Discover out even more about women-only host bars in Gangnam, Korea
South Korea's rapid financial growth has actually implied some stunning changes within its conservative social framework, including the increase of supposed host bars, where rich females pay the equivalent of countless dollars for male business.
In the dark light of an underground space, a lots completely brushed boys kneel in rows, calling out their names.
Muscular, with shiny boy-band hairdos, they cram side by side right into the narrow space, waiting on us to make our selection. Outdoors in the corridor, more of their colleagues are getting here for an additional evening at job. It is 2am, and also we are their initial customers.
Hidden below the sidewalks of Seoul's ritziest postcode, Gangnam, the men at Bar 123 belong to an expanding industry, which outgrew the long practices of Japanese geisha as well as Korea's kisaeng residences yet with one important difference - the clients right here are all females.
Called "host bars", these all-night alcohol consumption areas provide female consumers the opportunity to pick and pay for male companions, in some cases at an expense of hundreds of extra pounds a night.
Among the women I satisfy at Bar 123 is Minkyoung, a waitressing supervisor for a first-class hotel. As soon as or two times a month, she says she comes to host bars.
The allure of host bars can be refined. Here, she says, she has more interest from her male friends, more choice and also, crucially, more control.
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" In routine bars the people who drink with me have only one goal - to have an one-night stand. But I don't want that, to ensure that's why I come right here, I wish to enjoy," she says.
Hosts are worked with by bars such as this one to give friendship and also entertainment. Formally that indicates pouring drinks for their consumers, chatting and also dancing with them, and also vocal singing karaoke.
Host bar in Seoul
Sex is not officially on offer in most host bars. That would be unlawful but also Minkyoung seems happy to touch and flirt with her host, and also the males below estimate that around half the customers wish to pay for sex, either on or off the facilities.
James has actually been operating at Bar 123 for a number of years. In Korean culture, he states, there is a great deal of satisfaction as well as working out a cost for sex is never ever done explicitly. Instead, he informs me, it is all down to the host's very own analysis.
" The people below are pros - we understand what we're doing," he claims.
" After talking with a lady for an hour we generally know exactly how much cash she makes and also what she provides for a living. We've currently evaluated her personality and also what she wants to offer."
James and various other hosts state their customers consist of several of South Korea's elite, which the money as well as benefits on deal boggle the mind. One customer James fulfilled, during his first week in the task, asked him to authorize himself over to her for 2 years.
" She stated 'let's make a contract. I've got this item of paper and also I've numbered it 1-5. Whatever you document beside those numbers, I'll get you.'".
James says at the time he took it as a joke however considering that discovered the very same lady spent ₤ 60,000 ($ 97,000) on one more host.
" If it happened currently, I 'd do it - I would certainly be assuming straight.".
Ironically maybe, host bars outgrew one of Korea's most established and also, some state, misogynist business customs - the room beauty salon. These are exclusive drinking areas where groups of men choose, and are offered by, appealing female hostesses.
It was the people hosting' need to allow off heavy steam after work, claims professional host Kim Dong-hee, that created the first need for host bars, with all-male team.
These girls are forced to do things they don't desire to do for cash.
" I believe a great deal of them are in discomfort, and also a whole lot really feel lonely. Just put, they desire to purchase our time and also our bodies.".
People hosting still make up a large percentage of the customers at host bars right here, but at Bar 123, for instance, as much as 40% of the customers on an offered night are currently from other strolls of life.
해운대룸싸롱 The reasons for that growing appeal are locked up in South Korea's quick economic rise. Within 50 years, the nation changed from post-war destruction to OECD member.
But, according to Jasper Kim, head of the Asia-Pacific Global Research Group in Seoul, something important was shed along the road.
" I believe that with all this fast development comes quick change, and Koreans simply do not understand just how to deal with it. Significantly, industrialism is surpassing standard societal norms that you would expect a couple of years earlier.".
Jasper Kim says South Korea's infamously lengthy working hrs have left many Korean females really feeling lonely, while the nation's technical advance has actually left many individuals really feeling removed.
" The human element of Korean society that existed previously merely does not exist today. Individuals are concentrated on modern technology, people are concentrated on their jobs, they aren't concentrated on human connections anymore.
" In several methods, Korean culture today sort of reminds me of 1960s society in the US, where it's on the edge of some type of cultural revolution.".
The grandfather of Seoul's host bar scene, Kim Dong-hee, agrees that much of the females who come to host bars are not paying for sex but also for friendship, which is why he opened a new chain of freshly-marketed electrical outlets intended at the mainstream market - called Red Model Bars.
Red Model Bar hosts.
Image subtitle,.
Hosts at Red Model Bars can not touch customers.
" Men wish to have aesthetic enjoyment as well as wish to feel points, they're responsive. Women like to speak as well as to pay attention. Which's why I considered opening a bar similar to this - a sort of discussion bar.".
Red Model Bars are different to standard host bars in one essential regard - there is a no-touching policy. Hosts rest on one side of the table, customers on the other, and also no physical get in touch with is permitted, and absolutely no sex.
Maybe consequently there is a lack of furtiveness amongst individuals who work or consume alcohol here - the lights are reduced, the decoration generally dark red and also the space is divided into discreet cubicles, but it is an open-plan area and hosts and also customers are separated in each cubicle by a huge table.
This new business design depends totally on women paying the matching of hundreds or perhaps thousands of bucks to speak with attractive young males over a drink. Still, it seems to be functioning - 3 brand-new branches result from open this year.
Sitting at a table at one end of bench was just one of their regular customers, a florist called Kim Nayu. She tells me she comes here each day to meet her preferred host and go over concerns she is contending work.
The rate for this slice of male interest is $487-650 (₤ 300-400) a day.
" Talking to pals would certainly be cheaper" she admits, "but they do not listen as much. They're busy, and quickly to discuss themselves. Here, people will certainly focus on me and they'll pay attention to me.".
" I spend a great deal of money however it's worth it of what I obtain psychologically. Individuals pay to head to see a psycho therapist or psychoanalyst, so it's comparable yet much less stressful.".
Nayu's much-loved host Sung-il claims it can be tough to keep his individual and expert life separate.
" Honestly I would certainly be existing if I claim I have not been attracted to take points better with some consumers, since we're human, we're men, but there are rules.".
Among his clients talked a whole lot to her husband regarding him as well as when the three of them satisfied, Sung-il and also the hubby ended up being close good friends.
" No one conceals - the workers do not hide that they work below, and also consumers can be open too.".
This openness is presenting a new kind of challenge to South Korean culture, various from the in some cases seedy underworld of standard host bars and their hinterland of male hooking.
By using ladies a "reputable" method to challenge traditional gender roles as well as bend their financial power, these new bars ask concerns of Korean society that are ending up being harder to overlook.
Listen to the full record on BBC Radio 4's Crossing Continents. You can pay attention through the Radio 4 site or through the Crossing Continents podcast.
The attraction of host bars can be refined. Here, she states, she has even more attention from her male buddies, even more option and, crucially, more control.
James has been functioning at Bar 123 for a couple of years. Rather, he tells me, it is all down to the host's very own evaluation.
And that's why I believed of opening up a bar like this - a kind of dialogue bar.".
In the dark light of an underground space, a lots completely brushed boys kneel in rows, calling out their names.
Muscular, with shiny boy-band hairdos, they cram side by side right into the narrow space, waiting on us to make our selection. Outdoors in the corridor, more of their colleagues are getting here for an additional evening at job. It is 2am, and also we are their initial customers.
Hidden below the sidewalks of Seoul's ritziest postcode, Gangnam, the men at Bar 123 belong to an expanding industry, which outgrew the long practices of Japanese geisha as well as Korea's kisaeng residences yet with one important difference - the clients right here are all females.
Called "host bars", these all-night alcohol consumption areas provide female consumers the opportunity to pick and pay for male companions, in some cases at an expense of hundreds of extra pounds a night.
Among the women I satisfy at Bar 123 is Minkyoung, a waitressing supervisor for a first-class hotel. As soon as or two times a month, she says she comes to host bars.
The allure of host bars can be refined. Here, she says, she has more interest from her male friends, more choice and also, crucially, more control.
AD
" In routine bars the people who drink with me have only one goal - to have an one-night stand. But I don't want that, to ensure that's why I come right here, I wish to enjoy," she says.
Hosts are worked with by bars such as this one to give friendship and also entertainment. Formally that indicates pouring drinks for their consumers, chatting and also dancing with them, and also vocal singing karaoke.
Host bar in Seoul
Sex is not officially on offer in most host bars. That would be unlawful but also Minkyoung seems happy to touch and flirt with her host, and also the males below estimate that around half the customers wish to pay for sex, either on or off the facilities.
James has actually been operating at Bar 123 for a number of years. In Korean culture, he states, there is a great deal of satisfaction as well as working out a cost for sex is never ever done explicitly. Instead, he informs me, it is all down to the host's very own analysis.
" The people below are pros - we understand what we're doing," he claims.
" After talking with a lady for an hour we generally know exactly how much cash she makes and also what she provides for a living. We've currently evaluated her personality and also what she wants to offer."
James and various other hosts state their customers consist of several of South Korea's elite, which the money as well as benefits on deal boggle the mind. One customer James fulfilled, during his first week in the task, asked him to authorize himself over to her for 2 years.
" She stated 'let's make a contract. I've got this item of paper and also I've numbered it 1-5. Whatever you document beside those numbers, I'll get you.'".
James says at the time he took it as a joke however considering that discovered the very same lady spent ₤ 60,000 ($ 97,000) on one more host.
" If it happened currently, I 'd do it - I would certainly be assuming straight.".
Ironically maybe, host bars outgrew one of Korea's most established and also, some state, misogynist business customs - the room beauty salon. These are exclusive drinking areas where groups of men choose, and are offered by, appealing female hostesses.
It was the people hosting' need to allow off heavy steam after work, claims professional host Kim Dong-hee, that created the first need for host bars, with all-male team.
These girls are forced to do things they don't desire to do for cash.
" I believe a great deal of them are in discomfort, and also a whole lot really feel lonely. Just put, they desire to purchase our time and also our bodies.".
People hosting still make up a large percentage of the customers at host bars right here, but at Bar 123, for instance, as much as 40% of the customers on an offered night are currently from other strolls of life.
해운대룸싸롱 The reasons for that growing appeal are locked up in South Korea's quick economic rise. Within 50 years, the nation changed from post-war destruction to OECD member.
But, according to Jasper Kim, head of the Asia-Pacific Global Research Group in Seoul, something important was shed along the road.
" I believe that with all this fast development comes quick change, and Koreans simply do not understand just how to deal with it. Significantly, industrialism is surpassing standard societal norms that you would expect a couple of years earlier.".
Jasper Kim says South Korea's infamously lengthy working hrs have left many Korean females really feeling lonely, while the nation's technical advance has actually left many individuals really feeling removed.
" The human element of Korean society that existed previously merely does not exist today. Individuals are concentrated on modern technology, people are concentrated on their jobs, they aren't concentrated on human connections anymore.
" In several methods, Korean culture today sort of reminds me of 1960s society in the US, where it's on the edge of some type of cultural revolution.".
The grandfather of Seoul's host bar scene, Kim Dong-hee, agrees that much of the females who come to host bars are not paying for sex but also for friendship, which is why he opened a new chain of freshly-marketed electrical outlets intended at the mainstream market - called Red Model Bars.
Red Model Bar hosts.
Image subtitle,.
Hosts at Red Model Bars can not touch customers.
" Men wish to have aesthetic enjoyment as well as wish to feel points, they're responsive. Women like to speak as well as to pay attention. Which's why I considered opening a bar similar to this - a sort of discussion bar.".
Red Model Bars are different to standard host bars in one essential regard - there is a no-touching policy. Hosts rest on one side of the table, customers on the other, and also no physical get in touch with is permitted, and absolutely no sex.
Maybe consequently there is a lack of furtiveness amongst individuals who work or consume alcohol here - the lights are reduced, the decoration generally dark red and also the space is divided into discreet cubicles, but it is an open-plan area and hosts and also customers are separated in each cubicle by a huge table.
This new business design depends totally on women paying the matching of hundreds or perhaps thousands of bucks to speak with attractive young males over a drink. Still, it seems to be functioning - 3 brand-new branches result from open this year.
Sitting at a table at one end of bench was just one of their regular customers, a florist called Kim Nayu. She tells me she comes here each day to meet her preferred host and go over concerns she is contending work.
The rate for this slice of male interest is $487-650 (₤ 300-400) a day.
" Talking to pals would certainly be cheaper" she admits, "but they do not listen as much. They're busy, and quickly to discuss themselves. Here, people will certainly focus on me and they'll pay attention to me.".
" I spend a great deal of money however it's worth it of what I obtain psychologically. Individuals pay to head to see a psycho therapist or psychoanalyst, so it's comparable yet much less stressful.".
Nayu's much-loved host Sung-il claims it can be tough to keep his individual and expert life separate.
" Honestly I would certainly be existing if I claim I have not been attracted to take points better with some consumers, since we're human, we're men, but there are rules.".
Among his clients talked a whole lot to her husband regarding him as well as when the three of them satisfied, Sung-il and also the hubby ended up being close good friends.
" No one conceals - the workers do not hide that they work below, and also consumers can be open too.".
This openness is presenting a new kind of challenge to South Korean culture, various from the in some cases seedy underworld of standard host bars and their hinterland of male hooking.
By using ladies a "reputable" method to challenge traditional gender roles as well as bend their financial power, these new bars ask concerns of Korean society that are ending up being harder to overlook.
Listen to the full record on BBC Radio 4's Crossing Continents. You can pay attention through the Radio 4 site or through the Crossing Continents podcast.
The attraction of host bars can be refined. Here, she states, she has even more attention from her male buddies, even more option and, crucially, more control.
James has been functioning at Bar 123 for a couple of years. Rather, he tells me, it is all down to the host's very own evaluation.
And that's why I believed of opening up a bar like this - a kind of dialogue bar.".