DISCOVER EVEN MORE ABOUT WOMEN-ONLY HOST BARS IN GANGNAM, KOREA
South Korea's rapid economic development has meant some shocking changes within its traditional social framework, consisting of the increase of so-called host bars, where rich females pay the matching of hundreds of dollars for male company.
In the dark light of a below ground space, a dozen flawlessly brushed boys stoop in rows, calling out their names.
Muscle, with shiny boy-band hairdos, they stuff alongside right into the slim space, awaiting us to make our option. Outdoors in the passage, more of their coworkers are arriving for another evening at work. It is 2am, and we are their initial clients.
Concealed beneath the pavements of Seoul's ritziest postcode, Gangnam, the males at Bar 123 are part of a growing market, which outgrew the long practices of Japanese geisha and also Korea's kisaeng houses yet with one important distinction - the clients here are all ladies.
Referred to as "host bars", these all-night drinking spaces use female consumers the possibility to select as well as pay for male companions, sometimes at a price of hundreds of extra pounds a night.
Among the women I fulfill at Bar 123 is Minkyoung, a waitressing supervisor for a five-star resort. When or two times a month, she states she comes to host bars.
Minkyoung is really quite and her clothing are immaculate. She does not look like somebody who would certainly need to pay for male business. Yet the appeal of host bars can be subtle. Below, she states, she has even more attention from her male companions, more option and also, crucially, more control.
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" In normal bars the men who drink with me have just one goal - to have a casual sex. I do not want that, so that's why I come right here, I want to have enjoyable," she claims.
Hosts are hired by bars similar to this one to offer companionship and home entertainment. Officially that suggests pouring drinks for their clients, dancing as well as speaking with them, and also singing karaoke.
Host bar in Seoul
Sex is not formally on offer in many host bars. That would certainly be illegal but even Minkyoung appears happy to flirt and touch with her host, as well as the guys here estimate that around half the customers wish 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 society, he states, there is a great deal of pride as well as negotiating a rate for sex is never ever done clearly. Instead, he informs me, it is all to the host's very own assessment.
" The individuals here are pros - we understand what we're doing," he states.
" After speaking with a woman for an hour we basically recognize how much cash she makes and also what she provides for a living. We've already evaluated her personality as well as what she agrees to offer."
James and also other hosts state their consumers include a few of South Korea's elite, and also that the cash as well as rewards available are astounding. One customer James fulfilled, during his initial week in the work, asked him to authorize himself over to her for two years.
" She claimed 'let's make an agreement. I've obtained this piece of paper and also I've numbered it 1-5. Whatever you list beside those numbers, I'll get you.'".
James states at the time he took it as a joke but considering that learnt the very same lady spent ₤ 60,000 ($ 97,000) on one more host.
" If it happened now, I would certainly do it - I would certainly be assuming straight.".
Ironically perhaps, host bars outgrew one of Korea's most entrenched and, some claim, misogynist company traditions - the space salon. These are exclusive alcohol consumption rooms where teams of men choose, and also are served by, appealing female people hosting.
It was the people hosting' demand to let off vapor after work, claims veteran host Kim Dong-hee, that created the initial need for host bars, with all-male team.
These women are compelled to do points they do not want to do for cash.
" I think a great deal of them are in pain, and also a whole lot feel lonesome. Just placed, they wish to buy our time and also our bodies.".
Hostesses still compose a huge percent of the customers at host bars right here, yet at Bar 123, for instance, approximately 40% of the customers on a given evening are now from various other strolls of life.
The factors for that growing charm are tied up in South Korea's quick financial surge. Within 50 years, the nation shifted 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 shed in the process.
" I believe that with all this quick development comes rapid modification, as well as Koreans just don't recognize exactly how to manage it. Increasingly, industrialism is overtaking fundamental social norms that you would certainly expect a number of decades earlier.".
Jasper Kim says South Korea's infamously lengthy functioning hrs have actually left many Korean women really feeling lonely, while the nation's technical advancement has left lots of people feeling detached.
" The human element of Korean society that existed in the past merely doesn't exist today. Individuals are focused on innovation, people are concentrated on their work, they aren't concentrated on human relations anymore.
" In lots of means, Korean culture today type of reminds me of 1960s society in the US, where it's on the edge of some sort of social transformation.".
The grandpa of Seoul's host bar scene, Kim Dong-hee, agrees that a number of the women that come to host bars are not spending for sex however, for friendship, which is why he opened up a brand-new chain of freshly-marketed electrical outlets focused on the mainstream market - called Red Model Bars.
Red Model Bar hosts.
Photo inscription,.
Hosts at Red Model Bars can not touch clients.
" Men intend to have visual satisfaction and intend to really feel points, they're tactile. Women like to chat and also to listen. As well as that's why I thought of opening up a bar like this - a sort of discussion bar.".
Red Model Bars are various to conventional host bars in one vital respect - there is a no-touching policy. Hosts remain on one side of the table, consumers on the other, and no physical contact is allowed, and also definitely no sex.
Possibly consequently there is an absence of furtiveness amongst individuals that function or consume here - the lights are reduced, the decoration primarily dark red and also the space is divided into discreet cubicles, yet it is an open-plan area and consumers and also hosts are split in each cubicle by a huge table.
This new organization design depends entirely on women paying the equivalent of hundreds and even countless dollars to talk with fine-looking boys over a beverage. Still, it seems to be working - three brand-new branches are due to open this year.
Resting at a table at one end of the bar was among their routine clients, a florist called Kim Nayu. She informs me she comes right here daily to meet her favorite host as well as review problems she is having at work.
The price for this piece of male attention is $487-650 (₤ 300-400) a day.
" Talking to buddies would be more affordable" she admits, "yet they don't listen as much. They're hectic, and quickly to speak about themselves. Below, individuals will pay attention to me as well as they'll listen to me.".
" I invest a whole lot of cash however it's worth it wherefore I get emotionally. Individuals pay to head to see a psychologist or psychiatrist, so it's similar however less demanding.".
Nayu's much-loved host Sung-il states it can be hard to maintain his expert and individual life separate.
" Honestly I would certainly be existing if I say I haven't been lured to take points even more with some consumers, due to the fact that we're human, we're men, however there are policies.".
성남유흥
Among his consumers chatted a lot to her other half about him as well as when the three of them fulfilled, Sung-il and also the partner ended up being friends.
" No one hides - the workers don't hide that they function right here, as well as customers can be open too.".
This openness is posturing a brand-new sort of difficulty to South Korean culture, various from the in some cases seedy abyss of conventional host bars as well as their hinterland of male prostitution.
By using females a "decent" method to test typical sex duties and also bend their financial power, these brand-new bars ask inquiries of Korean culture that are coming to be harder to ignore.
Hear the full record on BBC Radio 4's Crossing Continents. You can listen through the Radio 4 website or by means of the Crossing Continents podcast.
The appeal of host bars can be refined. Here, she states, she has more focus from her male companions, more selection as well as, crucially, 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 assessment.
As well as that's why I thought of opening a bar like this - a kind of discussion bar.".
In the dark light of a below ground space, a dozen flawlessly brushed boys stoop in rows, calling out their names.
Muscle, with shiny boy-band hairdos, they stuff alongside right into the slim space, awaiting us to make our option. Outdoors in the passage, more of their coworkers are arriving for another evening at work. It is 2am, and we are their initial clients.
Concealed beneath the pavements of Seoul's ritziest postcode, Gangnam, the males at Bar 123 are part of a growing market, which outgrew the long practices of Japanese geisha and also Korea's kisaeng houses yet with one important distinction - the clients here are all ladies.
Referred to as "host bars", these all-night drinking spaces use female consumers the possibility to select as well as pay for male companions, sometimes at a price of hundreds of extra pounds a night.
Among the women I fulfill at Bar 123 is Minkyoung, a waitressing supervisor for a five-star resort. When or two times a month, she states she comes to host bars.
Minkyoung is really quite and her clothing are immaculate. She does not look like somebody who would certainly need to pay for male business. Yet the appeal of host bars can be subtle. Below, she states, she has even more attention from her male companions, more option and also, crucially, more control.
AD
" In normal bars the men who drink with me have just one goal - to have a casual sex. I do not want that, so that's why I come right here, I want to have enjoyable," she claims.
Hosts are hired by bars similar to this one to offer companionship and home entertainment. Officially that suggests pouring drinks for their clients, dancing as well as speaking with them, and also singing karaoke.
Host bar in Seoul
Sex is not formally on offer in many host bars. That would certainly be illegal but even Minkyoung appears happy to flirt and touch with her host, as well as the guys here estimate that around half the customers wish 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 society, he states, there is a great deal of pride as well as negotiating a rate for sex is never ever done clearly. Instead, he informs me, it is all to the host's very own assessment.
" The individuals here are pros - we understand what we're doing," he states.
" After speaking with a woman for an hour we basically recognize how much cash she makes and also what she provides for a living. We've already evaluated her personality as well as what she agrees to offer."
James and also other hosts state their consumers include a few of South Korea's elite, and also that the cash as well as rewards available are astounding. One customer James fulfilled, during his initial week in the work, asked him to authorize himself over to her for two years.
" She claimed 'let's make an agreement. I've obtained this piece of paper and also I've numbered it 1-5. Whatever you list beside those numbers, I'll get you.'".
James states at the time he took it as a joke but considering that learnt the very same lady spent ₤ 60,000 ($ 97,000) on one more host.
" If it happened now, I would certainly do it - I would certainly be assuming straight.".
Ironically perhaps, host bars outgrew one of Korea's most entrenched and, some claim, misogynist company traditions - the space salon. These are exclusive alcohol consumption rooms where teams of men choose, and also are served by, appealing female people hosting.
It was the people hosting' demand to let off vapor after work, claims veteran host Kim Dong-hee, that created the initial need for host bars, with all-male team.
These women are compelled to do points they do not want to do for cash.
" I think a great deal of them are in pain, and also a whole lot feel lonesome. Just placed, they wish to buy our time and also our bodies.".
Hostesses still compose a huge percent of the customers at host bars right here, yet at Bar 123, for instance, approximately 40% of the customers on a given evening are now from various other strolls of life.
The factors for that growing charm are tied up in South Korea's quick financial surge. Within 50 years, the nation shifted 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 shed in the process.
" I believe that with all this quick development comes rapid modification, as well as Koreans just don't recognize exactly how to manage it. Increasingly, industrialism is overtaking fundamental social norms that you would certainly expect a number of decades earlier.".
Jasper Kim says South Korea's infamously lengthy functioning hrs have actually left many Korean women really feeling lonely, while the nation's technical advancement has left lots of people feeling detached.
" The human element of Korean society that existed in the past merely doesn't exist today. Individuals are focused on innovation, people are concentrated on their work, they aren't concentrated on human relations anymore.
" In lots of means, Korean culture today type of reminds me of 1960s society in the US, where it's on the edge of some sort of social transformation.".
The grandpa of Seoul's host bar scene, Kim Dong-hee, agrees that a number of the women that come to host bars are not spending for sex however, for friendship, which is why he opened up a brand-new chain of freshly-marketed electrical outlets focused on the mainstream market - called Red Model Bars.
Red Model Bar hosts.
Photo inscription,.
Hosts at Red Model Bars can not touch clients.
" Men intend to have visual satisfaction and intend to really feel points, they're tactile. Women like to chat and also to listen. As well as that's why I thought of opening up a bar like this - a sort of discussion bar.".
Red Model Bars are various to conventional host bars in one vital respect - there is a no-touching policy. Hosts remain on one side of the table, consumers on the other, and no physical contact is allowed, and also definitely no sex.
Possibly consequently there is an absence of furtiveness amongst individuals that function or consume here - the lights are reduced, the decoration primarily dark red and also the space is divided into discreet cubicles, yet it is an open-plan area and consumers and also hosts are split in each cubicle by a huge table.
This new organization design depends entirely on women paying the equivalent of hundreds and even countless dollars to talk with fine-looking boys over a beverage. Still, it seems to be working - three brand-new branches are due to open this year.
Resting at a table at one end of the bar was among their routine clients, a florist called Kim Nayu. She informs me she comes right here daily to meet her favorite host as well as review problems she is having at work.
The price for this piece of male attention is $487-650 (₤ 300-400) a day.
" Talking to buddies would be more affordable" she admits, "yet they don't listen as much. They're hectic, and quickly to speak about themselves. Below, individuals will pay attention to me as well as they'll listen to me.".
" I invest a whole lot of cash however it's worth it wherefore I get emotionally. Individuals pay to head to see a psychologist or psychiatrist, so it's similar however less demanding.".
Nayu's much-loved host Sung-il states it can be hard to maintain his expert and individual life separate.
" Honestly I would certainly be existing if I say I haven't been lured to take points even more with some consumers, due to the fact that we're human, we're men, however there are policies.".
성남유흥
Among his consumers chatted a lot to her other half about him as well as when the three of them fulfilled, Sung-il and also the partner ended up being friends.
" No one hides - the workers don't hide that they function right here, as well as customers can be open too.".
This openness is posturing a brand-new sort of difficulty to South Korean culture, various from the in some cases seedy abyss of conventional host bars as well as their hinterland of male prostitution.
By using females a "decent" method to test typical sex duties and also bend their financial power, these brand-new bars ask inquiries of Korean culture that are coming to be harder to ignore.
Hear the full record on BBC Radio 4's Crossing Continents. You can listen through the Radio 4 website or by means of the Crossing Continents podcast.
The appeal of host bars can be refined. Here, she states, she has more focus from her male companions, more selection as well as, crucially, 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 assessment.
As well as that's why I thought of opening a bar like this - a kind of discussion bar.".