Notes

Learn even more regarding women-only host bars in Gangnam, Korea
South Korea's quick financial growth has implied some surprising adjustments within its conventional social structure, consisting of the increase of supposed host bars, where wealthy women pay the equivalent of thousands of dollars for male company.

In the dark light of a basement, a loads flawlessly groomed young guys stoop in rows, calling out their names.

Muscular, with shiny boy-band hairdos, they pack side-by-side into the narrow area, waiting on us to make our option. Outdoors in the corridor, more of their associates are showing up for another night at the workplace. It is 2am, and we are their very first consumers.

Covert underneath the pavements of Seoul's ritziest postal code, Gangnam, the men at Bar 123 are part of an expanding sector, which grew out of the long traditions of Japanese geisha and also Korea's kisaeng residences yet with one critical difference - the clients here are all females.

Called "host bars", these all-night drinking rooms use female consumers the opportunity to select and also pay for male companions, in some cases at an expense of thousands of extra pounds a night.

Among the women I meet at Bar 123 is Minkyoung, a waitressing supervisor for a luxury hotel. She states she comes to host bars once or twice a month.


The allure of host bars can be subtle. Below, she claims, she has more attention from her male friends, more choice as well as, crucially, more control.
PROMOTION



" In routine bars the men that consume with me have just one objective - to have an one-night stand. I do not desire that, so that's why I come below, I desire to have fun," she says.

Hosts are hired by bars similar to this one to supply companionship and amusement. Formally that means pouring beverages for their customers, dancing and also chatting with them, and also vocal singing karaoke.

Host bar in Seoul
Sex is not formally on offer in many host bars. That would be prohibited however also Minkyoung seems happy to touch and flirt with her host, and the guys below estimate that around half the customers wish to spend for sex, either on or off the properties.

정자노래방 James has actually been working at Bar 123 for a pair of years. In Korean culture, he claims, there is a great deal of satisfaction as well as negotiating a rate for sex is never done clearly. Rather, he tells me, it is all down to the host's own assessment.

" The guys here are pros - we recognize what we're doing," he states.

" After chatting to a lady for a hr we essentially understand exactly how much cash she makes and what she does for a living. We've currently evaluated her character as well as what she's willing to provide."

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

" She stated 'let's make a contract. I've got this paper and also I've numbered it 1-5. Whatever you jot down alongside those numbers, I'll get you.'".

James states at the time he took it as a joke but since discovered the very same woman spent ₤ 60,000 ($ 97,000) on another host.

" If it happened currently, I would certainly do it - I would certainly be assuming straight.".

Ironically possibly, host bars grew out of one of Korea's most entrenched and also, some state, misogynist company customs - the room beauty salon. These are private drinking spaces where teams of men pick, and are served by, attractive female people hosting.

It was the people hosting' need to allow off steam after work, states professional host Kim Dong-hee, that created the first demand for host bars, with all-male staff.

These ladies are compelled to do points they don't desire to do for money.


" I believe a lot of them are in discomfort, and a lot really feel lonesome. Basically, they intend to buy our time as well as our bodies.".

People hosting still compose a huge percent of the clients at host bars below, however at Bar 123, for instance, as much as 40% of the customers on a given night are currently from various other strolls of life.

The reasons for that expanding charm are linked up in South Korea's quick financial surge. Within 50 years, the nation moved from post-war destruction to OECD participant.

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

" I assume that with all this rapid growth comes rapid modification, and Koreans simply do not understand how to cope with it. Increasingly, capitalism is overtaking fundamental societal norms that you would certainly expect a pair of decades back.".

Jasper Kim claims South Korea's notoriously lengthy functioning hrs have actually left numerous Korean females really feeling lonesome, while the country's technological advancement has left lots of people feeling separated.

" The human component of Korean society that existed previously just doesn't exist today. People are concentrated on innovation, people are focused on their jobs, they aren't concentrated on human connections anymore.

" In several methods, Korean culture today kind of reminds me of 1960s culture in the US, where it's on the brink of some kind of social revolution.".

The grandpa of Seoul's host bar scene, Kim Dong-hee, concurs that much of the ladies who concern host bars are not paying for sex however, for companionship, which is why he opened a new chain of freshly-marketed electrical outlets intended at the mainstream market - called Red Model Bars.

Red Model Bar hosts.
Image caption,.
Hosts at Red Model Bars can not touch clients.
" Men want to have visual enjoyment as well as want to feel things, they're responsive. Ladies like to speak as well as to pay attention. As well as that's why I considered opening up a bar like this - a sort of dialogue bar.".

Red Model Bars are various to traditional host bars in one vital regard - there is a no-touching policy. Hosts rest on one side of the table, consumers on the other, as well as no physical get in touch with is permitted, and definitely no sex.

Perhaps consequently there is a lack of furtiveness among individuals that function or drink below - the lights are reduced, the decoration primarily dark red and the space is split right into very discreet cubicles, yet it is an open-plan room as well as hosts and customers are divided in each cubicle by a large table.

This brand-new organization model depends entirely on females paying the equivalent of hundreds or even thousands of dollars to speak with fine-looking young males over a beverage. Still, it appears to be functioning - 3 new branches result from open this year.

Sitting at a table at one end of bench was one of their regular customers, a florist called Kim Nayu. She informs me she comes here every day to satisfy her favourite host and go over issues she is having at job.

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

" Talking to close friends would certainly be less costly" she confesses, "however they do not listen as much. They're busy, and in a rush to talk concerning themselves. Below, individuals will certainly pay interest to me and also they'll listen to me.".

" I spend a great deal of money but it deserves it wherefore I get emotionally. People pay to go to see a psycho therapist or psychiatrist, so it's comparable yet less difficult.".

Nayu's preferred host Sung-il states it can be hard to keep his individual and professional life different.

" Honestly I would certainly be existing if I claim I haven't been tempted to take points further with some clients, since we're human, we're guys, yet there are guidelines.".

One of his clients yapped to her husband about him and also when the three of them fulfilled, Sung-il and also the partner came to be buddies.

" No one conceals - the workers do not conceal that they work here, and also consumers can be open as well.".

This visibility is positioning a new sort of obstacle to South Korean culture, various from the sometimes seedy underworld of conventional host bars as well as their hinterland of male hooking.

By supplying females a "commendable" way to test typical gender functions as well as flex their financial power, these brand-new bars ask inquiries of Korean society that are ending up being more challenging to neglect.

Listen to the complete report on BBC Radio 4's Crossing Continents. You can pay attention by means of the Radio 4 site or through the Crossing Continents podcast.


The appeal of host bars can be subtle. Right here, she states, she has more attention from her male companions, even more option and, crucially, more control.
James has been working at Bar 123 for a couple of years. Instead, he informs me, it is all down to the host's own evaluation.

As well as that's why I believed of opening up a bar like this - a kind of dialogue bar.".

Website: https://www.bundangroom.club/jeongja