Notes

Discover more concerning women-only host bars in Gangnam, Korea
해운대고구려

South Korea's rapid economic development has indicated some startling modifications within its traditional social framework, including the surge of so-called host bars, where wealthy women pay the matching of hundreds of dollars for male business.

In the dark light of a basement, a dozen completely brushed young men kneel in rows, calling out their names.

Muscle, with shiny boy-band hairstyles, they cram alongside right into the slim space, awaiting us to make our option. Outdoors in the hallway, more of their coworkers are showing up for one more night at work. It is 2am, and we are their very first consumers.

Concealed under the pavements of Seoul's ritziest postal code, 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 important distinction - the customers right here are all females.

Called "host bars", these all-night drinking areas supply female clients the chance to pick as well as pay for male buddies, sometimes at a cost of thousands of pounds a night.

One of the females I satisfy at Bar 123 is Minkyoung, a waitressing supervisor for a luxury hotel. When or two times a month, she says she comes to host bars.


The allure of host bars can be refined. Here, she claims, she has even more interest from her male friends, more selection and also, crucially, even more control.
PROMOTION



" In regular bars the guys who drink with me have only one goal - to have an one-night stand. I do not want that, so that's why I come here, I desire to have fun," she claims.

Hosts are hired by bars such as this one to provide companionship as well as enjoyment. Officially that suggests pouring drinks for their consumers, speaking and dancing with them, as well as singing karaoke.

Host bar in Seoul
Sex is not officially on offer in a lot of host bars. That would be prohibited yet even Minkyoung appears pleased to touch and also flirt with her host, as well as the guys below approximate that around half the customers intend to spend for sex, either on or off the facilities.

James has been operating at Bar 123 for a couple of years. In Korean society, he says, there is a whole lot of satisfaction as well as working out a rate for sex is never done clearly. Rather, he tells me, it is all down to the host's own analysis.

" The individuals below are pros - we understand what we're doing," he states.

" After talking with a lady for an hour we primarily know just how much money she makes as well as what she provides for a living. We've currently evaluated her personality as well as what she wants to offer."

James as well as various other hosts say their consumers consist of some of South Korea's elite, which the cash and also rewards on offer boggle the mind. One customer James fulfilled, throughout his first week in the work, asked him to sign himself over to her for two years.

" She stated 'let's make an agreement. I've got this item of paper and also I've numbered it 1-5. Whatever you make a note of alongside those numbers, I'll obtain you.'".

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

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

Actually perhaps, host bars outgrew among Korea's most entrenched and, some state, misogynist business customs - the space hair salon. These are personal alcohol consumption spaces where teams of males choose, and also are offered by, appealing female hostesses.

It was the people hosting' requirement to allow off heavy steam after job, claims veteran host Kim Dong-hee, that developed the initial need for host bars, with all-male staff.

These ladies are required to do points they don't want to do for cash.

" I think a whole lot of them are in discomfort, as well as a lot feel lonely. Put simply, they want to acquire our time and our bodies.".

People hosting still comprise a large percentage of the clients at host bars here, but at Bar 123, for instance, approximately 40% of the consumers on a given evening are currently from other strolls of life.

The factors for that growing charm are locked up in South Korea's quick financial surge. Within 50 years, the nation changed from post-war destruction to OECD member.

According to Jasper Kim, head of the Asia-Pacific Global Research Group in Seoul, something crucial was lost along the means.

" I believe that with all this quick development comes rapid change, and Koreans just don't understand just how to handle it. Significantly, capitalism is surpassing standard social norms that you would expect a number of years back.".

Jasper Kim states South Korea's notoriously long working hours have actually left lots of Korean ladies feeling lonesome, while the nation's technical advance has left many individuals really feeling separated.

" The human component of Korean society that existed previously just doesn't exist today. Individuals are concentrated on technology, individuals are concentrated on their tasks, they aren't concentrated on human connections anymore.

" In lots of means, Korean culture today sort of reminds me of 1960s culture in the US, where it's on the edge of some type of social transformation.".

The grandfather of Seoul's host bar scene, Kim Dong-hee, concurs that a number 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 targeted at the mainstream market - called Red Model Bars.

Red Model Bar hosts.
Image subtitle,.
Hosts at Red Model Bars can not touch customers.
" Men wish to have aesthetic satisfaction and intend to feel things, they're tactile. Females like to talk and to pay attention. Which's why I assumed of opening a bar like this - a sort of discussion bar.".

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

Probably therefore there is an absence of furtiveness among individuals who work or consume below - the lights are low, the style generally dark red as well as the room is divided right into very discreet cubicles, however it is an open-plan room and also hosts as well as clients are separated in each cubicle by a big table.

This new service version depends totally on women paying the matching of hundreds and even countless bucks to chat to attractive boys over a drink. Still, it appears to be working - three brand-new branches are because of open this year.

Resting at a table at one end of the bar was among their regular clients, a florist called Kim Nayu. She informs me she comes here on a daily basis to fulfill her much-loved host and review problems she is contending work.

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

" Talking to close friends would certainly be more affordable" she admits, "however they do not listen as much. They're active, as well as quickly to talk regarding themselves. Right here, individuals will certainly pay focus to me and also they'll pay attention to me.".

" I spend a whole lot of money yet it's worth it for what I obtain mentally. Individuals pay to head to see a psychologist or psychoanalyst, so it's similar but less stressful.".

Nayu's favorite host Sung-il says it can be difficult to maintain his personal and also specialist life separate.

" Honestly I 'd be lying if I say I have not been attracted to take things better with some clients, since we're human, we're men, however there are policies.".

One of his clients talked a lot to her partner regarding him as well as when the 3 of them satisfied, Sung-il and also the other half became buddies.

" No one conceals - the employees do not hide that they work below, as well as clients can be open as well.".

This openness is positioning a new kind of challenge to South Korean society, various from the in some cases shabby underworld of typical host bars and their hinterland of male hooking.

By supplying females a "commendable" means to test conventional sex duties and bend their economic power, these brand-new bars ask inquiries of Korean culture that are becoming more challenging to disregard.


Listen to the full record 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 attraction of host bars can be subtle. Below, she says, she has more focus from her male buddies, more choice and also, crucially, more control.
James has been functioning at Bar 123 for a pair of years. Instead, he informs me, it is all down to the host's own evaluation.

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

Website: https://busanroom.club/%eb%b6%80%ec%82%b0%ea%b3%a0%ea%b5%ac%eb%a0%a4-%ed%95%b4%ec%9a%b4%eb%8c%80%ea%b3%a0%ea%b5%ac%eb%a0%a4-%eb%a3%b8%ec%8b%b8%eb%a1%b1/