Discover even more regarding women-only host bars in Gangnam, Korea South Korea''s fast financial growth has suggested some stunning modifications within its conventional social structure, consisting of the rise of supposed host bars, where well-off women pay the matching of countless bucks for male firm.
In the dim light of a below ground area, a loads completely groomed young men stoop in rows, calling out their names.
Muscular, with shiny boy-band hairdos, they stuff side by side right into the narrow room, awaiting us to make our selection. Outdoors in the hallway, more of their associates are showing up for one more evening at the workplace. It is 2am, and also we are their first consumers.
Covert under the pavements of Seoul''s ritziest postal code, Gangnam, the guys at Bar 123 are part of a growing market, which outgrew the lengthy practices of Japanese geisha and Korea''s kisaeng residences yet with one crucial distinction - the clients below are all women.
Referred to as "host bars", these all-night drinking areas offer female clients the possibility to pay and also choose for male companions, occasionally at a cost of countless extra pounds an evening.
Among the ladies I satisfy at Bar 123 is Minkyoung, a waitressing supervisor for a first-class hotel. Once or twice a month, she states she comes to host bars.
The appeal of host bars can be refined. Below, she states, she has more attention from her male buddies, more option and, most importantly, even more control.
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" In normal bars the men that consume with me have just one goal - to have a casual sex. I don''t desire that, so that''s why I come here, I desire to have fun," she says.
Hosts are employed by bars like this one to supply friendship as well as enjoyment. Officially that suggests pouring beverages for their customers, speaking and also dancing with them, as well as singing karaoke.
Host bar in Seoul
Sex is not formally on offer in many host bars. That would be illegal yet even Minkyoung appears pleased to tease and touch with her host, and the guys right here estimate that around half the consumers wish to spend for sex, either on or off the facilities.
James has been functioning at Bar 123 for a couple of years. In Korean culture, he states, there is a great deal of satisfaction and discussing a cost for sex is never done clearly. Instead, he tells 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 speaking to a lady for an hour we generally understand just how much cash she makes and what she does for a living. We''ve already evaluated her personality and also what she agrees to give."
James and other hosts claim their consumers consist of some of South Korea''s elite, as well as that the cash and perks on offer are astounding. One customer James met, throughout his initial week in the task, asked him to sign himself over to her for 2 years.
" She said ''allow''s make an agreement. I''ve obtained this item of paper and also I''ve numbered it 1-5. Whatever you jot down beside those numbers, I''ll get you.''".
James says at the time he took it as a joke but since learnt the same lady invested ₤ 60,000 ($ 97,000) on another host.
" If it happened now, I would certainly do it - I would certainly be believing straight.".
Paradoxically perhaps, host bars grew out of one of Korea''s most established as well as, some claim, misogynist service traditions - the space hair salon. These are personal alcohol consumption spaces where groups of males choose, and are offered by, attractive women people hosting.
It was the people hosting'' requirement to allow off heavy steam after job, claims expert host Kim Dong-hee, that created the initial demand for host bars, with all-male personnel.
" What these hostesses desire is to [make us] do the very same point they had to do in their own workplace. These girls are required to do points they do not desire to do for money.
" I believe a lot of them are in discomfort, and also a lot really feel lonely. Basically, they want to buy our time and our bodies.".
People hosting still compose a big percent of the clients at host bars here, but at Bar 123, for example, approximately 40% of the consumers on a given evening are now from various other profession.
The reasons for that growing appeal are linked up in South Korea''s quick economic rise. Within 50 years, the country moved from post-war devastation to OECD member.
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According to Jasper Kim, head of the Asia-Pacific Global Research Group in Seoul, something vital was lost along the means.
" I believe that with all this rapid growth comes quick change, and also Koreans simply don''t know just how to deal with it. Significantly, commercialism is overtaking basic social standards that you would expect a number of decades earlier.".
Jasper Kim states South Korea''s infamously long working hours have left numerous Korean women really feeling lonesome, while the country''s technical advance has left several people really feeling removed.
" The human aspect of Korean culture that existed before merely doesn''t exist today. People are concentrated on innovation, individuals are focused on their tasks, they aren''t concentrated on human relationships anymore.
" In several means, Korean society today type of advises me of 1960s society in the US, where it''s on the brink of some type of social revolution.".
The grandpa of Seoul''s host bar scene, Kim Dong-hee, agrees that much of the females who pertain to host bars are not spending for sex but also for companionship, which is why he opened up a new chain of freshly-marketed outlets targeted at the mainstream market - called Red Model Bars.
Red Model Bar hosts.
Picture inscription,.
Hosts at Red Model Bars can not touch clients.
" Men desire to have visual enjoyment and want to really feel points, they''re tactile. Women like to talk as well as to pay attention. And also that''s why I assumed of opening up a bar such as this - a kind of dialogue bar.".

Red Model Bars are different to typical host bars in one essential regard - there is a no-touching rule. Hosts rest on one side of the table, customers on the various other, as well as no physical call is allowed, as well as certainly no sex.
Possibly as a result there is a lack of furtiveness among individuals who work or drink right here - the lights are low, the design primarily dark red as well as the room is separated right into discreet cubicles, however it is an open-plan space as well as hosts and also clients are divided in each cubicle by a big table.
This brand-new service model depends entirely on women paying the equivalent of hundreds or perhaps hundreds of dollars to talk to good-looking young males over a drink. Still, it seems to be functioning - 3 brand-new branches are because of open this year.
Sitting at a table at one end of bench was among their normal customers, a florist called Kim Nayu. She tells me she comes below every day to satisfy her much-loved host as well as talk about concerns she is contending job.
The rate for this piece of male focus is $487-650 (₤ 300-400) a day.
" Talking to close friends would certainly be more affordable" she admits, "but they do not listen as much. They''re active, as well as quickly to discuss themselves. Right here, people will certainly pay attention to me and also they''ll pay attention to me.".
" I invest a great deal of cash but it deserves it of what I get emotionally. People pay to visit see a psychologist or psychiatrist, so it''s comparable however less difficult.".
Nayu''s favourite host Sung-il claims it can be hard to maintain his individual and also professional life separate.
" Honestly I would certainly be existing if I state I have not been lured to take things additionally with some customers, because we''re human, we''re men, however there are guidelines.".
Among his consumers yapped to her spouse about him as well as when the three of them satisfied, Sung-il as well as the partner ended up being buddies.
" No one conceals - the workers do not conceal that they work right here, as well as consumers can be open as well.".
This visibility is positioning a new type of challenge to South Korean society, different from the sometimes seedy abyss of typical host bars and their hinterland of male hooking.
By offering women a "commendable" way to test conventional gender roles and bend their economic power, these brand-new bars ask inquiries of Korean society that are coming to be more difficult to ignore.
Hear the complete report on BBC Radio 4''s Crossing Continents. You can listen via the Radio 4 internet site or using the Crossing Continents podcast.
The allure of host bars can be subtle. Below, she states, she has more focus from her male companions, even more option as well as, most importantly, more control.
James has been working at Bar 123 for a couple of years. Rather, he informs me, it is all down to the host''s own evaluation.
As well as that''s why I believed of opening up a bar like this - a kind of discussion bar.".