Notes

Locate out more regarding women-only host bars in Gangnam, Korea
South Korea's quick economic advancement has actually suggested some shocking modifications within its conservative social framework, consisting of the rise of so-called host bars, where well-off women pay the equivalent of countless bucks for male business.

In the dark light of a basement, a dozen completely brushed boys stoop in rows, calling out their names.

Muscular, with shiny boy-band hairstyles, they cram side by side right into the narrow room, waiting on us to make our choice. Outside in the hallway, more of their associates are showing up for another night at the office. It is 2am, and also we are their first clients.

Hidden under the pavements of Seoul's ritziest postal code, Gangnam, the males at Bar 123 become part of a growing sector, which grew out of the long customs of Japanese geisha and also Korea's kisaeng homes yet with one essential difference - the customers here are all women.

Called "host bars", these all-night drinking spaces offer women clients the opportunity to pay and also select for male companions, sometimes at a price of countless pounds a night.

Among the ladies I fulfill at Bar 123 is Minkyoung, a waitressing manager for a first-class resort. As soon as or two times a month, she claims she comes to host bars.


The appeal of host bars can be subtle. Here, she states, she has even more focus from her male companions, even more option and, most importantly, even more control.
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" In regular bars the men that drink with me have just one objective - to have an one-night stand. I don't want that, so that's why I come here, I desire to have enjoyable," she claims.

Hosts are hired by bars similar to this one to give companionship as well as amusement. Officially that suggests putting beverages for their customers, speaking as well as dancing with them, and vocal singing karaoke.

Host bar in Seoul
Sex is not formally on deal in most host bars. That would be illegal yet even Minkyoung appears pleased to touch and tease with her host, and also the guys here approximate that around half the consumers want to spend for sex, either on or off the properties.

James has actually been working at Bar 123 for a number of years. In Korean culture, he states, there is a lot of satisfaction and bargaining a price for sex is never ever done explicitly. Instead, he tells me, it is all to the host's own assessment.

" The individuals here are pros - we recognize what we're doing," he claims.

" After speaking to a woman for a hr we generally recognize just how much money she makes and what she provides for a living. We've currently evaluated her personality and also what she's eager to give."

James as well as various other hosts state their consumers consist of a few of South Korea's elite, which the money and advantages available boggle the mind. One customer James fulfilled, throughout his very first week in the job, asked him to authorize himself over to her for 2 years.

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

James claims at the time he took it as a joke yet since discovered the exact same woman invested ₤ 60,000 ($ 97,000) on one more host.

" If it happened now, I would certainly do it - I would certainly be believing straight.".

Paradoxically perhaps, host bars grew out of one of Korea's most established and, some state, misogynist company customs - the space beauty parlor. These are exclusive drinking spaces where teams of males pick, and are served by, eye-catching women people hosting.

It was the people hosting' requirement to allow off vapor after job, states professional host Kim Dong-hee, that produced the preliminary need for host bars, with all-male staff.

판교룸 These girls are required to do points they do not want to do for cash.

" I think a great deal of them are in pain, and also a great deal feel lonesome. Basically, they want to buy our time as well as our bodies.".

Hostesses still comprise a large percentage of the customers at host bars below, yet at Bar 123, for example, approximately 40% of the consumers on a given evening are now from various other profession.

The factors for that expanding allure are linked up in South Korea's rapid financial surge. Within 50 years, the country shifted from post-war devastation to OECD member.

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

" I think that with all this fast development comes rapid modification, as well as Koreans simply don't know just how to deal with it. Significantly, capitalism is surpassing basic societal norms that you would anticipate a number of decades earlier.".

Jasper Kim says South Korea's notoriously long working hours have actually left numerous Korean ladies feeling lonely, while the nation's technological advancement has actually left lots of individuals feeling detached.

" The human component of Korean society that existed before merely does not exist today. Individuals are concentrated on innovation, people are concentrated on their work, they aren't focused on human connections any longer.

" In numerous ways, Korean society today sort of advises me of 1960s culture in the US, where it's on the edge of some sort of cultural revolution.".

The grandpa of Seoul's host bar scene, Kim Dong-hee, agrees that many of the women who pertain to host bars are not spending for sex yet for companionship, which is why he opened up a brand-new chain of freshly-marketed electrical outlets intended at the mainstream market - called Red Model Bars.

Red Model Bar hosts.
Picture subtitle,.
Hosts at Red Model Bars can not touch customers.
" Men intend to have aesthetic enjoyment and wish to feel points, they're tactile. Females like to speak and also to pay attention. As well as that's why I thought of opening a bar like this - a type of dialogue bar.".

Red Model Bars are various to conventional host bars in one crucial regard - there is a no-touching rule. Hosts sit on one side of the table, customers on the other, and also no physical call is permitted, and also absolutely no sex.


Possibly therefore there is a lack of furtiveness among individuals that work or consume below - the lights are reduced, the style mostly dark red and also the space is separated into very discreet booths, however it is an open-plan space and also clients and hosts are divided in each cubicle by a huge table.

This new organization version depends completely on ladies paying the equivalent of hundreds and even countless dollars to speak to good-looking boys over a drink. Still, it appears to be functioning - 3 brand-new branches are due to open this year.

Resting at a table at one end of the bar was among their normal clients, a flower shop called Kim Nayu. She informs me she comes below on a daily basis to fulfill her preferred host and also review concerns she is contending job.

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

" Talking to pals would certainly be more affordable" she confesses, "yet they do not pay attention as much. They're busy, and also quickly to speak about themselves. Here, individuals will focus on me as well as they'll listen to me.".

" I spend a lot of money but it deserves it wherefore I get emotionally. Individuals pay to visit see a psycho therapist or psychiatrist, so it's similar however less stressful.".

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

" Honestly I would certainly be lying if I claim I have not been attracted to take things additionally with some consumers, since we're human, we're men, but there are policies.".

One of his clients yapped to her partner regarding him and also when the three of them satisfied, Sung-il as well as the spouse came to be close buddies.

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

This visibility is posturing a brand-new sort of difficulty to South Korean culture, different from the often sleazy underworld of conventional host bars as well as their hinterland of male hooking.

By providing ladies a "decent" means to test typical sex duties and flex their financial power, these brand-new bars ask concerns of Korean culture that are becoming more difficult to disregard.

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


The allure of host bars can be refined. Below, she says, she has even more interest from her male buddies, even more choice as well as, most importantly, even more control.
James has been functioning at Bar 123 for a couple of years. Instead, he informs me, it is all down to the host's very own analysis.

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

Homepage: https://www.bundangroom.club/pangyo