Discover more about women-only host bars in Gangnam, Korea

South Korea's quick economic development has suggested some startling modifications within its conventional social structure, including the increase of supposed host bars, where well-off ladies pay the equivalent of thousands of dollars for male firm.
In the dark light of a below ground space, a dozen perfectly groomed boys stoop in rows, calling out their names.
Muscle, with glossy boy-band hairdos, they stuff alongside into the narrow room, waiting on us to make our option. Outdoors in the hallway, even more of their associates are showing up for one more night at the workplace. It is 2am, and also we are their very first customers.
Covert under the sidewalks of Seoul's ritziest postcode, Gangnam, the guys at Bar 123 are component of an expanding industry, which expanded out of the long practices of Japanese geisha and Korea's kisaeng residences however with one important difference - the consumers right here are all females.
Called "host bars", these all-night drinking rooms offer women consumers the opportunity to select and pay for male buddies, occasionally at a price of hundreds of extra pounds an evening.
One of the females I meet at Bar 123 is Minkyoung, a waitressing manager for a first-class hotel. Once or two times a month, she claims she comes to host bars.
The appeal of host bars can be refined. Right here, she says, she has more attention from her male companions, even more choice and, crucially, more control.
PROMOTION
" In regular bars the individuals who consume with me have just one goal - to have a casual sex. But I don't want that, to make sure that's why I come below, I intend to enjoy," she claims.
Hosts are employed by bars such as this one to give friendship and home entertainment. Formally that means pouring beverages for their customers, dancing and also speaking with them, and singing karaoke.
Host bar in Seoul
Sex is not officially available in many host bars. That would certainly be illegal yet also Minkyoung appears pleased to tease and touch with her host, and also the men here approximate that around half the clients intend to pay for sex, either on or off the properties.
James has actually been functioning at Bar 123 for a pair of years. In Korean culture, he says, there is a great deal of satisfaction and also negotiating a price for sex is never done clearly. Rather, he informs me, it is all to the host's very own assessment.
" The guys below are pros - we understand what we're doing," he says.
" After speaking to a girl for an hour we generally recognize just how much money she makes and what she provides for a living. We've currently evaluated her individuality as well as what she's prepared to offer."
James and also other hosts say their clients consist of a few of South Korea's elite, as well as that the cash and also advantages available are astonishing. One client James met, throughout his initial week in the work, asked him to authorize himself over to her for 2 years.
" She claimed 'let's make a contract. I've got this notepad and also I've numbered it 1-5. Whatever you jot down following to those numbers, I'll get you.'".
James states at the time he took it as a joke but since figured out the same woman spent ₤ 60,000 ($ 97,000) on an additional host.
" If it occurred currently, I  would certainly do it - I  would certainly be believing straight.".
Ironically perhaps, host bars outgrew one of Korea's most established and also, some state, misogynist service customs - the space beauty salon. These are personal drinking rooms where groups of males select, as well as are offered by, eye-catching female hostesses.
It was the hostesses' requirement to allow off vapor after work, says professional host Kim Dong-hee, that developed the first need for host bars, with all-male staff.
These ladies are forced to do things they don't desire to do for money.
" I believe a lot of them are in discomfort, and also a whole lot feel lonely. Just put, they intend to buy our time and also our bodies.".
People hosting still compose a large portion of the consumers at host bars right here, yet at Bar 123, as an example, approximately 40% of the clients on a given evening are now from other profession.
The factors for that expanding appeal are locked up in South Korea's rapid financial increase. Within 50 years, the nation changed from post-war devastation to OECD participant.
According to Jasper Kim, head of the Asia-Pacific Global Research Group in Seoul, something crucial was lost along the way.
" I think that with all this fast growth comes fast change, and also Koreans just do not know just how to manage it. Significantly, commercialism is overtaking basic social norms that you would certainly expect a number of decades earlier.".
Jasper Kim says South Korea's notoriously long working hrs have left numerous Korean ladies really feeling lonesome, while the country's technological advancement has left lots of people really feeling separated.
" The human component of Korean society that existed previously simply doesn't exist today. Individuals are concentrated on innovation, people are concentrated on their work, they aren't concentrated on human connections any longer.
" In several ways, Korean culture today kind of reminds me of 1960s culture in the United States, where it's on the brink of some kind of cultural revolution.".
The grandfather of Seoul's host bar scene, Kim Dong-hee, agrees that many of the females that pertain to host bars are not paying for sex but for companionship, which is why he opened a brand-new chain of freshly-marketed electrical outlets aimed at the mainstream market - called Red Model Bars.
Red Model Bar hosts.
Picture caption,.
Hosts at Red Model Bars can not touch customers.
" Men intend to have visual enjoyment and also wish to really feel points, they're tactile. Ladies like to chat as well as to pay attention. Which's why I considered opening a bar like this - a type of dialogue bar.".
Red Model Bars are different to typical host bars in one vital respect - there is a no-touching policy. Hosts remain on one side of the table, customers on the other, and no physical get in touch with is enabled, as well as definitely no sex.
Perhaps because of this there is an absence of furtiveness amongst the individuals that function or consume alcohol right here - the lights are reduced, the style generally dark red and the area is separated right into very discreet booths, however it is an open-plan area and hosts as well as customers are divided in each cubicle by a large table.
This brand-new company version depends entirely on women paying the equivalent of hundreds or perhaps thousands of dollars to speak with fine-looking boys over a drink. Still, it appears to be functioning - 3 brand-new branches are because of open this year.
Sitting at a table at one end of bench was one of their regular consumers, a floral designer called Kim Nayu. She informs me she comes here daily to meet her favourite host and talk about concerns she is having at job.
The cost for this slice of male focus is $487-650 (₤ 300-400) a day.
" Talking to friends would certainly be cheaper" she confesses, "however they do not listen as much. They're active, and quickly to chat concerning themselves. Right here, people will certainly take note of me and they'll listen to me.".
" I invest a lot of money but it's worth it wherefore I obtain emotionally. Individuals pay to head to see a psycho therapist or psychiatrist, so it's comparable however much less difficult.".
Nayu's much-loved host Sung-il claims it can be hard to maintain his professional and also personal life different.
" Honestly I  would certainly be existing if I say I haven't been tempted to take points better with some customers, because we're human, we're guys, but there are rules.".
제주도룸
Among his clients spoke a whole lot to her hubby concerning him and when the three of them fulfilled, Sung-il and the hubby became close pals.

" No one hides - the workers do not hide that they function here, and consumers can be open too.".
This openness is posturing a new sort of challenge to South Korean culture, different from the occasionally seedy abyss of conventional host bars and also their hinterland of male hooking.
By using females a "commendable" way to test conventional sex functions and bend their financial power, these brand-new bars ask questions of Korean society that are coming to be tougher to ignore.
Hear the complete report on BBC Radio 4's Crossing Continents. You can pay attention through the Radio 4 internet site or by means of the Crossing Continents podcast.
The attraction of host bars can be refined. Here, she states, she has even more focus from her male friends, more choice and, crucially, even more control.
James has actually been functioning at Bar 123 for a couple of years. Instead, he tells me, it is all down to the host's very own assessment.
And that's why I thought of opening up a bar like this - a kind of discussion bar.".