Notes

Figure out more regarding women-only host bars in Gangnam, Korea
South Korea's quick financial growth has suggested some shocking changes within its traditional social framework, including the rise of so-called host bars, where wealthy females pay the equivalent of countless bucks for male company.

In the dark light of a below ground room, a lots completely groomed boys stoop in rows, calling out their names.

Muscular, with glossy boy-band hairdos, they stuff side by side into the slim area, awaiting us to make our option. Outside in the corridor, even more of their associates are getting here for another evening at the office. It is 2am, and we are their first clients.

Surprise under the pavements of Seoul's ritziest postcode, Gangnam, the guys at Bar 123 belong to an expanding sector, which outgrew the lengthy traditions of Japanese geisha and also Korea's kisaeng houses yet with one critical difference - the customers here are all women.

Referred to as "host bars", these all-night alcohol consumption areas use women clients the possibility to pay as well as select for male buddies, sometimes at a cost of thousands of extra pounds a night.

One of the females I meet at Bar 123 is Minkyoung, a waitressing supervisor for a luxury resort. She says she pertains to host bars one or two times a month.


Minkyoung is really rather and also her garments are immaculate. She does not look like a person that would certainly require to spend for male business. The attraction of host bars can be refined. Right here, she says, she has more focus from her male buddies, even more choice as well as, crucially, more control.
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" In regular bars the guys that drink with me have just one objective - to have a casual sex. However I do not want that, to ensure that's why I come right here, I want to have a good time," she says.

Hosts are hired by bars such as this one to offer companionship and also home entertainment. Officially that means pouring beverages for their clients, dancing as well as speaking with them, and also singing karaoke.

Host bar in Seoul
Sex is not officially available in many host bars. That would certainly be illegal however even Minkyoung appears delighted to touch and also tease with her host, and also the men below estimate that around half the consumers intend to pay for sex, either on or off the premises.

James has been operating at Bar 123 for a couple of years. In Korean society, he claims, there is a great deal of pride and also bargaining a price for sex is never ever done explicitly. Rather, he tells me, it is all down to the host's own analysis.

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

" After talking with a lady for an hour we basically recognize exactly how much cash she makes as well as what she provides for a living. We've currently analysed her personality and what she agrees to give."

James and also other hosts say their consumers consist of some of South Korea's elite, which the money and also perks available boggle the mind. One client James satisfied, throughout his initial week in the work, asked him to sign himself over to her for two years.

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

James states at the time he took it as a joke but since figured out the same female invested ₤ 60,000 ($ 97,000) on another host.

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

Actually maybe, host bars outgrew among Korea's most entrenched and also, some say, misogynist company traditions - the space beauty salon. These are private drinking rooms where groups of guys pick, and also are offered by, attractive female hostesses.

It was the hostesses' requirement to allow off heavy steam after job, claims veteran host Kim Dong-hee, that produced the first demand for host bars, with all-male staff.

" What these people hosting desire is to [make us] do the same point they had to do in their very own office. These girls are required to do points they do not want to provide for cash.

" I assume a whole lot of them are in pain, as well as a lot feel lonely. Merely placed, they wish to buy our time and our bodies.".

People hosting still comprise a big percent of the consumers at host bars below, but at Bar 123, as an example, approximately 40% of the clients on a given evening are currently from various other profession.

정자노래방 The reasons for that expanding charm are bound in South Korea's rapid economic rise. Within 50 years, the nation changed from post-war devastation to OECD participant.

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

" I think that with all this rapid development comes fast modification, and Koreans just do not understand exactly how to manage it. Significantly, capitalism is overtaking basic societal norms that you would certainly expect a couple of years ago.".

Jasper Kim states South Korea's notoriously lengthy functioning hrs have actually left many Korean women feeling lonely, while the country's technological advance has actually left many individuals really feeling detached.

" The human element of Korean culture that existed before merely doesn't exist today. People are concentrated on modern technology, people are focused on their tasks, they aren't concentrated on human connections any longer.

" In several means, Korean society today type of reminds me of 1960s society in the United States, where it's on the brink of some sort of social change.".

The grandfather of Seoul's host bar scene, Kim Dong-hee, agrees that a number of the women who involve 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 aimed at the mainstream market - called Red Model Bars.

Red Model Bar hosts.
Photo inscription,.
Hosts at Red Model Bars can not touch clients.
" Men wish to have visual satisfaction and also desire to really feel points, they're responsive. Females like to speak and also to listen. As well as that's why I believed of opening up a bar such as this - a kind of discussion bar.".

Red Model Bars are various to typical host bars in one key respect - there is a no-touching policy. Hosts remain on one side of the table, clients on the other, and also no physical call is permitted, as well as absolutely no sex.

Perhaps as an outcome there is an absence of furtiveness among individuals who function or consume here - the lights are reduced, the decoration mostly dark red and also the space is divided right into very discreet booths, however it is an open-plan room and hosts as well as customers are split in each cubicle by a big table.

This brand-new business design depends entirely on women paying the equivalent of hundreds or perhaps thousands of bucks to speak to attractive boys 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 regular consumers, a floral designer called Kim Nayu. She tells me she comes here on a daily basis to satisfy her favorite host as well as go over problems she is contending work.

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

" Talking to pals would be less costly" she confesses, "but they don't listen as much. They're active, as well as in a hurry to discuss themselves. Below, people will certainly pay attention to me and also they'll listen to me.".

" I invest a great deal of cash however it deserves it of what I get mentally. Individuals pay to go to see a psychologist or psychiatrist, so it's similar however less stressful.".

Nayu's preferred host Sung-il states it can be tough to maintain his personal and expert life different.

" Honestly I would certainly be existing if I state I have not been attracted to take things even more with some customers, since we're human, we're males, however there are guidelines.".

One of his clients yapped to her husband regarding him and when the three of them met, Sung-il and also the husband became friends.

" No one hides - the employees do not conceal that they work right here, as well as customers can be open too.".

This openness is presenting a new kind of difficulty to South Korean culture, various from the occasionally seedy underworld of conventional host bars and their hinterland of male prostitution.

By offering females a "decent" means to challenge standard gender roles as well as bend their economic power, these new bars ask questions of Korean society that are becoming harder to overlook.

Hear the full record on BBC Radio 4's Crossing Continents. You can pay attention using the Radio 4 site or via the Crossing Continents podcast.


The allure of host bars can be subtle. Here, she states, she has even more interest from her male companions, even more option as well as, most importantly, even more control.
James has actually been working at Bar 123 for a pair of years. Rather, he tells me, it is all down to the host's own evaluation.

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

Here's my website: https://www.bundangroom.club/jeongja