Learn even more about women-only host bars in Gangnam, Korea
South Korea's quick financial advancement has actually meant some stunning adjustments within its traditional social framework, including the increase of supposed host bars, where wealthy females pay the matching of countless bucks for male firm.
In the dim light of a below ground area, a dozen perfectly brushed boys kneel in rows, calling out their names.
Muscle, with glossy boy-band hairstyles, they pack side-by-side right into the slim area, waiting for us to make our selection. Outside in the corridor, more of their coworkers are getting here for another evening at the workplace. It is 2am, as well as we are their first consumers.
Surprise below the pavements of Seoul's ritziest postal code, Gangnam, the males at Bar 123 belong to a growing industry, which grew out of the lengthy practices of Japanese geisha as well as Korea's kisaeng houses yet with one critical distinction - the consumers right here are all ladies.
Referred to as "host bars", these all-night drinking spaces provide women consumers the opportunity to pay and choose for male buddies, sometimes at an expense of thousands of pounds an evening.
One of the women I meet at Bar 123 is Minkyoung, a waitressing manager for a five-star resort. She claims she involves host bars one or two times a month.
Minkyoung is very quite and also her clothes are immaculate. She does not look like a person that would certainly need to pay for male firm. The attraction of host bars can be refined. Here, she says, she has even more focus from her male companions, more selection as well as, crucially, more control.
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" In normal bars the individuals that consume alcohol with me have only one objective - to have an one-night stand. However I do not want that, so that's why I come right here, I desire to have fun," she states.
Hosts are worked with by bars similar to this one to give friendship and home entertainment. Formally that indicates pouring drinks for their consumers, speaking as well as dancing with them, and also vocal singing karaoke.
Host bar in Seoul
Sex is not officially on deal in many host bars. That would be illegal however even Minkyoung appears satisfied to touch as well as tease with her host, and the guys here approximate that around half the clients want to pay for sex, either on or off the facilities.
James has been operating at Bar 123 for a couple of years. In Korean culture, he says, there is a great deal of pride and negotiating a cost for sex is never ever done explicitly. Instead, he tells me, it is all down to the host's very own analysis.
" The people right here are pros - we understand what we're doing," he states.
" After talking to a girl for an hour we primarily know just how much money she makes and also what she does for a living. We've already evaluated her individuality and what she wants to give."
James and other hosts state their clients consist of some of South Korea's elite, and that the cash and benefits on offer boggle the mind. One customer James fulfilled, throughout his initial week in the task, asked him to authorize himself over to her for two years.
" She said 'allow's make an agreement. I've obtained this item of paper as well as I've numbered it 1-5. Whatever you write down alongside those numbers, I'll get you.'".
James claims at the time he took it as a joke but considering that figured out the very same female spent ₤ 60,000 ($ 97,000) on one more host.
" If it occurred currently, I would certainly do it - I 'd be assuming straight.".
Paradoxically probably, host bars grew out of one of Korea's most established as well as, some state, misogynist service customs - the space salon. These are exclusive drinking rooms where groups of men choose, and also are offered by, attractive female hostesses.
It was the people hosting' demand to allow off steam after work, states veteran host Kim Dong-hee, that created the preliminary demand for host bars, with all-male staff.
These ladies are compelled to do things they do not want to do for cash.
" I think a great deal of them are in pain, and a whole lot feel lonesome. Put simply, they intend to purchase our time and our bodies.".
People hosting still make up a big percentage of the consumers at host bars here, but at Bar 123, for instance, up to 40% of the clients on a provided night are now from various other profession.
The factors for that expanding allure are tied up in South Korea's fast financial increase. Within 50 years, the nation changed from post-war devastation to OECD participant.
But, according to Jasper Kim, head of the Asia-Pacific Global Research Group in Seoul, something essential was shed along the means.
" I believe that with all this rapid development comes quick change, as well as Koreans just do not understand how to deal with it. Increasingly, commercialism is surpassing standard social standards that you would certainly expect a couple of decades earlier.".
Jasper Kim says South Korea's infamously long functioning hours have actually left numerous Korean ladies feeling lonely, while the nation's technical development has actually left lots of people really feeling separated.
" The human element of Korean society that existed before merely does not exist today. Individuals are concentrated on technology, individuals are concentrated on their work, they aren't concentrated on human relations any longer.
" In lots of ways, Korean society today kind of advises me of 1960s society in the United States, where it's on the edge of some kind of cultural transformation.".
The grandfather of Seoul's host bar scene, Kim Dong-hee, concurs that much of the women who concern host bars are not spending for sex however, for companionship, which is why he opened a brand-new chain of freshly-marketed electrical outlets intended 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 wish to have aesthetic satisfaction and also intend to feel points, they're tactile. Females like to speak and also to pay attention. As well as that's why I considered opening up a bar similar to this - a kind of discussion bar.".
Red Model Bars are various to typical host bars in one essential regard - there is a no-touching policy. Hosts rest on one side of the table, customers on the other, as well as no physical contact is allowed, and also absolutely no sex.
Probably therefore there is an absence of furtiveness among individuals that work or consume alcohol right here - the lights are low, the style generally dark red as well as the area is divided right into very discreet cubicles, but it is an open-plan room and also hosts and also customers are divided in each cubicle by a huge table.
This brand-new company design depends totally on women paying the equivalent of hundreds or also countless dollars to talk with fine-looking young males over a beverage. Still, it appears to be working - three new branches result from open this year.
Resting at a table at one end of the bar was one of their normal clients, a flower shop called Kim Nayu. She informs me she comes below everyday to satisfy her favourite host and talk about issues she is contending job.
The price for this piece of male attention is $487-650 (₤ 300-400) a day.
" Talking to close friends would be more affordable" she admits, "but they don't pay attention as much. They're hectic, and in a hurry to speak about themselves. Here, individuals will take notice of me as well as they'll listen to me.".
" I spend a whole lot of cash but it deserves it for what I obtain emotionally. Individuals pay to head to see a psycho therapist or psychoanalyst, so it's similar yet much less difficult.".
Nayu's favourite host Sung-il claims it can be hard to keep his personal and also professional life separate.
" Honestly I would certainly be lying if I say I haven't been lured to take things even more with some consumers, because we're human, we're men, yet there are regulations.".
Among his consumers spoke a whole lot to her other half regarding him as well as when the three of them met, Sung-il as well as the husband ended up being friends.
" No one hides - the employees do not conceal that they work here, and consumers can be open as well.".
This openness is posturing a brand-new type of difficulty to South Korean society, various from the in some cases sleazy abyss of standard host bars and their hinterland of male prostitution.
By offering females a "reputable" method to test traditional sex functions as well as flex their financial power, these new bars ask questions of Korean society that are becoming tougher to neglect.
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 attraction of host bars can be refined. Below, she claims, she has even more interest from her male buddies, more selection and, crucially, even more control.
James has actually been functioning at Bar 123 for a pair of years. Instead, he tells me, it is all down to the host's very own evaluation.
As well as that's why I assumed of opening up a bar like this - a kind of dialogue bar.".