Discover even more regarding women-only host bars in Gangnam, Korea South Korea''s rapid economic advancement has meant some surprising changes within its traditional social framework, consisting of the rise of so-called host bars, where rich females pay the equivalent of hundreds of bucks for male business.

In the dark light of a below ground area, a loads flawlessly brushed boys kneel in rows, calling out their names.

Muscular, with glossy boy-band hairdos, they cram side-by-side right into the narrow room, waiting on us to make our choice. Outside in the hallway, more of their colleagues are showing up for one more evening at the office. It is 2am, and we are their initial consumers.

Concealed under the pavements of Seoul''s ritziest postal code, Gangnam, the men at Bar 123 are part of an expanding sector, which grew out of the long customs of Japanese geisha as well as Korea''s kisaeng homes yet with one essential difference - the consumers here are all women.

Recognized as "host bars", these all-night alcohol consumption areas offer women consumers the possibility to pick and also pay for male friends, occasionally at an expense of thousands of pounds an evening.

One of the ladies I fulfill at Bar 123 is Minkyoung, a waitressing manager for a luxury hotel. She claims she pertains to host bars as soon as or two times a month.


Minkyoung is very pretty as well as her clothes are immaculate. She does not look like somebody that would certainly require to spend for male business. Yet the attraction of host bars can be refined. Below, she states, she has even more focus from her male companions, more selection and also, most importantly, even more control.
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" In routine bars the guys who consume alcohol with me have just one objective - to have an one-night stand. I do not desire that, so that''s why I come right here, I desire to have enjoyable," she says.

Hosts are worked with by bars similar to this one to supply friendship and home entertainment. Formally that implies pouring beverages for their consumers, dancing and chatting with them, and vocal singing karaoke.

Host bar in Seoul
Sex is not officially available in most host bars. That would be prohibited however even Minkyoung appears satisfied to touch as well as flirt with her host, as well as the males right here estimate that around half the clients wish to spend for sex, either on or off the facilities.

James has actually been working at Bar 123 for a pair of years. In Korean culture, he claims, 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 down to the host''s own analysis.

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

" After talking with a lady for a hr we primarily know just how much money she makes as well as what she does for a living. We''ve already evaluated her individuality and what she wants to give."

James and also other hosts claim their consumers consist of some of South Korea''s elite, as well as that the cash as well as advantages on offer boggle the mind. One customer James met, during his first week in the work, asked him to authorize himself over to her for 2 years.

" She said ''let''s make a contract. I''ve obtained this piece of paper and I''ve numbered it 1-5. Whatever you make a note of alongside those numbers, I''ll obtain you.''".

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

" If it took place currently, I ''d do it - I ''d be believing straight.".

Ironically perhaps, host bars outgrew among Korea''s most entrenched and also, some say, misogynist business customs - the room beauty parlor. These are exclusive drinking areas where groups of men choose, and also are served by, attractive female hostesses.

It was the people hosting'' need to allow off vapor after job, claims expert host Kim Dong-hee, that produced the preliminary need for host bars, with all-male personnel.

These women are compelled to do things they do not want to do for money.

" I think a great deal of them are in discomfort, and also a lot feel lonely. Merely placed, they wish to purchase our time and also our bodies.".

People hosting still compose a large percentage of the customers at host bars here, but at Bar 123, for instance, up to 40% of the clients on an offered night are now from various other profession.

The reasons for that growing appeal are tied up in South Korea''s rapid economic surge. 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 means.

" I think that with all this rapid growth comes fast modification, and Koreans just don''t recognize how to manage it. Significantly, commercialism is surpassing fundamental social norms that you would certainly anticipate a number of decades earlier.".

Jasper Kim states South Korea''s infamously long working hours have actually left many Korean ladies really feeling lonely, while the nation''s technical breakthrough has actually left lots of people really feeling separated.

" The human component of Korean culture that existed before simply doesn''t exist today. Individuals are concentrated on innovation, people are concentrated on their jobs, they aren''t focused on human connections any longer.

" In several means, Korean society today sort of reminds me of 1960s culture in the United States, where it''s on the brink of some type of cultural transformation.".

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

Red Model Bar hosts.
Picture subtitle,.
Hosts at Red Model Bars can not touch clients.
" Men want to have visual satisfaction as well as wish to feel points, they''re tactile. Females like to chat and also to pay attention. And also that''s why I considered opening up a bar such as this - a sort of dialogue bar.".

Red Model Bars are different to typical host bars in one essential respect - there is a no-touching guideline. Hosts remain on one side of the table, clients on the various other, as well as no physical call is allowed, and also absolutely no sex.

Probably consequently there is a lack of furtiveness among the people who function or consume below - the lights are reduced, the decoration primarily dark red and the area is separated right into discreet cubicles, however it is an open-plan area as well as consumers and hosts are separated in each cubicle by a large table.

This brand-new business version depends entirely on women paying the equivalent of hundreds or even countless dollars to chat to good-looking young males over a beverage. Still, it appears to be functioning - 3 new branches are because of open this year.

Sitting at a table at one end of the bar was just one of their normal customers, a flower designer called Kim Nayu. She tells me she comes below each day to satisfy her preferred host and also go over issues she is having at work.

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

" Talking to good friends would be less expensive" she confesses, "but they do not pay attention as much. They''re active, and also quickly to speak about themselves. Here, individuals will pay attention to me as well as they''ll pay attention to me.".

" I invest a great deal of money yet it''s worth it of what I obtain mentally. Individuals pay to go to see a psycho therapist or psychiatrist, so it''s comparable but less stressful.".

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

" Honestly I would certainly be existing if I say I have not been attracted to take points better with some clients, since we''re human, we''re males, but there are rules.".

Among his customers spoke a lot to her spouse regarding him and when the three of them met, Sung-il and also the husband ended up being friends.

" No one hides - the workers do not conceal that they function here, and customers can be open as well.".

This visibility is posing a new kind of obstacle to South Korean culture, different from the in some cases seedy abyss of typical host bars and also their hinterland of male prostitution.

By using ladies a "respectable" way to test traditional gender duties as well as flex their financial power, these new bars ask questions of Korean society that are becoming tougher to ignore.

Listen to the complete report on BBC Radio 4''s Crossing Continents. You can listen through the Radio 4 internet site or by means of the Crossing Continents podcast.


The appeal of host bars can be refined. Here, she says, she has even more attention from her male companions, even more option as well as, most importantly, even more control.
James has 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.

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