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Discover more concerning women-only host bars in Gangnam, Korea
South Korea's rapid financial development has implied some stunning changes within its traditional social structure, consisting of the rise of supposed host bars, where affluent females pay the matching of thousands of bucks for male company.
In the dark light of an underground area, a dozen perfectly brushed young males stoop in rows, calling out their names.
Muscle, with shiny boy-band hairstyles, they stuff side-by-side into the narrow area, waiting for us to make our option. Outside in the hallway, even more of their coworkers are getting here for one more evening at job. It is 2am, as well as we are their very first consumers.
Surprise below the pavements of Seoul's ritziest postcode, Gangnam, the males at Bar 123 belong to an expanding industry, which outgrew the lengthy traditions of Japanese geisha as well as Korea's kisaeng residences but with one crucial difference - the customers below are all females.
Referred to as "host bars", these all-night alcohol consumption spaces supply women consumers the opportunity to pay and also pick for male buddies, often at a cost of countless extra pounds a night.
One of the women I fulfill at Bar 123 is Minkyoung, a waitressing supervisor for a first-class resort. She states she involves host bars one or two times a month.
The attraction of host bars can be subtle. Right here, she says, she has more focus from her male friends, more option and also, crucially, more control.
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" In normal bars the people that consume alcohol with me have only one objective - to have an one-night stand. However I do not want that, so that's why I come right here, I desire to have a good time," she claims.
Hosts are hired by bars like this one to provide friendship as well as enjoyment. Formally that means pouring drinks for their clients, dancing and also talking with them, and vocal singing karaoke.
Host bar in Seoul
Sex is not formally on offer in the majority of host bars. That would certainly be unlawful but even Minkyoung appears pleased to touch as well as tease with her host, and the guys below estimate that around half the consumers wish to spend for sex, either on or off the facilities.
James has been functioning at Bar 123 for a pair of years. In Korean culture, he says, there is a great deal of satisfaction and also discussing a price for sex is never ever done clearly. Rather, he informs me, it is all to the host's very own analysis.
" The guys below are pros - we know what we're doing," he claims.
" After speaking with a girl for an hour we basically know just how much cash she makes and also what she does for a living. We've currently evaluated her character and also what she agrees to offer."

James and also various other hosts state their customers consist of several of South Korea's elite, and that the cash and advantages available are astonishing. One client James satisfied, during his first week in the job, asked him to authorize himself over to her for two years.
" She claimed 'let's make a contract. I've got this paper and I've numbered it 1-5. Whatever you jot down alongside those numbers, I'll obtain you.'".
James states at the time he took it as a joke however because discovered the same female spent ₤ 60,000 ($ 97,000) on another host.
" If it took place now, I would certainly do it - I 'd be assuming straight.".
Ironically perhaps, host bars outgrew among Korea's most entrenched and, some claim, misogynist organization customs - the space beauty salon. These are private alcohol consumption rooms where teams of males choose, as well as are served by, attractive women hostesses.
It was the hostesses' requirement to allow off heavy steam after job, states veteran host Kim Dong-hee, that developed the first demand for host bars, with all-male team.
These girls are compelled to do things they do not want to do for money.
" I assume a lot of them are in discomfort, and also a whole lot really feel lonesome. Put simply, they desire to purchase our time and also our bodies.".
Hostesses still compose a big percent of the clients at host bars here, however at Bar 123, for example, approximately 40% of the clients on a given night are currently from other profession.
The factors for that growing allure are bound in South Korea's fast financial surge. Within 50 years, the nation changed from post-war destruction to OECD participant.
According to Jasper Kim, head of the Asia-Pacific Global Research Group in Seoul, something vital was lost along the means.
" I think that with all this fast growth comes quick change, as well as Koreans simply don't understand how to cope with it. Increasingly, capitalism is surpassing standard social norms that you would certainly anticipate a couple of years back.".
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Jasper Kim states South Korea's notoriously long functioning hours have actually left numerous Korean women feeling lonely, while the nation's technological advancement has left numerous people feeling detached.
" The human aspect of Korean society that existed before just does not exist today. Individuals are focused on technology, people are concentrated on their tasks, they aren't concentrated on human connections anymore.
" In many means, Korean society today kind of reminds me of 1960s culture in the United States, where it's on the verge of some type of social transformation.".
The grandfather of Seoul's host bar scene, Kim Dong-hee, agrees that most of the women who pertain to host bars are not paying for sex but also for friendship, which is why he opened a brand-new chain of freshly-marketed electrical outlets targeted at the mainstream market - called Red Model Bars.
Red Model Bar hosts.
Picture caption,.
Hosts at Red Model Bars can not touch clients.
" Men wish to have aesthetic pleasure as well as intend to feel things, they're tactile. Females like to speak as well as to pay attention. As well as that's why I believed of opening up a bar like this - a kind of dialogue bar.".
Red Model Bars are various to conventional host bars in one vital regard - there is a no-touching regulation. Hosts rest on one side of the table, clients on the various other, and also no physical contact is allowed, and also absolutely no sex.
Maybe consequently there is an absence of furtiveness amongst the individuals who function or consume alcohol below - the lights are reduced, the decoration mainly dark red as well as the area is separated right into very discreet cubicles, yet it is an open-plan room as well as hosts as well as customers are separated in each cubicle by a huge table.
This new service model depends totally on females paying the equivalent of hundreds or even hundreds of bucks to talk with attractive young males over a beverage. Still, it seems to be working - 3 new branches result from open this year.
Resting at a table at one end of the bar was one of their normal consumers, a floral designer called Kim Nayu. She informs me she comes here daily to satisfy her favourite host as well as discuss concerns she is having at work.
The cost for this slice of male focus is $487-650 (₤ 300-400) a day.
" Talking to pals would certainly be less expensive" she confesses, "yet they don't pay attention as much. They're active, as well as in a rush to talk about themselves. Here, individuals will certainly pay interest to me as well as they'll pay attention to me.".
" I spend a lot of money however it deserves it wherefore I obtain mentally. Individuals pay to head to see a psychologist or psychiatrist, so it's similar yet much less demanding.".
Nayu's preferred host Sung-il claims it can be tough to maintain his individual and professional life separate.
" Honestly I would certainly be existing if I state I haven't been lured to take things additionally with some consumers, since we're human, we're men, but there are rules.".
One of his clients yapped to her hubby concerning him as well as when the three of them met, Sung-il as well as the spouse became friends.
" No one hides - the workers do not conceal that they work below, as well as consumers can be open too.".
This openness is posturing a brand-new sort of difficulty to South Korean culture, different from the sometimes sleazy underworld of traditional host bars and also their hinterland of male prostitution.
By offering females a "reputable" method to test traditional gender functions as well as bend their economic power, these new bars ask questions of Korean society that are coming to be more challenging to overlook.
Listen to the complete report on BBC Radio 4's Crossing Continents. You can listen through the Radio 4 website or by means of the Crossing Continents podcast.
The attraction of host bars can be refined. Right here, she states, she has even more attention from her male friends, even more selection and also, crucially, even more control.
James has been functioning at Bar 123 for a couple of years. Rather, he informs me, it is all down to the host's very own evaluation.
And also that's why I thought of opening up a bar like this - a kind of discussion bar.".


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