Notes

Find out more regarding women-only host bars in Gangnam, Korea
South Korea's rapid economic advancement has actually indicated some stunning changes within its conventional social structure, including the rise of supposed host bars, where affluent females pay the equivalent of hundreds of dollars for male business.


In the dim light of an underground area, a loads perfectly groomed boys kneel in rows, calling out their names.

Muscle, with shiny boy-band hairstyles, they stuff side-by-side into the slim space, awaiting us to make our choice. 정자노래방 Outside in the hallway, even more of their coworkers are arriving for an additional night at the office. It is 2am, and also we are their very first consumers.

Hidden beneath the pavements of Seoul's ritziest postal code, Gangnam, the men at Bar 123 become part of a growing industry, which outgrew the lengthy practices of Japanese geisha as well as Korea's kisaeng houses yet with one important distinction - the consumers below are all ladies.

Known as "host bars", these all-night drinking areas use women customers the chance to pay and also select for male companions, sometimes at a cost of thousands of pounds a night.

Among the females I satisfy at Bar 123 is Minkyoung, a waitressing manager for a luxury resort. Once or twice a month, she claims she comes to host bars.


The appeal of host bars can be subtle. Right here, she claims, she has even more focus from her male buddies, even more selection and, crucially, more control.
PROMOTION



" In routine bars the individuals who consume alcohol with me have just one goal - to have a casual sex. But I don't want that, so that's why I come here, I wish to enjoy," she says.

Hosts are worked with by bars such as this one to offer companionship and home entertainment. Formally that indicates putting drinks for their customers, chatting and also dancing with them, as well as singing karaoke.

Host bar in Seoul
Sex is not officially on offer in a lot of host bars. That would certainly be illegal yet also Minkyoung seems pleased to tease as well as touch with her host, as well as the men below approximate that around half the clients want to spend for sex, either on or off the premises.

James has been operating at Bar 123 for a number of years. In Korean society, he says, there is a great deal of satisfaction and also discussing a price for sex is never done explicitly. Instead, he tells me, it is all down to the host's own assessment.

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

" After talking with a girl for an hour we essentially understand just how much money she makes and also what she does for a living. We've currently analysed her individuality and also what she agrees to offer."

James and other hosts claim their consumers consist of several of South Korea's elite, which the cash and advantages on offer are amazing. One client James met, throughout his very first week in the job, asked him to sign himself over to her for two years.

" She said 'allow's make a contract. I've obtained this paper and also I've numbered it 1-5. Whatever you document next to those numbers, I'll get you.'".

James says at the time he took it as a joke but since learnt the same lady invested ₤ 60,000 ($ 97,000) on one more host.

" If it occurred currently, I 'd do it - I would certainly be assuming straight.".

Actually possibly, host bars expanded out of one of Korea's most entrenched and also, some claim, misogynist service traditions - the area salon. These are exclusive drinking spaces where groups of males pick, and are served by, attractive female hostesses.

It was the people hosting' need to let off steam after job, says professional host Kim Dong-hee, that produced the initial demand for host bars, with all-male staff.

These women are compelled to do things they don't want to do for money.

" I believe a great deal of them are in pain, and a great deal really feel lonely. Just placed, they wish to buy our time and also our bodies.".

Hostesses still comprise a large percentage of the consumers at host bars below, but at Bar 123, for example, approximately 40% of the customers on a provided night are currently from other walks of life.

The reasons for that expanding allure are bound in South Korea's fast financial surge. Within 50 years, the country shifted from post-war destruction to OECD member.

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 rapid growth comes fast change, and also Koreans simply do not recognize exactly how to handle it. Increasingly, commercialism is surpassing standard societal standards that you would anticipate a number of years earlier.".

Jasper Kim says South Korea's infamously lengthy functioning hours have left several Korean women really feeling lonely, while the nation's technological development has left lots of people really feeling detached.

" The human element of Korean culture that existed before merely doesn't exist today. Individuals are concentrated on modern technology, people are concentrated on their work, they aren't concentrated on human relationships anymore.

" In lots of methods, Korean culture today type of advises me of 1960s culture in the US, where it's on the verge of some kind of cultural change.".

The grandpa of Seoul's host bar scene, Kim Dong-hee, agrees that many of the females who pertain 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 electrical outlets focused on the mainstream market - called Red Model Bars.

Red Model Bar hosts.
Picture caption,.
Hosts at Red Model Bars can not touch customers.
" Men want to have aesthetic pleasure and want to feel points, they're responsive. Women like to speak as well as to listen. As well as that's why I thought about opening up a bar such as this - a sort of discussion bar.".

Red Model Bars are various to typical host bars in one essential respect - there is a no-touching policy. Hosts remain on one side of the table, customers on the various other, and no physical call is enabled, as well as certainly no sex.

Possibly therefore there is a lack of furtiveness amongst the people who work or consume alcohol here - the lights are reduced, the decoration generally dark red and also the area is separated into discreet booths, yet it is an open-plan area and hosts and also consumers are split in each booth by a big table.

This new company design depends completely on ladies paying the equivalent of hundreds and even countless bucks to speak with fine-looking young guys over a beverage. Still, it seems to be functioning - three new branches are due to open this year.

Resting at a table at one end of the bar was just one of their routine clients, a flower designer called Kim Nayu. She informs me she comes right here every day to meet her favourite host as well as discuss problems she is having at job.

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

" Talking to buddies would be more affordable" she confesses, "but they don't listen as much. They're hectic, and in a rush to talk about themselves. Below, individuals will certainly pay interest to me and they'll listen to me.".

" I invest a whole lot of money however it's worth it for what I get psychologically. People pay to visit see a psychologist or psychoanalyst, so it's similar yet less demanding.".

Nayu's favourite host Sung-il says it can be hard to maintain his professional and also individual life separate.

" Honestly I would certainly be lying if I claim I have not been lured to take points additionally with some customers, since we're human, we're men, but there are rules.".

One of his consumers chatted a lot to her other half concerning him and also when the 3 of them met, Sung-il and also the hubby became friends.

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

This visibility is positioning a brand-new sort of obstacle to South Korean society, different from the sometimes shabby underworld of conventional host bars and their hinterland of male prostitution.

By providing women a "respectable" way to test conventional gender duties and bend their economic power, these brand-new bars ask questions of Korean culture that are becoming harder to overlook.

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


The allure of host bars can be refined. Below, she claims, she has more attention from her male buddies, more option and also, crucially, more control.
James has been functioning at Bar 123 for a couple of years. Instead, he tells me, it is all down to the host's very own assessment.

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

Read More: https://www.bundangroom.club/jeongja