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Figure out more about women-only host bars in Gangnam, Korea
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South Korea's quick economic advancement has actually indicated some stunning adjustments within its conventional social framework, consisting of the surge of so-called host bars, where rich females pay the equivalent of hundreds of dollars for male business.

In the dim light of a basement, a loads completely brushed young males stoop in rows, calling out their names.

Muscle, with glossy boy-band hairdos, they cram alongside right into the narrow room, waiting on us to make our choice. Outdoors in the passage, more of their associates are getting here for another evening at work. It is 2am, and we are their initial customers.

Surprise beneath the sidewalks of Seoul's ritziest postal code, Gangnam, the men at Bar 123 become part of an expanding sector, which grew out of the lengthy customs of Japanese geisha and Korea's kisaeng residences however with one essential distinction - the consumers here are all ladies.

Recognized as "host bars", these all-night drinking spaces offer women customers the chance to pay as well as select for male buddies, in some cases at a cost of hundreds of extra pounds a night.

Among the females I satisfy at Bar 123 is Minkyoung, a waitressing supervisor for a first-class hotel. Once or two times a month, she says she comes to host bars.


Minkyoung is extremely rather and her clothing are immaculate. She does not look like a person who would certainly need to pay for male company. But the attraction of host bars can be subtle. Here, she states, she has more focus from her male friends, even more selection and, most importantly, more control.
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" In regular bars the men that drink with me have just one objective - to have a casual sex. Yet I do not desire that, to make sure that's why I come here, I intend to have a good time," she says.


Hosts are hired by bars such as this one to supply companionship and amusement. Officially that indicates putting drinks for their consumers, dancing and also talking with them, and also vocal singing karaoke.

Host bar in Seoul
Sex is not officially on offer in the majority of host bars. That would certainly be illegal yet even Minkyoung seems happy to touch as well as tease with her host, and also the guys right here estimate that around half the customers want to pay for sex, either on or off the properties.

James has actually been operating at Bar 123 for a number of years. In Korean culture, he states, there is a whole lot of pride as well as negotiating a cost for sex is never done explicitly. Instead, he informs me, it is all down to the host's very own evaluation.

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

" After speaking with a woman for a hr we primarily know just how much money she makes as well as what she does for a living. We've currently evaluated her individuality and what she wants to provide."

James as well as other hosts say their customers include a few of South Korea's elite, and that the cash as well as benefits on deal are astonishing. One client James fulfilled, throughout his very first week in the job, asked him to sign himself over to her for 2 years.

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

James claims at the time he took it as a joke yet considering that learnt the exact same woman invested ₤ 60,000 ($ 97,000) on an additional host.

" If it occurred now, I 'd do it - I 'd be assuming straight.".

Paradoxically maybe, host bars expanded out of among Korea's most entrenched and also, some say, misogynist service practices - the space beauty salon. These are private alcohol consumption spaces where teams of males pick, and also are offered by, attractive female people hosting.

It was the hostesses' need to allow off vapor after work, states veteran host Kim Dong-hee, that created the preliminary need for host bars, with all-male staff.

These girls are forced to do points they don't want to do for money.

" I think a whole lot of them are in discomfort, and a great deal really feel lonely. Put simply, they desire to acquire our time and also our bodies.".

Hostesses still compose a huge percentage of the consumers at host bars right here, yet at Bar 123, for instance, up to 40% of the consumers on a provided night are currently from other walks of life.

The reasons for that growing charm are locked up in South Korea's rapid financial surge. Within 50 years, the nation moved from post-war devastation to OECD member.

According to Jasper Kim, head of the Asia-Pacific Global Research Group in Seoul, something important was shed along the method.

" I believe that with all this fast growth comes quick modification, as well as Koreans just don't understand how to deal with it. Increasingly, industrialism is overtaking standard social norms that you would expect a number of decades ago.".

Jasper Kim claims South Korea's notoriously long functioning hours have actually left numerous Korean females really feeling lonely, while the country's technological breakthrough has left many individuals really feeling removed.

" The human element of Korean culture that existed in the past simply doesn't exist today. People are focused on innovation, individuals are concentrated on their jobs, they aren't concentrated on human connections anymore.

" In lots of methods, Korean society today kind of reminds me of 1960s culture in the United States, where it's on the brink of some sort of cultural change.".

The grandpa of Seoul's host bar scene, Kim Dong-hee, concurs that numerous of the females who come 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 aimed at the mainstream market - called Red Model Bars.

Red Model Bar hosts.
Picture subtitle,.
Hosts at Red Model Bars can not touch customers.
" Men wish to have aesthetic pleasure and also wish to feel things, they're tactile. Women like to chat and also to pay attention. And that's why I assumed of opening a bar such as this - a type of discussion bar.".

Red Model Bars are various to traditional host bars in one vital respect - there is a no-touching rule. Hosts remain on one side of the table, clients on the various other, as well as no physical call is enabled, and also certainly no sex.

Possibly therefore there is an absence of furtiveness among the people that function or drink right here - the lights are reduced, the decoration generally dark red and the area is separated right into discreet booths, but it is an open-plan room and consumers and hosts are divided in each cubicle by a big table.

This new company model depends totally on women paying the matching of hundreds and even countless bucks to talk to fine-looking young guys over a beverage. Still, it seems to be functioning - 3 new branches are due to open this year.

Sitting at a table at one end of bench was one of their regular customers, a floral designer called Kim Nayu. She informs me she comes right here daily to meet her favorite host as well as discuss problems she is contending work.

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

" Talking to buddies would be less expensive" she confesses, "but they do not pay attention as much. They're active, and also quickly to chat concerning themselves. Below, individuals will certainly take notice of me and they'll listen to me.".

" I invest a whole lot of money yet it's worth it of what I get mentally. People pay to head to see a psycho therapist or psychoanalyst, so it's comparable yet much less demanding.".

Nayu's favourite host Sung-il claims it can be tough to maintain his specialist and personal life separate.

" Honestly I 'd be existing if I say I haven't been tempted to take points even more with some consumers, due to the fact that we're human, we're guys, but there are policies.".

Among his customers talked a whole lot to her partner concerning him as well as when the 3 of them fulfilled, Sung-il and also the hubby came to be close good friends.

" No one hides - the employees do not conceal that they work below, and also clients can be open as well.".

This openness is posing a brand-new type of obstacle to South Korean society, different from the sometimes sleazy abyss of traditional host bars as well as their hinterland of male prostitution.

By offering females a "commendable" means to test conventional gender functions and also bend their economic power, these brand-new bars ask inquiries of Korean culture that are ending up being harder to ignore.

Hear the full report on BBC Radio 4's Crossing Continents. You can listen by means of the Radio 4 web site or via the Crossing Continents podcast.


The appeal of host bars can be refined. Below, she states, she has even more attention from her male companions, even more choice as well as, crucially, more control.
James has been working at Bar 123 for a couple of years. Instead, he tells me, it is all down to the host's own assessment.

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

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