Notes

Figure out more concerning women-only host bars in Gangnam, Korea
South Korea's fast financial advancement has indicated some startling modifications within its conservative social framework, including the rise of supposed host bars, where well-off women pay the equivalent of thousands of dollars for male firm.

In the dark light of a below ground area, a lots completely groomed boys kneel in rows, calling out their names.

Muscular, with shiny boy-band hairdos, they pack alongside into the narrow room, waiting on us to make our option. Outdoors in the passage, more of their associates are arriving for one more night at the workplace. It is 2am, as well as we are their first customers.

Concealed under the sidewalks of Seoul's ritziest postcode, Gangnam, the men at Bar 123 are component of an expanding market, which outgrew the long practices of Japanese geisha as well as Korea's kisaeng houses however with one important difference - the consumers right here are all women.

Understood as "host bars", these all-night alcohol consumption spaces provide female clients the opportunity to choose and pay for male buddies, occasionally at a cost of hundreds of extra pounds an evening.

One of the females I meet at Bar 123 is Minkyoung, a waitressing supervisor for a luxury resort. Once or twice a month, she states she comes to host bars.


Minkyoung is extremely pretty as well as her clothes are spotless. She does not look like a person that would certainly require to spend for male firm. The attraction of host bars can be subtle. Here, she claims, she has even more interest from her male buddies, more option as well as, most importantly, even more control.
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" In routine bars the men that consume with me have just one goal - to have a casual sex. I do not desire that, so that's why I come below, I desire to have fun," she says.

Hosts are worked with by bars similar to this one to give companionship and amusement. Formally that indicates pouring beverages for their consumers, chatting and dancing with them, as well as singing karaoke.

Host bar in Seoul
Sex is not officially available in the majority of host bars. That would certainly be illegal but even Minkyoung seems delighted to touch and tease with her host, and the males right here estimate that around half the customers wish to pay for sex, either on or off the facilities.

James has actually been functioning at Bar 123 for a number of years. In Korean culture, he claims, there is a great deal of pride and bargaining a price for sex is never ever done clearly. Instead, he tells me, it is all down to the host's own assessment.

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

" After talking with a woman for an hour we essentially understand just how much cash she makes and also what she provides for a living. We've already evaluated her personality and what she agrees to give."

James as well as various other hosts claim their clients consist of some of South Korea's elite, which the cash and rewards on offer are amazing. One client James satisfied, throughout his very first week in the job, asked him to sign himself over to her for 2 years. 부산호스트바

" She said 'let's make an agreement. I've obtained this notepad as well as I've numbered it 1-5. Whatever you write down next to those numbers, I'll obtain you.'".

James says at the time he took it as a joke however because learnt the very same lady invested ₤ 60,000 ($ 97,000) on one more host.

" If it took place now, I 'd do it - I 'd be thinking straight.".

Paradoxically perhaps, host bars expanded out of one of Korea's most entrenched as well as, some claim, misogynist company customs - the space hair salon. These are private alcohol consumption rooms where groups of guys pick, and also are served by, eye-catching women hostesses.

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

" What these hostesses desire is to [make us] do the same point they had to carry out in their very own office. These women are compelled to do things they do not want to provide for cash.

" I think a great deal of them are in discomfort, as well as a lot really feel lonely. Put simply, they wish to get our time and our bodies.".

People hosting still compose a big percent of the clients at host bars here, however at Bar 123, as an example, approximately 40% of the customers on a provided night are now from various other walks of life.

The factors for that expanding allure are connected up in South Korea's quick financial increase. Within 50 years, the nation shifted 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 assume that with all this quick growth comes rapid modification, as well as Koreans just don't recognize how to manage it. Progressively, commercialism is surpassing fundamental societal norms that you would anticipate a number of decades back.".

Jasper Kim claims South Korea's infamously lengthy functioning hours have actually left lots of Korean ladies really feeling lonely, while the nation's technical breakthrough has left lots of people feeling separated.

" The human component of Korean society that existed in the past simply doesn't exist today. People are concentrated on modern technology, individuals are focused on their tasks, they aren't concentrated on human relationships any longer.

" In numerous means, Korean society today type of advises me of 1960s society in the United States, where it's on the edge of some sort of social change.".

The grandpa of Seoul's host bar scene, Kim Dong-hee, concurs that a number of the women that involve host bars are not spending for sex however, for companionship, which is why he opened a new chain of freshly-marketed electrical outlets targeted at the mainstream market - called Red Model Bars.

Red Model Bar hosts.
Picture subtitle,.
Hosts at Red Model Bars can not touch clients.
" Men wish to have aesthetic enjoyment and wish to really feel points, they're tactile. Females like to talk and to listen. Which's why I considered opening up a bar similar to this - a type of dialogue bar.".


Red Model Bars are different to conventional host bars in one vital regard - there is a no-touching regulation. Hosts rest on one side of the table, customers on the various other, and also no physical call is permitted, as well as absolutely no sex.

Probably as an outcome there is a lack of furtiveness amongst individuals who function or consume below - the lights are reduced, the decoration mostly dark red and also the room is separated into discreet cubicles, however it is an open-plan space and also hosts and also consumers are separated in each cubicle by a large table.

This new company design depends completely on females paying the equivalent of hundreds and even countless dollars to speak to attractive boys over a beverage. Still, it appears to be functioning - three new branches are because of open this year.

Resting at a table at one end of the bar was one of their regular clients, a floral designer called Kim Nayu. She tells me she comes here daily to fulfill her much-loved host and also go over problems she is contending work.

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, as well as in a hurry to speak about themselves. Right here, people will certainly pay interest to me and they'll pay attention to me.".

" I invest a great deal of cash but it deserves it of what I get mentally. Individuals pay to go to see a psycho therapist or psychoanalyst, so it's similar yet less demanding.".

Nayu's much-loved host Sung-il says it can be difficult to maintain his specialist and personal life different.

" Honestly I would certainly be lying if I state I haven't been attracted to take points additionally with some consumers, because we're human, we're men, however there are guidelines.".

Among his consumers spoke a whole lot to her other half concerning him as well as when the 3 of them satisfied, Sung-il as well as the hubby became close pals.

" No one hides - the employees don't conceal that they function below, and also customers can be open too.".

This visibility is posturing a new kind of challenge to South Korean culture, different from the often shabby abyss of conventional host bars and also their hinterland of male hooking.

By supplying women a "reputable" way to test standard gender roles as well as flex their financial power, these brand-new bars ask concerns of Korean culture that are ending up being more difficult to neglect.

Listen to the full report on BBC Radio 4's Crossing Continents. You can listen using the Radio 4 web site or using the Crossing Continents podcast.


The attraction of host bars can be subtle. Here, she claims, she has even more interest from her male buddies, even more option and also, most importantly, even more control.
James has been working at Bar 123 for a couple of years. Rather, he tells me, it is all down to the host's very own analysis.

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

Here's my website: https://busanhoppa.club/