Discover more regarding women-only host bars in Gangnam, Korea
South Korea's rapid economic advancement has suggested some stunning modifications within its conventional social structure, consisting of the rise of so-called host bars, where rich ladies pay the equivalent of hundreds of dollars for male company.
In the dark light of a below ground space, a loads completely brushed boys stoop in rows, calling out their names.
Muscular, with glossy boy-band hairstyles, they pack alongside right into the slim area, waiting for us to make our option. Outdoors in the hallway, more of their colleagues are getting here for one more night at the office. It is 2am, and also we are their very first customers.
Covert under the pavements of Seoul's ritziest postal code, Gangnam, the males at Bar 123 belong to a growing sector, which outgrew the lengthy customs of Japanese geisha and Korea's kisaeng houses however with one crucial distinction - the consumers here are all females.
Called "host bars", these all-night drinking areas use female consumers the opportunity to select and also pay for male companions, sometimes at a cost of hundreds of extra pounds a night.
One of the females I fulfill at Bar 123 is Minkyoung, a waitressing supervisor for a five-star resort. Once or two times a month, she states she comes to host bars.
Minkyoung is extremely rather and also her clothing are spotless. She does not look like somebody that would require to spend for male business. But the appeal of host bars can be refined. Here, she claims, she has even more interest from her male friends, more choice as well as, most importantly, even more control.
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" In regular bars the individuals that consume alcohol with me have just one objective - to have an one-night stand. But I do not desire that, to ensure that's why I come below, I wish to have fun," she claims.
Hosts are employed by bars like this one to offer companionship as well as entertainment. Formally that means putting beverages for their clients, dancing and speaking with them, and vocal singing karaoke.
제주룸
Host bar in Seoul
Sex is not formally available in most host bars. That would be illegal however also Minkyoung seems satisfied to flirt as well as touch with her host, and the guys here estimate that around half the clients desire 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 claims, there is a great deal of satisfaction and also working out a price for sex is never done clearly. Rather, he informs me, it is all down to the host's own evaluation.
" The guys right here are pros - we know what we're doing," he states.
" After speaking to a girl for a hr we essentially understand just how much cash she makes and also what she provides for a living. We've already analysed her individuality and also what she wants to offer."
James and also other hosts say their clients consist of a few of South Korea's elite, which the cash and also benefits available boggle the mind. One customer James met, throughout his first week in the work, asked him to sign himself over to her for two years.
" She said 'let's make an agreement. I've obtained this item of paper as well as I've numbered it 1-5. Whatever you document next to those numbers, I'll get you.'".
James claims at the time he took it as a joke yet since figured out the same woman spent ₤ 60,000 ($ 97,000) on another host.
" If it happened now, I 'd do it - I would certainly be believing straight.".
Paradoxically perhaps, host bars outgrew among Korea's most established and also, some state, misogynist organization traditions - the room salon. These are private alcohol consumption spaces where teams of guys select, and are offered by, eye-catching women hostesses.
It was the hostesses' need to allow off steam after work, claims expert host Kim Dong-hee, that developed the preliminary demand for host bars, with all-male staff.
These women are required to do things they don't desire to do for money.
" I believe a lot of them are in discomfort, and a whole lot really feel lonesome. Just placed, they wish to get our time and our bodies.".
Hostesses still make up a large portion of the consumers at host bars here, however at Bar 123, for instance, up to 40% of the clients on a given evening are now from other walks of life.
The factors for that expanding allure are bound in South Korea's rapid economic surge. Within 50 years, the nation shifted from post-war devastation to OECD member.
But, according to Jasper Kim, head of the Asia-Pacific Global Research Group in Seoul, something important was lost in the process.
" I believe that with all this quick growth comes rapid change, and Koreans just don't know how to cope with it. Progressively, industrialism is overtaking standard societal standards that you would anticipate a pair of decades ago.".
Jasper Kim states South Korea's infamously long working hrs have actually left several Korean ladies feeling lonely, while the country's technical advancement has actually left many individuals feeling separated.
" The human element of Korean society that existed previously just doesn't exist today. People are concentrated on innovation, people are concentrated on their work, they aren't concentrated on human connections anymore.
" In many methods, Korean society today sort of advises me of 1960s society in the US, where it's on the verge of some kind of social change.".
The grandfather of Seoul's host bar scene, Kim Dong-hee, agrees that much of the ladies that concern host bars are not paying for sex however for friendship, which is why he opened a new chain of freshly-marketed outlets intended at the mainstream market - called Red Model Bars.
Red Model Bar hosts.
Image caption,.
Hosts at Red Model Bars can not touch clients.
" Men desire to have visual enjoyment and also desire to really feel things, they're responsive. Ladies like to speak and also to listen. Which's why I believed of opening a bar like this - a kind of discussion bar.".
Red Model Bars are various to conventional host bars in one crucial regard - there is a no-touching policy. Hosts sit on one side of the table, customers on the various other, and also no physical contact is permitted, and also absolutely no sex.
Perhaps because of this there is a lack of furtiveness among individuals who work or drink here - the lights are low, the style mainly dark red and also the space is separated into very discreet booths, however it is an open-plan area as well as hosts and also clients are divided in each cubicle by a big table.
This brand-new service design depends totally on females paying the matching of hundreds and even countless bucks to speak to attractive young males over a beverage. Still, it seems to be working - three brand-new branches result from open this year.
Sitting at a table at one end of bench was just one of their routine customers, a florist called Kim Nayu. She tells me she comes below on a daily basis to satisfy her favourite host and go over problems she is having at work.
The cost for this piece of male attention is $487-650 (₤ 300-400) a day.
" Talking to friends would be less expensive" she confesses, "however they don't pay attention as much. They're active, and also quickly to speak about themselves. Below, people will certainly take note of me and also they'll pay attention to me.".
" I invest a whole lot of cash yet it's worth it wherefore I get psychologically. Individuals pay to visit see a psychologist or psychoanalyst, so it's similar yet less stressful.".
Nayu's favorite host Sung-il states it can be hard to maintain his professional as well as personal life different.
" Honestly I 'd be lying if I say I haven't been attracted to take things even more with some consumers, since we're human, we're guys, however there are regulations.".
Among his consumers spoke a lot to her husband concerning him and also when the three of them met, Sung-il as well as the other half ended up being buddies.
" No one conceals - the employees don't conceal that they function here, as well as customers can be open too.".
This visibility is posing a new kind of obstacle to South Korean culture, different from the sometimes sleazy abyss of typical host bars as well as their hinterland of male prostitution.
By using women a "respectable" method to challenge standard gender roles as well as bend their economic power, these brand-new bars ask concerns of Korean culture that are becoming harder to overlook.
Listen to the full record on BBC Radio 4's Crossing Continents. You can listen via the Radio 4 site or using the Crossing Continents podcast.
The appeal of host bars can be subtle. Here, she claims, she has even more interest from her male friends, even more choice 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.
As well as that's why I assumed of opening up a bar like this - a kind of dialogue bar.".
In the dark light of a below ground space, a loads completely brushed boys stoop in rows, calling out their names.
Muscular, with glossy boy-band hairstyles, they pack alongside right into the slim area, waiting for us to make our option. Outdoors in the hallway, more of their colleagues are getting here for one more night at the office. It is 2am, and also we are their very first customers.
Covert under the pavements of Seoul's ritziest postal code, Gangnam, the males at Bar 123 belong to a growing sector, which outgrew the lengthy customs of Japanese geisha and Korea's kisaeng houses however with one crucial distinction - the consumers here are all females.
Called "host bars", these all-night drinking areas use female consumers the opportunity to select and also pay for male companions, sometimes at a cost of hundreds of extra pounds a night.
One of the females I fulfill at Bar 123 is Minkyoung, a waitressing supervisor for a five-star resort. Once or two times a month, she states she comes to host bars.
Minkyoung is extremely rather and also her clothing are spotless. She does not look like somebody that would require to spend for male business. But the appeal of host bars can be refined. Here, she claims, she has even more interest from her male friends, more choice as well as, most importantly, even more control.
AD
" In regular bars the individuals that consume alcohol with me have just one objective - to have an one-night stand. But I do not desire that, to ensure that's why I come below, I wish to have fun," she claims.
Hosts are employed by bars like this one to offer companionship as well as entertainment. Formally that means putting beverages for their clients, dancing and speaking with them, and vocal singing karaoke.
제주룸
Host bar in Seoul
Sex is not formally available in most host bars. That would be illegal however also Minkyoung seems satisfied to flirt as well as touch with her host, and the guys here estimate that around half the clients desire 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 claims, there is a great deal of satisfaction and also working out a price for sex is never done clearly. Rather, he informs me, it is all down to the host's own evaluation.
" The guys right here are pros - we know what we're doing," he states.
" After speaking to a girl for a hr we essentially understand just how much cash she makes and also what she provides for a living. We've already analysed her individuality and also what she wants to offer."
James and also other hosts say their clients consist of a few of South Korea's elite, which the cash and also benefits available boggle the mind. One customer James met, throughout his first week in the work, asked him to sign himself over to her for two years.
" She said 'let's make an agreement. I've obtained this item of paper as well as I've numbered it 1-5. Whatever you document next to those numbers, I'll get you.'".
James claims at the time he took it as a joke yet since figured out the same woman spent ₤ 60,000 ($ 97,000) on another host.
" If it happened now, I 'd do it - I would certainly be believing straight.".
Paradoxically perhaps, host bars outgrew among Korea's most established and also, some state, misogynist organization traditions - the room salon. These are private alcohol consumption spaces where teams of guys select, and are offered by, eye-catching women hostesses.
It was the hostesses' need to allow off steam after work, claims expert host Kim Dong-hee, that developed the preliminary demand for host bars, with all-male staff.
These women are required to do things they don't desire to do for money.
" I believe a lot of them are in discomfort, and a whole lot really feel lonesome. Just placed, they wish to get our time and our bodies.".
Hostesses still make up a large portion of the consumers at host bars here, however at Bar 123, for instance, up to 40% of the clients on a given evening are now from other walks of life.
The factors for that expanding allure are bound in South Korea's rapid economic surge. Within 50 years, the nation shifted from post-war devastation to OECD member.
But, according to Jasper Kim, head of the Asia-Pacific Global Research Group in Seoul, something important was lost in the process.
" I believe that with all this quick growth comes rapid change, and Koreans just don't know how to cope with it. Progressively, industrialism is overtaking standard societal standards that you would anticipate a pair of decades ago.".
Jasper Kim states South Korea's infamously long working hrs have actually left several Korean ladies feeling lonely, while the country's technical advancement has actually left many individuals feeling separated.
" The human element of Korean society that existed previously just doesn't exist today. People are concentrated on innovation, people are concentrated on their work, they aren't concentrated on human connections anymore.
" In many methods, Korean society today sort of advises me of 1960s society in the US, where it's on the verge of some kind of social change.".
The grandfather of Seoul's host bar scene, Kim Dong-hee, agrees that much of the ladies that concern host bars are not paying for sex however for friendship, which is why he opened a new chain of freshly-marketed outlets intended at the mainstream market - called Red Model Bars.
Red Model Bar hosts.
Image caption,.
Hosts at Red Model Bars can not touch clients.
" Men desire to have visual enjoyment and also desire to really feel things, they're responsive. Ladies like to speak and also to listen. Which's why I believed of opening a bar like this - a kind of discussion bar.".
Red Model Bars are various to conventional host bars in one crucial regard - there is a no-touching policy. Hosts sit on one side of the table, customers on the various other, and also no physical contact is permitted, and also absolutely no sex.
Perhaps because of this there is a lack of furtiveness among individuals who work or drink here - the lights are low, the style mainly dark red and also the space is separated into very discreet booths, however it is an open-plan area as well as hosts and also clients are divided in each cubicle by a big table.
This brand-new service design depends totally on females paying the matching of hundreds and even countless bucks to speak to attractive young males over a beverage. Still, it seems to be working - three brand-new branches result from open this year.
Sitting at a table at one end of bench was just one of their routine customers, a florist called Kim Nayu. She tells me she comes below on a daily basis to satisfy her favourite host and go over problems she is having at work.
The cost for this piece of male attention is $487-650 (₤ 300-400) a day.
" Talking to friends would be less expensive" she confesses, "however they don't pay attention as much. They're active, and also quickly to speak about themselves. Below, people will certainly take note of me and also they'll pay attention to me.".
" I invest a whole lot of cash yet it's worth it wherefore I get psychologically. Individuals pay to visit see a psychologist or psychoanalyst, so it's similar yet less stressful.".
Nayu's favorite host Sung-il states it can be hard to maintain his professional as well as personal life different.
" Honestly I 'd be lying if I say I haven't been attracted to take things even more with some consumers, since we're human, we're guys, however there are regulations.".
Among his consumers spoke a lot to her husband concerning him and also when the three of them met, Sung-il as well as the other half ended up being buddies.
" No one conceals - the employees don't conceal that they function here, as well as customers can be open too.".
This visibility is posing a new kind of obstacle to South Korean culture, different from the sometimes sleazy abyss of typical host bars as well as their hinterland of male prostitution.
By using women a "respectable" method to challenge standard gender roles as well as bend their economic power, these brand-new bars ask concerns of Korean culture that are becoming harder to overlook.
Listen to the full record on BBC Radio 4's Crossing Continents. You can listen via the Radio 4 site or using the Crossing Continents podcast.
The appeal of host bars can be subtle. Here, she claims, she has even more interest from her male friends, even more choice 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.
As well as that's why I assumed of opening up a bar like this - a kind of dialogue bar.".