Learn even more concerning women-only host bars in Gangnam, Korea

South Korea's fast economic advancement has suggested some stunning adjustments within its traditional social framework, consisting of the rise of supposed host bars, where rich women pay the matching of countless bucks for male firm.

In the dark light of an underground area, a dozen perfectly brushed boys stoop in rows, calling out their names.

Muscular, with shiny boy-band hairdos, they stuff alongside right into the slim area, waiting on us to make our option. Outdoors in the passage, more of their colleagues are arriving for an additional evening at the office. It is 2am, and we are their very first customers.

Hidden beneath the sidewalks of Seoul's ritziest postcode, Gangnam, the males at Bar 123 belong to an expanding sector, which outgrew the long traditions of Japanese geisha as well as Korea's kisaeng homes but with one crucial distinction - the clients here are all females.

Known as "host bars", these all-night drinking areas use female consumers the chance to pick and also pay for male buddies, often at a price of thousands of pounds an evening.

Among the females I satisfy at Bar 123 is Minkyoung, a waitressing manager for a luxury hotel. She says she comes to host bars as soon as or two times a month.


정자노래주점 Minkyoung is really rather and her clothing are immaculate. She does not look like someone that would certainly need to pay for male firm. The appeal of host bars can be refined. Below, she claims, she has more attention from her male companions, more choice and also, crucially, even more control.
PROMOTION



" In routine bars the people that drink with me have just one objective - to have an one-night stand. I don't want that, so that's why I come here, I want to have enjoyable," she states.

Hosts are hired by bars like this one to give friendship and amusement. Formally that implies putting beverages for their customers, talking and also dancing with them, as well as vocal singing karaoke.

Host bar in Seoul
Sex is not officially on offer in a lot of host bars. That would certainly be prohibited yet even Minkyoung seems satisfied to flirt and touch with her host, and the guys here estimate that around half the consumers intend to spend for sex, either on or off the properties.

James has been working at Bar 123 for a number of years. In Korean society, he claims, there is a great deal of satisfaction as well as discussing a price for sex is never done explicitly. Instead, he informs me, it is all to the host's very own evaluation.

" The individuals below are pros - we understand what we're doing," he states.

" After talking with a girl for an hour we essentially know just how much money she makes and what she does for a living. We've currently analysed her personality and what she wants to provide."

James as well as other hosts claim their consumers include several of South Korea's elite, which the money and also advantages on deal boggle the mind. One client James fulfilled, during his very 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 got this notepad as well as I've numbered it 1-5. Whatever you write down alongside those numbers, I'll get you.'".

James says at the time he took it as a joke but given that learnt the very same woman spent ₤ 60,000 ($ 97,000) on another host.

" If it occurred now, I  would certainly do it - I  would certainly be believing straight.".

Paradoxically probably, host bars grew out of one of Korea's most established as well as, some state, misogynist organization customs - the room beauty parlor. These are personal alcohol consumption areas where groups of men choose, and also are served by, attractive women hostesses.

It was the hostesses' need to allow off heavy steam after job, claims professional host Kim Dong-hee, that created the preliminary need for host bars, with all-male staff.

" What these people hosting want is to [make us] do the exact same thing they needed to perform in their very own office. These ladies are forced to do points they do not intend to do for money.

" I assume a great deal of them are in discomfort, as well as a great deal really feel lonesome. Put simply, they want to buy our time as well as our bodies.".

People hosting still compose a large percentage of the consumers at host bars right here, yet at Bar 123, as an example, as much as 40% of the clients on a provided evening are now from other walks of life.

The factors for that growing charm are tied up in South Korea's fast economic increase. Within 50 years, the country changed from post-war destruction to OECD member.

According to Jasper Kim, head of the Asia-Pacific Global Research Group in Seoul, something vital was lost along the way.

" I think that with all this quick development comes rapid adjustment, and Koreans just don't know just how to deal with it. Significantly, industrialism is surpassing fundamental social norms that you would certainly anticipate a number of years back.".

Jasper Kim claims South Korea's infamously lengthy functioning hours have actually left numerous Korean ladies feeling lonely, while the nation's technical development has actually left many individuals feeling removed.

" The human aspect of Korean culture that existed in the past simply doesn't exist today. Individuals are focused on modern technology, people are concentrated on their work, they aren't focused on human relationships anymore.

" In numerous methods, Korean culture today sort of advises me of 1960s society in the US, where it's on the verge of some sort of cultural transformation.".

The grandpa of Seoul's host bar scene, Kim Dong-hee, concurs that most of the women who involve host bars are not spending for sex however, for friendship, which is why he opened a brand-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 desire to have visual enjoyment as well as intend to really feel points, they're tactile. Females like to speak and also to listen. And that's why I considered opening up a bar such as this - a type of dialogue bar.".

Red Model Bars are different to standard host bars in one vital respect - there is a no-touching guideline. Hosts rest on one side of the table, customers on the other, and no physical contact is permitted, and absolutely no sex.

Possibly as a result there is an absence of furtiveness among the people that work or consume below - the lights are low, the decoration mainly dark red and also the room is divided right into discreet cubicles, however it is an open-plan room and also hosts and also clients are separated in each booth by a huge table.

This brand-new company version depends totally on ladies paying the matching of hundreds and even hundreds of bucks to speak with attractive boys over a drink. Still, it seems to be functioning - three brand-new branches result from open this year.

Sitting at a table at one end of the bar was one of their routine consumers, a floral designer called Kim Nayu. She tells me she comes here on a daily basis to meet her preferred host and also review problems she is having at job.

The cost for this slice of male focus is $487-650 (₤ 300-400) a day.

" Talking to good friends would certainly be less expensive" she admits, "however they don't listen as much. They're busy, as well as in a hurry to speak about themselves. Here, individuals will pay interest to me and also they'll listen to me.".

" I invest a great deal of cash yet it deserves it wherefore I get psychologically. Individuals pay to head to see a psycho therapist or psychoanalyst, so it's comparable however much less stressful.".

Nayu's favourite host Sung-il says it can be hard to maintain his individual and also professional life separate.

" Honestly I 'd be lying if I state I haven't been attracted to take points even more with some consumers, due to the fact that we're human, we're men, yet there are regulations.".

Among his clients chatted a lot to her other half regarding him and also when the three of them fulfilled, Sung-il and the spouse ended up being close good friends.

" No one conceals - the workers don't conceal that they work here, and also customers can be open as well.".

This visibility is presenting a new sort of obstacle to South Korean society, different from the occasionally seedy abyss of traditional host bars and their hinterland of male hooking.

By providing females a "decent" way to test standard gender functions as well as flex their financial power, these brand-new bars ask questions of Korean society that are ending up being more challenging to disregard.

Listen to the full report on BBC Radio 4's Crossing Continents. You can listen via the Radio 4 site or using the Crossing Continents podcast.


The allure of host bars can be refined. Right here, she claims, she has even more focus from her male friends, even more selection and, most importantly, even more control.
James has actually been functioning at Bar 123 for a pair of years. Rather, he informs me, it is all down to the host's very own evaluation.

As well as that's why I believed of opening a bar like this - a kind of discussion bar.".