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

South Korea's quick economic growth has actually implied some stunning adjustments within its conventional social structure, including the increase of so-called host bars, where affluent women pay the matching of hundreds of bucks for male business.
In the dim light of a basement, a lots completely groomed young males stoop in rows, calling out their names.
Muscle, with shiny boy-band hairstyles, they cram side-by-side into the slim area, waiting on us to make our choice. Outdoors in the passage, even more of their coworkers are getting here for an additional night at job. It is 2am, and also we are their first customers.
Covert beneath the sidewalks of Seoul's ritziest postal code, Gangnam, the men at Bar 123 belong to an expanding industry, which grew out of the long customs of Japanese geisha and also Korea's kisaeng homes but with one crucial distinction - the clients right here are all women.
Referred to as "host bars", these all-night alcohol consumption areas use women customers the chance to select and also pay for male companions, in some cases at a price of hundreds of pounds a night.

Among the females I fulfill at Bar 123 is Minkyoung, a waitressing supervisor for a luxury resort. She says she comes to host bars when or two times a month.
The appeal of host bars can be subtle. Here, she says, she has even more focus from her male friends, more selection and also, crucially, even more control.
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" In routine bars the individuals who drink with me have just one goal - to have a casual sex. Yet I do not want that, to make sure that's why I come right here, I intend to enjoy," she claims.
Hosts are worked with by bars similar to this one to give companionship as well as home entertainment. Officially that suggests putting beverages for their customers, dancing as well as chatting with them, and singing karaoke.
Host bar in Seoul
Sex is not formally available in a lot of host bars. That would be illegal however even Minkyoung appears delighted to touch and also flirt with her host, and the males below estimate that around half the consumers wish to pay for sex, either on or off the properties.
James has actually been working at Bar 123 for a number of years. In Korean culture, he states, there is a whole lot of satisfaction and bargaining a rate for sex is never ever done clearly. Instead, he tells me, it is all down to the host's very own assessment.
" The men below are pros - we know what we're doing," he states.
" After chatting to a girl for an hour we primarily know just how much money she makes as well as what she does for a living. We've already analysed her character and also what she wants to offer."
정자룸싸롱
James and also other hosts state their clients include some of South Korea's elite, which the cash as well as benefits available are extraordinary. One customer James met, during his initial week in the job, asked him to sign himself over to her for two years.
" She stated 'allow's make a contract. I've obtained this paper and also I've numbered it 1-5. Whatever you jot down alongside those numbers, I'll obtain you.'".
James says at the time he took it as a joke however since learnt the very same lady invested ₤ 60,000 ($ 97,000) on an additional host.
" If it happened now, I  would certainly do it - I 'd be thinking straight.".
Paradoxically maybe, host bars grew out of among Korea's most entrenched and also, some claim, misogynist organization traditions - the room beauty salon. These are private alcohol consumption areas where groups of guys pick, as well as are offered by, eye-catching female hostesses.
It was the hostesses' demand to allow off vapor after job, states veteran host Kim Dong-hee, that produced the preliminary demand for host bars, with all-male personnel.
" What these hostesses want is to [make us] do the very same point they had to do in their own office. These girls are forced to do things they don't wish to do for cash.
" I think a lot of them are in pain, and also a great deal feel lonely. Put simply, they want to purchase our time and also our bodies.".
People hosting still compose a large percent of the clients at host bars right here, however at Bar 123, as an example, as much as 40% of the clients on a provided evening are now from various other profession.
The reasons for that growing appeal are connected up in South Korea's quick economic increase. Within 50 years, the nation shifted 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 means.
" I believe that with all this quick growth comes fast change, and also Koreans simply don't understand exactly how to deal with it. Increasingly, industrialism is overtaking basic societal standards that you would certainly expect a number of years earlier.".
Jasper Kim says South Korea's infamously lengthy functioning hrs have left numerous Korean ladies feeling lonely, while the nation's technical advancement has actually left many individuals feeling detached.
" The human component of Korean culture that existed before merely doesn't exist today. Individuals are concentrated on technology, individuals are concentrated on their jobs, they aren't focused on human relations anymore.
" In numerous ways, Korean society today sort of reminds me of 1960s society in the US, where it's on the brink of some sort of social transformation.".
The grandpa of Seoul's host bar scene, Kim Dong-hee, concurs that most of the females that involve host bars are not paying for sex however for companionship, which is why he opened up a new chain of freshly-marketed outlets aimed at the mainstream market - called Red Model Bars.
Red Model Bar hosts.
Picture inscription,.
Hosts at Red Model Bars can not touch customers.
" Men desire to have aesthetic pleasure and also desire to feel things, they're tactile. Ladies like to chat as well as to listen. Which's why I considered opening a bar such as this - a type of dialogue bar.".
Red Model Bars are various to conventional host bars in one vital respect - there is a no-touching guideline. Hosts rest on one side of the table, consumers on the other, as well as no physical contact is allowed, as well as certainly no sex.
Possibly as a result there is a lack of furtiveness among the individuals who work or drink right here - the lights are reduced, the decoration mostly dark red as well as the area is divided into very discreet booths, yet it is an open-plan area as well as hosts and customers are separated in each cubicle by a big table.
This brand-new business model depends entirely on ladies paying the matching of hundreds and even hundreds of dollars to talk to attractive boys over a beverage. Still, it appears to be functioning - 3 new branches are because of open this year.
Resting at a table at one end of bench was among their regular consumers, a floral designer called Kim Nayu. She informs me she comes right here every day to fulfill her much-loved host as well as review issues she is having at job.
The rate for this slice of male interest is $487-650 (₤ 300-400) a day.
" Talking to close friends would certainly be less expensive" she confesses, "however they do not pay attention as much. They're active, and in a hurry to speak about themselves. Here, people will certainly take note of me and also they'll listen to me.".
" I invest a lot of cash but it deserves it for what I obtain mentally. People pay to visit see a psychologist or psychiatrist, so it's similar but less difficult.".
Nayu's favorite host Sung-il claims it can be difficult to maintain his professional and also individual life separate.
" Honestly I 'd be lying if I state I haven't been tempted to take things even more with some consumers, because we're human, we're men, yet there are guidelines.".
One of his customers chatted a lot to her partner about him and when the three of them satisfied, Sung-il and the other half ended up being friends.
" No one hides - the workers don't hide that they work below, and customers can be open also.".
This visibility is posturing a new kind of difficulty to South Korean society, various from the in some cases sleazy underworld of standard host bars as well as their hinterland of male prostitution.
By providing women a "respectable" method to challenge typical gender roles and also flex their financial power, these brand-new bars ask inquiries of Korean society that are becoming harder to neglect.
Listen to the full record on BBC Radio 4's Crossing Continents. You can listen using the Radio 4 website or using the Crossing Continents podcast.
The allure of host bars can be subtle. Right here, she states, she has more interest from her male buddies, more selection and, crucially, more control.
James has actually been working at Bar 123 for a pair of years. Instead, he tells me, it is all down to the host's very own assessment.
As well as that's why I thought of opening up a bar like this - a kind of discussion bar.".