Discover even more regarding women-only host bars in Gangnam, Korea
South Korea's quick economic growth has actually indicated some surprising adjustments within its conventional social structure, consisting of the surge of so-called host bars, where affluent ladies pay the matching of countless bucks for male business.
In the dim light of a below ground area, a lots perfectly groomed young males kneel in rows, calling out their names.
Muscle, with glossy boy-band hairstyles, they pack side by side into the narrow room, waiting for us to make our selection. Outdoors in the corridor, even more of their coworkers are getting here for one more night at work. It is 2am, and we are their initial clients.
Concealed underneath the pavements of Seoul's ritziest postcode, Gangnam, the males at Bar 123 become part of a growing sector, which grew out of the lengthy practices of Japanese geisha as well as Korea's kisaeng homes however with one essential difference - the clients right here are all ladies.
Understood as "host bars", these all-night drinking areas supply women customers the possibility to pick and also pay for male buddies, often at a cost of hundreds of extra pounds a night.
Among the females I fulfill at Bar 123 is Minkyoung, a waitressing manager for a luxury hotel. As soon as or two times a month, she states she comes to host bars.
The attraction of host bars can be refined. Here, she claims, she has even more interest from her male buddies, even more choice as well as, crucially, more control.
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" In routine bars the men that drink with me have only one objective - to have a casual sex. However I do not desire that, to ensure that's why I come right here, I want to enjoy," she claims.
Hosts are employed by bars such as this one to give friendship as well as enjoyment. Officially that indicates pouring beverages for their clients, dancing as well as talking with them, and also vocal singing karaoke.
Host bar in Seoul
Sex is not officially on offer in many host bars. That would certainly be prohibited but also Minkyoung seems delighted to touch and flirt with her host, and the guys here estimate that around half the clients wish to pay for sex, either on or off the facilities.
James has actually been working at Bar 123 for a number of years. In Korean culture, he states, there is a whole lot of satisfaction and also discussing a price for sex is never done explicitly. Instead, he informs me, it is all down to the host's own evaluation.
" The guys right here are pros - we know what we're doing," he says.
" After talking to a woman for a hr we primarily recognize exactly how much cash she makes and what she does for a living. We've currently analysed her character and also what she agrees to give."
James as well as other hosts claim their clients include a few of South Korea's elite, and that the money and also benefits available are astounding. One customer James met, during his 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 obtained this paper and also I've numbered it 1-5. Whatever you make a note of alongside those numbers, I'll get you.'".
James states at the time he took it as a joke yet given that learnt the same lady spent ₤ 60,000 ($ 97,000) on one more host.
" If it took place now, I would certainly do it - I would certainly be thinking straight.".
Paradoxically probably, host bars outgrew one of Korea's most entrenched and also, some claim, misogynist business customs - the room hair salon. These are private alcohol consumption rooms where teams of guys pick, and also are offered by, appealing female hostesses.
It was the people hosting' need to let off steam after job, claims professional host Kim Dong-hee, that produced the initial need for host bars, with all-male team.
" What these hostesses desire is to [make us] do the exact same thing they needed to perform in their very own office. These ladies are required to do things they do not wish to do for cash.
" I think a whole lot of them are in discomfort, and also a whole lot really feel lonely. Put simply, they intend to buy our time and our bodies.".
Hostesses still compose a large portion of the consumers at host bars below, however at Bar 123, for instance, approximately 40% of the customers on a given night are currently from other strolls of life.
The reasons for that expanding allure are locked up in South Korea's quick economic rise. Within 50 years, the country changed from post-war devastation to OECD member.
However, according to Jasper Kim, head of the Asia-Pacific Global Research Group in Seoul, something important was lost in the process.
" I think that with all this rapid growth comes quick change, and Koreans just do not recognize just how to deal with it. Increasingly, industrialism is surpassing basic social standards that you would certainly expect a pair of decades ago.".
Jasper Kim claims South Korea's infamously lengthy functioning hrs have left several Korean women feeling lonesome, while the country's technological advancement has left many individuals feeling detached.
" The human aspect of Korean culture that existed previously simply does not exist today. Individuals are concentrated on innovation, people are concentrated on their jobs, they aren't concentrated on human relationships anymore.
" In many methods, Korean culture today kind of reminds me of 1960s society in the US, where it's on the edge of some sort of social transformation.".
The grandfather of Seoul's host bar scene, Kim Dong-hee, concurs that a number of the females that involve host bars are not paying 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.
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Hosts at Red Model Bars can not touch clients.
" Men desire to have aesthetic enjoyment as well as wish to feel points, they're tactile. Women like to talk and also to pay attention. Which's why I considered opening up a bar like this - a type of discussion bar.".
Red Model Bars are various to conventional host bars in one essential respect - there is a no-touching guideline. Hosts remain on one side of the table, customers on the various other, as well as no physical get in touch with is enabled, as well as absolutely no sex.
Possibly because of this there is an absence of furtiveness amongst the individuals who function or consume alcohol below - the lights are reduced, the decor primarily dark red and also the space is split right into very discreet booths, yet it is an open-plan room and also customers and also hosts are split in each booth by a huge table.
This new company design depends completely on ladies paying the equivalent of hundreds or even thousands of bucks to talk with attractive boys over a beverage. Still, it seems to be functioning - 3 brand-new branches are because of open this year.
Sitting at a table at one end of the bar was one of their normal consumers, a flower shop called Kim Nayu. She tells me she comes below every day to fulfill her favorite host as well as discuss problems she is contending work.
The price for this slice of male attention is $487-650 (₤ 300-400) a day.
" Talking to friends would be cheaper" she admits, "but they do not pay attention as much. They're hectic, and in a rush to speak concerning themselves. Here, individuals will take notice of me as well as they'll listen to me.".
" I spend a great deal of money yet it deserves it wherefore I obtain emotionally. Individuals pay to go to see a psychologist or psychiatrist, so it's comparable however much less demanding.".
Nayu's preferred host Sung-il states it can be difficult to maintain his individual and specialist life different.
" Honestly I 'd be existing if I claim I haven't been attracted to take points even more with some customers, since we're human, we're men, yet there are policies.".
Among his clients chatted a whole lot to her other half about him and when the 3 of them satisfied, Sung-il as well as the spouse became friends.
" No one conceals - the workers do not conceal that they work right here, and consumers can be open also.".
This openness is posing a brand-new sort of obstacle to South Korean culture, different from the often seedy underworld of conventional host bars as well as their hinterland of male prostitution.
By using women a "commendable" method to test typical gender functions and flex their financial power, these new bars ask inquiries of Korean society that are becoming tougher to ignore.
Hear the complete report on BBC Radio 4's Crossing Continents. You can listen using the Radio 4 web site or by means of the Crossing Continents podcast.
The allure of host bars can be refined. Below, she claims, she has more interest from her male friends, even more option and, crucially, even more control.
James has been functioning at Bar 123 for a couple of years. Rather, he informs me, it is all down to the host's own analysis.
And also that's why I thought of opening a bar like this - a kind of discussion bar.".
