Learn even more concerning women-only host bars in Gangnam, Korea
South Korea's quick economic growth has actually meant some surprising changes within its conservative social framework, including the rise of so-called host bars, where affluent women pay the equivalent of hundreds of bucks for male firm.
In the dark light of an underground room, a loads flawlessly brushed young guys kneel in rows, calling out their names.
Muscle, with shiny boy-band hairdos, they cram alongside into the narrow space, waiting on us to make our choice. Outdoors in the passage, more of their associates are arriving for an additional evening at the office. It is 2am, and we are their initial customers.
Hidden under the pavements of Seoul's ritziest postcode, Gangnam, the males at Bar 123 are part of a growing market, which outgrew the long customs of Japanese geisha as well as Korea's kisaeng residences however with one essential distinction - the customers right here are all women.
Known as "host bars", these all-night alcohol consumption areas use women customers the possibility to pay as well as pick for male friends, in some cases at a cost of hundreds of pounds a night.
Among the ladies I meet at Bar 123 is Minkyoung, a waitressing supervisor for a luxury resort. As soon as or twice a month, she claims she comes to host bars.
Minkyoung is very pretty as well as her clothes are immaculate. She does not look like somebody that would certainly need to pay for male company. However the allure of host bars can be subtle. Here, she says, she has more interest from her male buddies, more option and also, crucially, even more control.
PROMOTION
" In normal bars the people who drink with me have just one goal - to have an one-night stand. But I do not desire that, so that's why I come below, I want to enjoy," she says.
Hosts are hired by bars like this one to offer friendship and also enjoyment. Officially that means putting beverages for their clients, talking and also dancing with them, and singing karaoke.
Host bar in Seoul
Sex is not formally on deal in most host bars. That would be unlawful but even Minkyoung appears pleased to tease and also touch with her host, and the men below estimate that around half the customers intend to spend for sex, either on or off the properties.
James has been operating at Bar 123 for a number of years. In Korean society, he says, there is a great deal of pride as well as discussing a cost for sex is never done explicitly. Instead, he informs me, it is all to the host's own analysis.
" The people below are pros - we recognize what we're doing," he states.
" After speaking with a lady for an hour we generally understand just how much cash she makes as well as what she does for a living. We've currently analysed her character as well as what she agrees to provide."
James as well as other hosts say their clients include a few of South Korea's elite, and that the money and also rewards available boggle the mind. One customer James satisfied, throughout his initial week in the job, asked him to sign himself over to her for two years.
" She claimed 'let's make a contract. I've got this notepad and 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 considering that discovered the very same female invested ₤ 60,000 ($ 97,000) on one more host.
" If it happened currently, I 'd do it - I would certainly be assuming straight.".
Actually maybe, host bars outgrew among Korea's most entrenched as well as, some say, misogynist organization traditions - the space hair salon. These are exclusive drinking areas where teams of males select, and also are served by, appealing women hostesses.
It was the people hosting' need to let off vapor after job, says veteran host Kim Dong-hee, that developed the first need for host bars, with all-male personnel.
" What these people hosting desire is to [make us] do the exact same point they needed to perform in their very own office. These girls are compelled 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 acquire our time and also our bodies.".
Hostesses still comprise a big percent of the clients at host bars below, yet at Bar 123, for instance, as much as 40% of the clients on a provided night are now from various other strolls of life.
The factors for that growing allure are locked up in South Korea's fast economic surge. Within 50 years, the country moved from post-war destruction 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 think that with all this rapid growth comes rapid adjustment, as well as Koreans just do not know exactly how to handle it. Progressively, capitalism is overtaking basic social norms that you would certainly anticipate a number of decades back.".
Jasper Kim says South Korea's notoriously lengthy functioning hours have left several Korean women feeling lonely, while the country's technical breakthrough has actually left lots of people really feeling detached.
" The human element of Korean society that existed previously merely does not exist today. Individuals are concentrated on innovation, people are concentrated on their tasks, they aren't concentrated on human relations any longer.
" In many means, Korean society today kind of advises me of 1960s culture in the US, where it's on the verge of some kind of social transformation.".
The grandpa of Seoul's host bar scene, Kim Dong-hee, agrees that a lot of the women that involve host bars are not paying for sex however for companionship, which is why he opened up 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 intend to have aesthetic pleasure and intend to really feel points, they're tactile. Ladies like to speak as well as to listen. And also that's why I thought of opening a bar such as this - a type of discussion bar.".
Red Model Bars are different to conventional host bars in one essential respect - there is a no-touching policy. Hosts rest on one side of the table, clients on the other, and also no physical contact is enabled, and also definitely no sex.
Possibly because of this there is a lack of furtiveness amongst the individuals that function or drink here - the lights are low, the decoration mostly dark red as well as the space is split right into discreet cubicles, however it is an open-plan area as well as consumers and also hosts are split in each booth by a large table.
This new organization model depends entirely on women paying the matching of hundreds and even thousands of dollars to talk with attractive boys over a drink. Still, it seems to be working - three brand-new branches are because of open this year.
Sitting at a table at one end of bench was among their routine consumers, a flower designer called Kim Nayu. She informs me she comes here every day to fulfill her favorite host and talk about issues she is having at work.
The price for this slice of male focus is $487-650 (₤ 300-400) a day.
" Talking to friends would be cheaper" she confesses, "yet they don't pay attention as much. They're active, and also in a hurry to talk concerning themselves. Right here, individuals will certainly take notice of me and also they'll pay attention to me.".
" I spend a great deal of money however it's worth it wherefore I get emotionally. Individuals pay to head to see a psycho therapist or psychoanalyst, so it's similar but less demanding.".
Nayu's much-loved host Sung-il claims it can be hard to keep his personal and also professional life separate.
" Honestly I 'd be existing if I state I have not been tempted to take points better with some clients, since we're human, we're males, yet there are rules.".
Among his clients chatted a whole lot to her partner about him and when the three of them fulfilled, Sung-il as well as the spouse became close friends.
" No one conceals - the workers do not hide that they work below, as well as consumers can be open also.".
This openness is posturing a new type of obstacle to South Korean society, different from the often sleazy underworld of traditional host bars and also their hinterland of male prostitution.
By supplying women a "commendable" way to challenge conventional sex functions and bend their financial power, these brand-new bars ask concerns of Korean society that are becoming tougher to ignore.
Listen to the full record 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 appeal of host bars can be subtle. Below, she says, she has even more attention from her male friends, even more option and also, most importantly, even more control.
James has been working at Bar 123 for a pair of years. Instead, he tells me, it is all down to the host's own evaluation.
As well as that's why I believed of opening a bar like this - a kind of dialogue bar.".