Discover even more regarding women-only host bars in Gangnam, Korea South Korea''s fast financial development has meant some shocking modifications within its traditional social framework, consisting of the surge of supposed host bars, where well-off women pay the equivalent of hundreds of dollars for male business.
In the dim light of an underground space, a loads flawlessly brushed boys stoop in rows, calling out their names.
Muscular, with glossy boy-band hairdos, they pack alongside right into the slim space, waiting for us to make our selection. Outside in the corridor, even more of their associates are getting here for another evening at the office. It is 2am, and also we are their first clients.
Covert underneath the sidewalks of Seoul''s ritziest postcode, Gangnam, the men at Bar 123 are component of an expanding sector, which outgrew the long traditions of Japanese geisha as well as Korea''s kisaeng homes but with one critical distinction - the customers right here are all ladies.
Called "host bars", these all-night drinking spaces use female customers the chance to pay and choose for male friends, in some cases at a price of countless pounds an evening.
Among the females I fulfill at Bar 123 is Minkyoung, a waitressing supervisor for a five-star hotel. When or twice a month, she claims she comes to host bars.
The attraction of host bars can be refined. Right here, she says, she has more attention from her male buddies, more selection as well as, crucially, even more control.
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" In routine bars the men who consume with me have only one objective - to have a casual sex. I don''t want that, so that''s why I come right here, I want to have fun," she states.
Hosts are worked with by bars similar to this one to give friendship and also home entertainment. Formally that suggests putting beverages for their customers, dancing and speaking with them, as well as singing karaoke.
Host bar in Seoul
Sex is not officially available in most host bars. That would certainly be prohibited however even Minkyoung appears satisfied to touch as well as tease with her host, and also the males right here estimate that around half the consumers desire to pay for sex, either on or off the facilities.
James has actually been operating at Bar 123 for a pair of years. In Korean society, he states, there is a great deal of satisfaction and working out a price for sex is never ever done clearly. Rather, he tells me, it is all to the host''s own analysis.
" The people below are pros - we understand what we''re doing," he claims.
" After speaking to a woman for an hour we generally know how much cash she makes and what she does for a living. We''ve already evaluated her individuality as well as what she agrees to provide."
James and other hosts say their customers consist of a few of South Korea''s elite, which the cash and perks available are unbelievable. One customer James met, during his very first week in the job, asked him to sign himself over to her for two years.
" She claimed ''let''s make a contract. I''ve got this piece of paper as well as I''ve numbered it 1-5. Whatever you list beside those numbers, I''ll get you.''".
James says at the time he took it as a joke but because discovered the very same lady invested ₤ 60,000 ($ 97,000) on an additional host.
" If it happened currently, I ''d do it - I ''d be believing straight.".
Paradoxically probably, host bars expanded out of one of Korea''s most entrenched and, some state, misogynist organization customs - the area beauty salon. These are personal drinking areas where teams of guys choose, and are served by, eye-catching female people hosting.
It was the people hosting'' requirement to allow off steam after work, says expert host Kim Dong-hee, that developed the initial need for host bars, with all-male team.
These ladies are forced to do things they don''t desire to do for cash.

" I believe a great deal of them are in pain, as well as a great deal really feel lonely. Basically, they wish to acquire our time as well as our bodies.".
People hosting still comprise a huge percent of the customers at host bars right here, but at Bar 123, as an example, approximately 40% of the clients on a given evening are currently from various other profession.
The reasons for that growing allure are linked up in South Korea''s rapid economic increase. Within 50 years, the nation changed from post-war destruction to OECD participant.
Yet, according to Jasper Kim, head of the Asia-Pacific Global Research Group in Seoul, something important was shed in the process.
" I believe that with all this fast growth comes fast modification, and Koreans simply do not recognize exactly how to deal with it. Increasingly, commercialism is overtaking fundamental societal norms that you would certainly expect a number of years back.".
Jasper Kim states South Korea''s notoriously lengthy working hrs have actually left many Korean females feeling lonely, while the nation''s technological breakthrough has left many individuals feeling separated.
" The human aspect of Korean culture that existed previously just does not exist today. People are focused on modern technology, people are concentrated on their work, they aren''t focused on human connections any longer.
" In several ways, Korean society today kind of advises me of 1960s culture in the United States, where it''s on the edge of some kind of social transformation.".
The grandpa of Seoul''s host bar scene, Kim Dong-hee, concurs that numerous of the women that come to host bars are not spending for sex but for friendship, which is why he opened a new chain of freshly-marketed electrical outlets targeted at the mainstream market - called Red Model Bars.
Red Model Bar hosts.
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Hosts at Red Model Bars can not touch customers.
" Men wish to have aesthetic enjoyment and also desire to really feel points, they''re tactile. Women like to speak and also to listen. And that''s why I assumed of opening a bar such as this - a kind of discussion bar.".
Red Model Bars are different to standard host bars in one key regard - there is a no-touching regulation. Hosts rest on one side of the table, consumers on the other, and also no physical get in touch with is enabled, as well as absolutely no sex.
Perhaps consequently there is a lack of furtiveness among the people who function or drink right here - the lights are reduced, the style primarily dark red and also the space is split right into discreet cubicles, but it is an open-plan room as well as consumers and hosts are split in each cubicle by a large table.
This brand-new business design depends completely on ladies paying the equivalent of hundreds and even hundreds of dollars to speak with attractive young guys over a beverage. Still, it appears to be functioning - three brand-new branches result from open this year.
Resting at a table at one end of bench was one of their regular clients, a flower designer called Kim Nayu. She informs me she comes below daily to meet her much-loved host and also discuss issues she is contending work.
The price for this slice of male attention is $487-650 (₤ 300-400) a day.
" Talking to pals would be less costly" she admits, "yet they don''t listen as much. They''re busy, as well as in a rush to speak about themselves. Right here, individuals will pay attention to me and they''ll listen to me.".
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" I invest a great deal of cash but it deserves it wherefore I obtain emotionally. Individuals pay to go to see a psychologist or psychiatrist, so it''s similar but much less stressful.".
Nayu''s favourite host Sung-il states it can be tough to keep his specialist as well as individual life different.
" Honestly I ''d be lying if I state I haven''t been lured to take points even more with some clients, since we''re human, we''re guys, however there are rules.".
One of his consumers spoke a lot to her hubby about him as well as when the 3 of them satisfied, Sung-il and the husband ended up being close buddies.
" No one hides - the employees don''t hide that they work below, and also clients can be open as well.".
This visibility is posing a brand-new type of difficulty to South Korean society, various from the occasionally sleazy abyss of conventional host bars as well as their hinterland of male hooking.
By supplying ladies a "commendable" way to test standard sex functions as well as bend their financial power, these new bars ask concerns of Korean culture that are becoming harder to neglect.
Hear the complete record on BBC Radio 4''s Crossing Continents. You can pay attention using the Radio 4 internet site or by means of the Crossing Continents podcast.
The allure of host bars can be subtle. Below, she states, she has even more attention from her male buddies, more option and, crucially, even more control.
James has been working at Bar 123 for a couple of years. Instead, he tells me, it is all down to the host''s own analysis.
And also that''s why I thought of opening up a bar like this - a kind of dialogue bar.".