code, Gangnam, the guys at Bar 123 become part of an expanding market, which expanded out of the long customs of Japanese geisha and Korea's kisaeng homes but with one critical difference - the customers here are all women.
Referred to as "host bars", these all-night drinking areas supply female consumers the possibility to pay and also pick for male companions, sometimes at an expense of hundreds of extra pounds a night.
One of the ladies I fulfill at Bar 123 is Minkyoung, a waitressing manager for a five-star hotel. Once or two times a month, she claims she comes to host bars.
The allure of host bars can be refined. Here, she says, she has more focus from her male companions, more selection and also, crucially, more control.
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" In regular bars the individuals that consume alcohol with me have just one objective - to have an one-night stand. But I don't desire that, so that's why I come below, I want to enjoy," she claims.
Hosts are employed by bars like this one to give companionship and entertainment. Formally that suggests pouring drinks for their clients, speaking as well as dancing with them, as well as vocal singing karaoke.
Host bar in Seoul
Sex is not officially available in most host bars. That would certainly be prohibited however even Minkyoung seems satisfied to touch and tease with her host, as well as the males here estimate that around half the clients intend to pay for sex, either on or off the premises.
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 bargaining a cost for sex is never done clearly. Rather, he informs me, it is all to the host's very own evaluation.
" The individuals here are pros - we know what we're doing," he claims.
" After speaking with a woman for an hour we basically recognize just how much cash she makes and what she does for a living. We've currently analysed her individuality as well as what she's eager to give."

James as well as other hosts claim their clients consist of some of South Korea's elite, which the cash as well as benefits on deal are incredible. One customer James met, throughout his very first week in the job, asked him to authorize himself over to her for 2 years.
" She said 'let's make a contract. I've got this paper and I've numbered it 1-5. Whatever you jot down following to those numbers, I'll get you.'".
James says at the time he took it as a joke yet considering that discovered the exact same female invested ₤ 60,000 ($ 97,000) on another host.
" If it took place currently, I would certainly do it - I 'd be believing straight.".
Paradoxically perhaps, host bars expanded out of one of Korea's most entrenched and, some say, misogynist business customs - the room beauty parlor. These are personal alcohol consumption areas where teams of males pick, and are offered by, appealing women people hosting.
It was the people hosting' requirement to let off steam after work, says expert host Kim Dong-hee, that produced the preliminary demand for host bars, with all-male team.
" What these hostesses desire is to [make us] do the same thing they had to do in their own work environment. These ladies are compelled to do points they don't intend to do for money.
" I believe a great deal of them are in discomfort, as well as a great deal feel lonely. Merely placed, they want to acquire our time as well as our bodies.".
People hosting still comprise a big percentage of the consumers at host bars right here, but at Bar 123, for example, as much as 40% of the consumers on an offered evening are currently from other strolls of life.
The reasons for that growing charm are linked up in South Korea's quick economic increase. Within 50 years, the nation moved from post-war destruction to OECD participant.
Yet, according to Jasper Kim, head of the Asia-Pacific Global Research Group in Seoul, something important was lost in the process.
" I believe that with all this quick development comes rapid modification, and also Koreans simply do not know exactly how to handle it. Progressively, commercialism is overtaking basic social norms that you would certainly anticipate a number of years back.".
Jasper Kim states South Korea's infamously lengthy working hours have actually left numerous Korean ladies really feeling lonesome, while the nation's technological breakthrough has left many individuals feeling separated.
" The human element of Korean culture that existed in the past merely does not exist today. Individuals are concentrated on modern technology, individuals are focused on their jobs, they aren't concentrated on human connections any longer.
" In many methods, Korean society today sort of reminds me of 1960s culture in the United States, where it's on the edge of some kind of cultural change.".
The grandpa of Seoul's host bar scene, Kim Dong-hee, agrees that much of the women that come to host bars are not spending for sex however, for friendship, which is why he opened up a new chain of freshly-marketed electrical outlets intended at the mainstream market - called Red Model Bars.
Red Model Bar hosts.
Photo inscription,.
Hosts at Red Model Bars can not touch clients.
" Men desire to have aesthetic enjoyment and want to feel things, they're responsive. Females like to speak and also to pay attention. And also that's why I believed of opening up a bar similar to this - a sort of dialogue bar.".
Red Model Bars are various to conventional host bars in one essential respect - there is a no-touching policy. Hosts rest on one side of the table, consumers on the various other, and no physical contact is allowed, as well as definitely no sex.
Maybe consequently there is an absence of furtiveness among individuals who work or consume alcohol here - the lights are reduced, the style mainly dark red and the room is divided right into discreet cubicles, but it is an open-plan room and hosts and also clients are split in each booth by a big table.
This new business version depends entirely on females paying the matching of hundreds and even thousands of dollars to speak to fine-looking young males over a beverage. Still, it seems to be functioning - 3 brand-new branches result from open this year.
Sitting at a table at one end of bench was just one of their normal clients, a flower designer called Kim Nayu. She tells me she comes here everyday to fulfill her favorite host and also talk about problems she is having at job.
The rate for this slice of male interest is $487-650 (₤ 300-400) a day.
" Talking to friends would be more affordable" she admits, "but they don't pay attention as much. They're busy, and quickly to discuss themselves. Right here, individuals will take notice of me and also they'll listen to me.".
" I spend a great deal of cash yet it's worth it wherefore I obtain mentally. Individuals pay to head to see a psychologist or psychiatrist, so it's similar however less demanding.".
Nayu's favourite host Sung-il says it can be hard to maintain his individual and professional life different.
" Honestly I would certainly be lying if I say I have not been attracted to take points even more with some consumers, because we're human, we're guys, but there are policies.".
Among his customers yapped to her partner about him and also when the 3 of them met, Sung-il and the hubby ended up being friends.
" No one conceals - the workers don't conceal that they function below, and clients can be open also.".
This visibility is presenting a brand-new sort of challenge to South Korean society, various from the occasionally seedy underworld of conventional host bars as well as their hinterland of male prostitution.
By providing ladies a "respectable" way to test conventional sex duties as well as flex their economic power, these brand-new bars ask inquiries of Korean culture that are ending up being harder to overlook.
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 allure of host bars can be subtle. Here, she claims, she has even more attention from her male companions, more option and also, crucially, even more control.
James has been working at Bar 123 for a couple of years. Rather, he informs me, it is all down to the host's own analysis.
And that's why I assumed of opening a bar like this - a kind of dialogue bar.".


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