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Learn even more concerning women-only host bars in Gangnam, Korea
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South Korea's rapid financial growth has suggested some surprising changes within its traditional social structure, consisting of the increase of so-called host bars, where wealthy ladies pay the matching of thousands of dollars for male business.

In the dark light of a basement, a loads flawlessly brushed boys kneel in rows, calling out their names.

Muscular, with shiny boy-band hairdos, they stuff side-by-side right into the slim room, waiting for us to make our option. Outdoors in the corridor, even more of their associates are arriving for another evening at job. It is 2am, as well as we are their initial consumers.

Hidden below the pavements of Seoul's ritziest postcode, Gangnam, the males at Bar 123 become part of a growing sector, which grew out of the long traditions of Japanese geisha and Korea's kisaeng homes but with one important distinction - the clients below are all women.

Called "host bars", these all-night alcohol consumption areas supply female consumers the opportunity to pick and pay for male companions, in some cases at a price of hundreds of extra pounds a night.

Among the ladies I fulfill at Bar 123 is Minkyoung, a waitressing supervisor for a luxury resort. When or two times a month, she states she comes to host bars.


Minkyoung is really rather and her clothes are immaculate. She does not look like a person that would require to spend for male business. But the appeal of host bars can be refined. Right here, she says, she has more attention from her male friends, even more selection and, crucially, more control.
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" In normal bars the individuals who consume alcohol with me have just one goal - to have a casual sex. However I don't desire that, to make sure that's why I come right here, I want to have a good time," she claims.

Hosts are hired by bars similar to this one to offer friendship and also enjoyment. Formally that means pouring beverages for their customers, dancing and also chatting with them, and singing karaoke.

Host bar in Seoul
Sex is not officially available in a lot of host bars. That would certainly be prohibited however also Minkyoung appears pleased to touch as well as flirt with her host, and the males below approximate that around half the consumers desire to pay for sex, either on or off the premises.

James has actually been working at Bar 123 for a number of years. In Korean culture, he says, there is a great deal of pride as well as bargaining a price for sex is never done clearly. Rather, he informs me, it is all to the host's own assessment.

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

" After speaking to a lady for a hr we primarily understand just how much cash she makes as well as what she provides for a living. We've currently evaluated her personality and what she wants to give."


James and other hosts claim their clients include a few of South Korea's elite, which the cash and also advantages on deal boggle the mind. One customer James fulfilled, throughout his first week in the task, asked him to sign himself over to her for two years.

" She claimed 'let's make an agreement. I've got this paper and also I've numbered it 1-5. Whatever you write down alongside those numbers, I'll get you.'".

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

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

Actually maybe, host bars expanded out of one of Korea's most established and also, some state, misogynist company traditions - the room salon. These are exclusive drinking spaces where teams of guys pick, as well as are served by, appealing women people hosting.

It was the people hosting' requirement to allow off vapor after job, claims expert host Kim Dong-hee, that created the preliminary demand for host bars, with all-male staff.

These girls are required to do points they don't desire to do for money.

" I assume a whole lot of them are in discomfort, as well as a great deal feel lonesome. Simply placed, they wish to buy our time and also our bodies.".

People hosting still make up a large percent of the consumers at host bars here, however at Bar 123, for example, as much as 40% of the clients on a given night are now from other strolls of life.

The reasons for that expanding appeal are bound in South Korea's rapid financial surge. Within 50 years, the country moved from post-war destruction to OECD participant.

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

" I believe that with all this fast development comes rapid change, and also Koreans simply do not know just how to deal with it. Increasingly, commercialism is surpassing standard social standards that you would expect a couple of decades back.".

Jasper Kim claims South Korea's infamously long working hrs have actually left numerous Korean women feeling lonely, while the country's technological breakthrough has actually left many individuals really feeling separated.

" The human element of Korean culture that existed previously merely does not exist today. Individuals are concentrated on technology, individuals are concentrated on their jobs, they aren't concentrated on human relations anymore.

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

The grandfather of Seoul's host bar scene, Kim Dong-hee, agrees that most of the women that involve host bars are not paying for sex however, for friendship, which is why he opened a brand-new chain of freshly-marketed 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 intend to have visual pleasure and desire to feel points, they're tactile. Females like to talk and to pay attention. And also that's why I thought about opening a bar such as this - a kind of discussion bar.".

Red Model Bars are various to standard host bars in one crucial respect - there is a no-touching regulation. Hosts remain on one side of the table, consumers on the other, and no physical call is enabled, and certainly no sex.

Perhaps as a result there is a lack of furtiveness among individuals that function or drink below - the lights are low, the decoration generally dark red and also the room is separated right into very discreet cubicles, but it is an open-plan area and also hosts and clients are split in each booth by a big table.

This brand-new company model depends completely on women paying the matching of hundreds or perhaps hundreds of dollars to speak to good-looking young males over a drink. Still, it seems to be working - 3 new branches are because of open this year.

Sitting at a table at one end of the bar was just one of their normal clients, a flower designer called Kim Nayu. She tells me she comes below each day to satisfy her much-loved host as well as go over concerns she is having at job.

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

" Talking to pals would be more affordable" she admits, "however they do not pay attention as much. They're active, and quickly to discuss themselves. Here, individuals will focus on me as well as they'll pay attention to me.".

" I spend a great deal of money but it deserves it of what I get mentally. People pay to visit see a psycho therapist or psychiatrist, so it's comparable however much less demanding.".

Nayu's favorite host Sung-il says it can be tough to maintain his expert as well as individual life different.

" Honestly I would certainly be lying if I claim I haven't been lured to take points additionally with some customers, due to the fact that we're human, we're men, however there are regulations.".

Among his clients chatted a great deal to her other half concerning him and also when the 3 of them met, Sung-il as well as the other half came to be friends.

" No one hides - the employees don't hide that they work here, as well as consumers can be open as well.".

This openness is posing a brand-new kind of challenge to South Korean society, different from the sometimes sleazy abyss of typical host bars and also their hinterland of male hooking.

By offering ladies a "reputable" method to test standard sex duties and bend their economic power, these brand-new bars ask concerns of Korean culture that are coming to be tougher to neglect.

Listen to the complete record on BBC Radio 4's Crossing Continents. You can listen using the Radio 4 website or by means of the Crossing Continents podcast.


The attraction of host bars can be subtle. Below, she claims, she has even more attention from her male companions, more option and, most importantly, more control.
James has actually been working at Bar 123 for a pair of years. Rather, he informs me, it is all down to the host's own assessment.

And also that's why I believed of opening up a bar like this - a kind of discussion bar.".

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