Discover even more about women-only host bars in Gangnam, Korea
South Korea's rapid economic development has actually implied some startling changes within its traditional social framework, consisting of the increase of so-called host bars, where rich females pay the matching of thousands of dollars for male firm.
In the dark light of a basement, a loads perfectly brushed young guys stoop in rows, calling out their names.
Muscle, with shiny boy-band hairstyles, they pack side-by-side right into the slim room, waiting on us to make our choice. Outside in the corridor, even more of their colleagues are arriving for another evening at the workplace. It is 2am, as well as we are their first clients.
Surprise underneath the sidewalks of Seoul's ritziest postcode, Gangnam, the males at Bar 123 become part of a growing sector, which outgrew the lengthy practices of Japanese geisha and Korea's kisaeng homes however with one important distinction - the customers here are all women.
Known as "host bars", these all-night alcohol consumption spaces supply women customers the opportunity to choose as well as pay for male buddies, sometimes at a cost of thousands of pounds a night.
One of the women I fulfill at Bar 123 is Minkyoung, a waitressing manager for a first-class hotel. When or two times a month, she states she comes to host bars.
Minkyoung is extremely quite and also her clothes are immaculate. She does not look like somebody who would certainly need to spend for male company. The appeal of host bars can be subtle. Right here, she claims, she has even more interest from her male friends, even more choice and also, most importantly, more control.
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" In regular bars the guys who consume alcohol with me have just one objective - to have an one-night stand. However I do not desire that, to make sure that's why I come right here, I desire to enjoy," she states.
Hosts are worked with by bars such as this one to give friendship as well as amusement. Officially that means pouring beverages for their clients, dancing as well as speaking with them, as well as singing karaoke.
Host bar in Seoul
Sex is not formally available in most host bars. That would be illegal yet even Minkyoung seems satisfied to touch as well as flirt with her host, and the guys here approximate that around half the customers intend to spend 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 claims, there is a great deal of satisfaction and discussing a price for sex is never done clearly. Rather, he tells me, it is all down to the host's own analysis.
" The guys below are pros - we understand what we're doing," he states.
" After talking with a girl for an hour we essentially know exactly how much cash she makes and also what she does for a living. We've already analysed her personality and what she's prepared to provide."
James as well as other hosts say their customers consist of several of South Korea's elite, which the cash as well as perks available boggle the mind. One customer James satisfied, throughout his very first week in the job, asked him to sign himself over to her for two years.
" She claimed 'allow's make a contract. I've obtained this notepad and also I've numbered it 1-5. Whatever you document following to those numbers, I'll obtain you.'".
James claims at the time he took it as a joke yet given that learnt the very same woman invested ₤ 60,000 ($ 97,000) on an additional host.
" If it took place currently, I 'd do it - I would certainly be assuming straight.".
Ironically possibly, host bars expanded out of among Korea's most entrenched and, some state, misogynist business practices - the room beauty salon. These are private alcohol consumption areas where teams of men choose, and are served by, eye-catching female people hosting.
It was the people hosting' requirement to allow off steam after job, claims expert host Kim Dong-hee, that produced the preliminary demand for host bars, with all-male personnel.
" What these people hosting desire is to [make us] do the same thing they had to carry out in their own office. These ladies are required to do things they don't wish to do for money.
" I think a great deal of them are in pain, and also a great deal feel lonesome. Put simply, they want to get our time and our bodies.".
Hostesses still make up a big percentage of the customers at host bars here, however at Bar 123, for example, up to 40% of the customers on a given night are currently from other profession.
The reasons for that growing charm are locked up in South Korea's quick economic rise. Within 50 years, the country shifted from post-war destruction to OECD participant.
According to Jasper Kim, head of the Asia-Pacific Global Research Group in Seoul, something crucial was lost along the means.
" I assume that with all this rapid growth comes quick modification, and also Koreans just do not know just how to manage it. Progressively, industrialism is overtaking standard social norms that you would expect a couple of decades back.".
Jasper Kim claims South Korea's notoriously lengthy functioning hours have left several Korean women feeling lonesome, while the country's technical breakthrough has actually left lots of people really feeling removed.
" The human element of Korean culture that existed previously merely does not exist today. People are concentrated on innovation, people are concentrated on their work, they aren't concentrated on human relationships anymore.
" In many means, Korean culture today sort of advises me of 1960s culture in the US, where it's on the brink of some sort of social revolution.".
The grandfather of Seoul's host bar scene, Kim Dong-hee, agrees that a lot of the women who come to host bars are not spending for sex but for friendship, which is why he opened a brand-new chain of freshly-marketed 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 desire to have visual enjoyment and also wish to really feel things, they're tactile. Females like to speak and also to pay attention. And that's why I assumed of opening up a bar like this - a type of discussion bar.".
Red Model Bars are different to typical host bars in one vital respect - there is a no-touching policy. Hosts rest on one side of the table, clients on the other, and also no physical get in touch with is allowed, and absolutely no sex.
Perhaps because of this there is a lack of furtiveness among the individuals who work or consume right here - the lights are low, the decoration generally dark red as well as the room is divided into very discreet cubicles, but it is an open-plan area and also hosts and also clients are divided in each booth by a big table.
This new service model depends entirely on females paying the matching of hundreds and even countless bucks to speak to fine-looking young males over a drink. Still, it seems to be working - 3 brand-new branches result from open this year.
Resting at a table at one end of bench was among their routine clients, a floral designer called Kim Nayu. She tells me she comes below each day to satisfy her much-loved host and also review concerns she is contending work.
The price for this piece of male interest is $487-650 (₤ 300-400) a day.
" Talking to good friends would certainly be more affordable" she confesses, "yet they do not pay attention as much. They're hectic, and in a hurry to discuss themselves. Right here, people will certainly take note of me as well as they'll listen to me.".
" I invest a great deal 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 much less demanding.".
Nayu's much-loved host Sung-il claims it can be hard to keep his specialist and personal life different.
" Honestly I 'd be lying if I say I have not been tempted to take things better with some consumers, due to the fact that we're human, we're guys, yet there are regulations.".
Among his clients yapped to her husband regarding him as well as when the three of them satisfied, Sung-il as well as the hubby ended up being close pals.
" No one conceals - the workers do not conceal that they function below, and customers can be open also.".
This openness is positioning a new type of obstacle to South Korean culture, different from the occasionally shabby abyss of conventional host bars and also their hinterland of male hooking.
By using females a "commendable" means to challenge conventional sex functions and also flex their financial power, these brand-new bars ask concerns of Korean culture that are coming to be tougher to ignore.
Listen to the complete report on BBC Radio 4's Crossing Continents. You can pay attention using the Radio 4 site or by means of the Crossing Continents podcast.
The attraction of host bars can be refined. Here, she says, she has even more attention from her male friends, more option and, crucially, more control.
James has been working at Bar 123 for a pair of years. Rather, he informs me, it is all down to the host's own evaluation.
And that's why I thought of opening a bar like this - a kind of dialogue bar.".