Find out even more regarding women-only host bars in Gangnam, Korea South Korea''s rapid financial advancement has suggested some shocking adjustments within its conventional social structure, including the increase of so-called host bars, where wealthy ladies pay the equivalent of countless bucks for male business.

In the dark light of a basement, a dozen perfectly groomed boys stoop in rows, calling out their names.

Muscle, with glossy boy-band hairstyles, they pack side-by-side into the narrow room, waiting on us to make our selection. Outdoors in the corridor, even more of their colleagues are showing up for an additional night at the workplace. It is 2am, and we are their first clients.

Concealed below the sidewalks of Seoul''s ritziest postal code, Gangnam, the men at Bar 123 are part of an expanding industry, which outgrew the long customs of Japanese geisha and Korea''s kisaeng residences yet with one vital difference - the clients below are all women.

분당룸 Called "host bars", these all-night drinking areas provide female clients the chance to pay as well as choose for male companions, sometimes at an expense of countless extra pounds an evening.

Among the women I fulfill at Bar 123 is Minkyoung, a waitressing manager for a first-class resort. Once or two times a month, she claims she comes to host bars.


The attraction of host bars can be subtle. Right here, she says, she has more attention from her male companions, more option and, most importantly, more control.
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" In regular bars the men that consume with me have only one goal - to have a casual sex. But I don''t want that, so that''s why I come right here, I intend to have a good time," she states.

Hosts are hired by bars such as this one to offer friendship and also enjoyment. Formally that indicates putting beverages for their customers, dancing as well as speaking with them, and vocal singing karaoke.

Host bar in Seoul
Sex is not officially on offer in most host bars. That would be unlawful yet also Minkyoung seems delighted to flirt and also touch with her host, as well as the men below approximate that around half the customers wish to pay for sex, either on or off the premises.

James has actually been functioning at Bar 123 for a number of years. In Korean culture, he states, there is a great deal of satisfaction and working out a cost for sex is never done clearly. Instead, he tells me, it is all down to the host''s very own evaluation.

" The people here are pros - we understand what we''re doing," he says.

" After talking with a lady for an hour we primarily know how much money she makes as well as what she provides for a living. We''ve currently evaluated her character and what she agrees to provide."

James as well as various other hosts say their customers include a few of South Korea''s elite, and that the cash and perks available are amazing. One client James satisfied, throughout his initial 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 paper and I''ve numbered it 1-5. Whatever you make a note of following to those numbers, I''ll obtain you.''".

James claims at the time he took it as a joke but given that discovered the same lady invested ₤ 60,000 ($ 97,000) on another host.

" If it took place currently, I would certainly do it - I ''d be assuming straight.".

Actually possibly, host bars outgrew one of Korea''s most established and, some claim, misogynist business traditions - the area beauty salon. These are exclusive alcohol consumption rooms where groups of guys pick, as well as are served by, eye-catching female people hosting.

It was the hostesses'' demand to let off heavy steam after work, states professional host Kim Dong-hee, that produced the first need for host bars, with all-male staff.

These girls are compelled to do things they don''t want to do for money.

" I assume a great deal of them are in pain, and also a lot feel lonely. Just placed, they wish to get our time as well as our bodies.".

Hostesses still make up a huge percentage of the consumers at host bars right here, yet at Bar 123, as an example, as much as 40% of the customers on a given evening are currently from various other strolls of life.

The reasons for that growing appeal are locked up in South Korea''s quick financial rise. Within 50 years, the country shifted from post-war devastation 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 think that with all this fast development comes fast modification, and Koreans simply don''t recognize how to handle it. Increasingly, capitalism is overtaking basic societal norms that you would expect a number of decades earlier.".

Jasper Kim says South Korea''s infamously long functioning hrs have left many Korean ladies really feeling lonesome, while the nation''s technological breakthrough has actually left many individuals feeling separated.

" The human element of Korean society that existed previously just does not exist today. Individuals are focused on innovation, individuals are focused on their tasks, they aren''t concentrated on human relationships any longer.

" In many methods, Korean culture today kind of advises me of 1960s culture in the US, where it''s on the brink of some type of cultural change.".

The grandfather of Seoul''s host bar scene, Kim Dong-hee, agrees that much of the ladies that involve host bars are not spending for sex but for friendship, which is why he opened up a brand-new chain of freshly-marketed outlets targeted at the mainstream market - called Red Model Bars.

Red Model Bar hosts.
Picture caption,.
Hosts at Red Model Bars can not touch customers.
" Men desire to have aesthetic enjoyment as well as intend to really feel points, they''re responsive. Ladies like to chat and to listen. Which''s why I thought about opening up a bar such as this - a kind of discussion bar.".

Red Model Bars are different to traditional host bars in one crucial regard - there is a no-touching guideline. Hosts remain on one side of the table, customers on the other, and also no physical contact is enabled, and also certainly no sex.

Perhaps therefore there is a lack of furtiveness among the individuals that work or drink right here - the lights are low, the design mostly dark red as well as the space is split right into discreet cubicles, however it is an open-plan space as well as hosts and customers are separated in each booth by a big table.


This brand-new organization model depends totally on females paying the matching of hundreds or perhaps countless bucks to talk with attractive young males over a beverage. Still, it seems to be working - 3 new branches are because of open this year.

Resting at a table at one end of bench was among their routine consumers, a floral designer called Kim Nayu. She tells me she comes below each day to fulfill her favourite host and also discuss problems she is having at job.

The price for this piece of male attention is $487-650 (₤ 300-400) a day.

" Talking to good friends would certainly be less costly" she admits, "yet they do not pay attention as much. They''re active, and quickly to speak about themselves. Below, individuals will take notice of me and they''ll pay attention to me.".

" I invest a great deal of cash however it''s worth it of what I get emotionally. People pay to visit see a psychologist or psychoanalyst, so it''s similar however much less demanding.".

Nayu''s favorite host Sung-il claims it can be hard to keep his specialist and also personal life separate.

" Honestly I ''d be existing if I claim I have not been attracted to take things even more with some consumers, since we''re human, we''re guys, but there are policies.".

Among his clients yapped to her other half about him and also when the 3 of them met, Sung-il and the hubby ended up being buddies.

" No one conceals - the employees don''t hide that they function below, and also customers can be open also.".

This visibility is posturing a brand-new sort of obstacle to South Korean culture, various from the in some cases sleazy underworld of typical host bars as well as their hinterland of male prostitution.

By using women a "commendable" method to test typical gender duties and bend their financial power, these brand-new bars ask questions of Korean society that are ending up being tougher to ignore.

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


The allure of host bars can be refined. Here, she states, she has more interest from her male friends, more choice as well as, most importantly, even more control.
James has actually been functioning at Bar 123 for a couple of years. Rather, he informs me, it is all down to the host''s very own analysis.

And also that''s why I thought of opening a bar like this - a kind of dialogue bar.".