Figure out more regarding women-only host bars in Gangnam, Korea

South Korea's rapid economic advancement has indicated some shocking changes within its traditional social structure, consisting of the rise of so-called host bars, where rich females pay the equivalent of countless dollars for male firm.
In the dim light of a basement, a loads perfectly groomed boys kneel in rows, calling out their names.
Muscle, with shiny boy-band hairstyles, they cram alongside right into the slim space, waiting for us to make our selection. Outside in the passage, even more of their coworkers are getting here for an additional evening at job. It is 2am, as well as we are their initial consumers.
Concealed under the pavements of Seoul's ritziest postcode, Gangnam, the men at Bar 123 are part of a growing market, which grew out of the long traditions of Japanese geisha and also Korea's kisaeng residences but with one crucial difference - the clients right here are all ladies.
Known as "host bars", these all-night drinking spaces provide women clients the opportunity to select and pay for male friends, often at a price of countless extra pounds an evening.
Among the females I satisfy at Bar 123 is Minkyoung, a waitressing supervisor for a first-class hotel. As soon as or twice a month, she says she comes to host bars.
Minkyoung is extremely pretty and also her clothing are spotless. She does not look like somebody that would need to pay for male business. The attraction of host bars can be refined. Here, she states, she has more focus from her male companions, more choice and, crucially, even more control.
ADVERTISEMENT
" In routine bars the individuals that consume with me have only one objective - to have an one-night stand. But I don't want that, to ensure that's why I come below, I desire to enjoy," she claims.
Hosts are employed by bars like this one to supply companionship and home entertainment. Officially that means pouring beverages for their customers, dancing and talking with them, as well as vocal singing karaoke.
Host bar in Seoul
Sex is not officially on deal in a lot of host bars. That would be illegal yet even Minkyoung seems pleased to tease as well as touch with her host, and also the males right here estimate that around half the customers wish to spend for sex, either on or off the premises.

James has actually been functioning at Bar 123 for a number of years. In Korean society, he states, there is a lot of pride as well as bargaining a cost for sex is never ever done explicitly. Rather, he informs me, it is all down to the host's very own assessment.
" The guys here are pros - we understand what we're doing," he says.
" After speaking with a girl for a hr we generally understand how much money she makes as well as what she provides for a living. We've currently analysed her personality as well as what she wants to give."
James and also other hosts claim their customers include several of South Korea's elite, which the cash as well as advantages available are amazing. One client James fulfilled, during his first week in the work, asked him to sign himself over to her for two years.
" She claimed 'allow's make a contract. I've got this piece of paper and also I've numbered it 1-5. Whatever you make a note of beside those numbers, I'll get you.'".
James states at the time he took it as a joke yet given that located out the very same female spent ₤ 60,000 ($ 97,000) on one more host.
" If it happened now, I  would certainly do it - I  would certainly be thinking straight.".
Ironically possibly, host bars expanded out of one of Korea's most established and, some state, misogynist business traditions - the room hair salon. These are exclusive drinking areas where groups of guys pick, and also are served by, attractive women people hosting.
It was the people hosting' requirement to let off vapor after work, states veteran host Kim Dong-hee, that produced the preliminary demand for host bars, with all-male personnel.
These women are forced to do points they don't want to do for money.
성남노래방
" I think a great deal of them are in discomfort, and a whole lot really feel lonesome. Put simply, they want to buy our time and our bodies.".
Hostesses still compose a big percent of the consumers at host bars here, but at Bar 123, as an example, approximately 40% of the consumers on an offered evening are now from various other walks of life.
The factors for that expanding allure are linked up in South Korea's rapid economic increase. 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 essential was lost in the process.
" I believe that with all this rapid growth comes quick change, and Koreans just don't know just how to handle it. Progressively, industrialism is surpassing basic societal norms that you would anticipate a pair of years ago.".
Jasper Kim claims South Korea's notoriously long working hours have actually left several Korean ladies feeling lonesome, while the country's technological development has left lots of people really feeling separated.
" The human aspect of Korean society that existed in the past just does not exist today. Individuals are focused on modern technology, individuals are concentrated on their work, they aren't concentrated on human relations any longer.
" In numerous ways, Korean culture today sort of reminds me of 1960s culture in the US, where it's on the verge of some kind of social revolution.".
The grandfather of Seoul's host bar scene, Kim Dong-hee, agrees that most of the females who involve host bars are not paying for sex however for friendship, which is why he opened a new chain of freshly-marketed outlets focused on the mainstream market - called Red Model Bars.
Red Model Bar hosts.
Photo inscription,.
Hosts at Red Model Bars can not touch customers.
" Men intend to have visual satisfaction and wish to feel points, they're tactile. Ladies like to talk and also to listen. And also that's why I thought about opening a bar like this - a type of dialogue bar.".
Red Model Bars are various to standard host bars in one key respect - there is a no-touching rule. Hosts rest on one side of the table, clients on the other, and no physical contact is enabled, and also certainly no sex.
Probably consequently there is a lack of furtiveness among the people who work or consume here - the lights are low, the style mostly dark red and also the space is separated into discreet cubicles, yet it is an open-plan area and also consumers and hosts are separated in each booth by a large table.
This brand-new service model depends totally on women paying the equivalent of hundreds and even countless dollars to talk with attractive young men over a drink. Still, it seems to be working - three brand-new branches result from open this year.
Resting at a table at one end of the bar was among their normal consumers, a florist called Kim Nayu. She informs me she comes here every day to meet her favorite host as well as talk about concerns she is having at job.
The cost for this piece of male interest is $487-650 (₤ 300-400) a day.
" Talking to buddies would certainly be less costly" she confesses, "but they don't listen as much. They're busy, and also quickly to speak about themselves. Right here, people will focus on me as well as they'll pay attention to me.".
" I spend a great deal of money yet it deserves it for what I obtain emotionally. Individuals pay to head to see a psychologist or psychoanalyst, so it's comparable however less difficult.".
Nayu's much-loved host Sung-il says it can be difficult to keep his professional as well as personal life separate.
" Honestly I  would certainly be lying if I state I haven't been tempted to take points additionally with some clients, due to the fact that we're human, we're men, however there are regulations.".
Among his customers chatted a great deal to her spouse about him and when the three of them satisfied, Sung-il and also the hubby became buddies.
" No one hides - the workers do not hide that they work right here, as well as consumers can be open as well.".
This openness is posing a new type of difficulty to South Korean society, various from the sometimes seedy abyss of typical host bars and also their hinterland of male hooking.
By supplying females a "commendable" method to challenge traditional sex duties as well as bend their financial power, these brand-new bars ask inquiries of Korean society that are coming to be more difficult to ignore.
Listen to the full report on BBC Radio 4's Crossing Continents. You can listen using the Radio 4 website or through the Crossing Continents podcast.
The allure of host bars can be subtle. Below, she states, she has even more focus from her male friends, even more selection and also, crucially, more control.
James has been working at Bar 123 for a pair of years. Rather, he tells me, it is all down to the host's very own analysis.
And also that's why I thought of opening a bar like this - a kind of dialogue bar.".