Figure out even more regarding women-only host bars in Gangnam, Korea South Korea's fast financial development has actually indicated some stunning changes within its traditional social framework, including the rise of supposed host bars, where rich women pay the equivalent of countless bucks for male business.
In the dim light of a basement, a loads perfectly groomed young guys stoop in rows, calling out their names.
Muscle, with glossy boy-band hairstyles, they cram alongside into the narrow area, waiting for us to make our option. Outside in the corridor, more of their coworkers are arriving for another night at work. It is 2am, and also we are their initial clients.
Concealed under the pavements of Seoul's ritziest postcode, Gangnam, the men at Bar 123 belong to an expanding market, which expanded out of the long customs of Japanese geisha and also Korea's kisaeng homes yet with one crucial difference - the consumers here are all ladies.
Referred to as "host bars", these all-night drinking spaces use female clients the chance to pay as well as select for male companions, often at a price of countless pounds an evening.
One of the women I satisfy at Bar 123 is Minkyoung, a waitressing supervisor for a first-class resort. As soon as or twice a month, she claims she comes to host bars.
Minkyoung is really rather and her clothes are spotless. She does not look like somebody who would certainly need to pay for male business. Yet the appeal of host bars can be refined. Below, she claims, she has more attention from her male friends, more selection and also, most importantly, even more control.
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" In routine bars the people that consume alcohol with me have just one objective - to have an one-night stand. However I don't want that, to ensure that's why I come here, I intend to enjoy," she says.
Hosts are employed by bars like this one to give companionship and amusement. Officially that indicates putting drinks for their clients, dancing as well as chatting with them, and vocal singing karaoke.
Host bar in Seoul
Sex is not officially available in most host bars. That would be prohibited but also Minkyoung seems satisfied to flirt and also touch with her host, and the males right here approximate that around half the consumers wish to pay for sex, either on or off the properties.
James has been operating at Bar 123 for a couple of years. In Korean culture, he claims, there is a lot of satisfaction and negotiating a rate for sex is never done explicitly. Instead, he informs me, it is all down to the host's very own evaluation.
" The individuals right here are pros - we know what we're doing," he says.
" After talking to a girl for a hr we primarily recognize just how much money she makes as well as what she does for a living. We've already analysed her character and what she wants to offer."
James and also various other hosts say their clients consist of several of South Korea's elite, and that the cash and also benefits available boggle the mind. One client James met, during his very first week in the task, asked him to authorize himself over to her for two years.
" She stated 'allow's make an agreement. I've got this piece of paper as well as I've numbered it 1-5. Whatever you jot down alongside those numbers, I'll obtain you.'".
James states at the time he took it as a joke however since discovered the same female invested ₤ 60,000 ($ 97,000) on an additional host.
" If it took place now, I would certainly do it - I would certainly be thinking straight.".
Ironically perhaps, host bars expanded out of among Korea's most entrenched and also, some say, misogynist company traditions - the area beauty salon. These are exclusive alcohol consumption rooms where groups of males choose, as well as are offered by, attractive female people hosting.
It was the hostesses' need to allow off heavy steam after work, says professional host Kim Dong-hee, that created the initial demand for host bars, with all-male personnel.
" What these people hosting desire is to [make us] do the same point they needed to perform in their very own office. These girls are compelled to do points they do not intend to do for cash.
" I assume a great deal of them are in pain, as well as a whole lot really feel lonesome. Basically, they wish to buy our time and also our bodies.".
People hosting still comprise a large portion of the clients at host bars here, however at Bar 123, for instance, up to 40% of the consumers on a provided night are now from other profession.
The reasons for that expanding charm are locked up in South Korea's fast economic rise. Within 50 years, the nation changed from post-war devastation to OECD member.
Yet, according to Jasper Kim, head of the Asia-Pacific Global Research Group in Seoul, something essential was shed along the road.
" I think that with all this rapid development comes fast change, as well as Koreans just don't understand just how to manage it. Progressively, industrialism is overtaking basic societal norms that you would certainly anticipate a number of years ago.".
Jasper Kim states South Korea's notoriously lengthy working hrs have left many Korean ladies feeling lonely, while the country's technical advance has actually left many individuals feeling detached.
" The human component of Korean society that existed before simply doesn't exist today. People are concentrated on technology, individuals are focused on their tasks, they aren't concentrated on human relations anymore.
" In many ways, Korean society today type of advises me of 1960s culture in the United States, where it's on the edge of some sort of cultural revolution.".
The grandfather of Seoul's host bar scene, Kim Dong-hee, concurs that a lot of the women who pertain to host bars are not spending for sex yet for companionship, which is why he opened up a brand-new chain of freshly-marketed outlets focused on the mainstream market - called Red Model Bars.
Red Model Bar hosts.
Photo inscription,.
Hosts at Red Model Bars can not touch customers.
" Men intend to have visual satisfaction as well as want to really feel points, they're responsive. Ladies like to speak and to listen. And that's why I thought about opening up a bar such as this - a type of discussion bar.".
Red Model Bars are various to conventional host bars in one crucial respect - there is a no-touching guideline. Hosts rest on one side of the table, customers on the various other, and no physical contact is allowed, and definitely no sex.
Perhaps therefore there is an absence of furtiveness among individuals that function or consume here - the lights are reduced, the decoration generally dark red and also the area is divided into discreet booths, yet it is an open-plan area and also customers and also hosts are separated in each cubicle by a huge table.
This brand-new company model depends completely on females paying the equivalent of hundreds or perhaps hundreds of bucks to speak to fine-looking young men over a beverage. Still, it appears to be working - three new branches are because of open this year.
Sitting at a table at one end of bench was one of their regular clients, a flower designer called Kim Nayu. She tells me she comes here everyday to meet her much-loved host and also review issues she is contending job.
The price for this piece of male interest is $487-650 (₤ 300-400) a day.
" Talking to pals would certainly be more affordable" she admits, "however they don't listen as much. They're busy, and quickly to speak about themselves. Below, people will certainly focus on me and they'll listen to me.".
" I invest a great deal of cash but it's worth it for what I get psychologically. People pay to visit see a psycho therapist or psychiatrist, so it's similar yet much less demanding.".
Nayu's favorite host Sung-il claims it can be difficult to keep his expert and personal life different.
" Honestly I would certainly be existing if I claim I have not been tempted to take points even more with some consumers, due to the fact that we're human, we're men, yet there are guidelines.".
Among his clients yapped to her husband concerning him and also when the three of them met, Sung-il and the spouse ended up being buddies.
" No one hides - the workers do not conceal that they function right here, as well as consumers can be open also.".
This openness is positioning a brand-new type of challenge to South Korean society, various from the in some cases sleazy underworld of traditional host bars and also their hinterland of male prostitution.
By providing women a "respectable" method to challenge conventional sex roles and also bend their financial power, these brand-new bars ask inquiries of Korean culture that are coming to be harder to overlook.
Hear the full report on BBC Radio 4's Crossing Continents. You can pay attention via the Radio 4 website or using the Crossing Continents podcast.
The allure of host bars can be subtle. Below, she says, she has even more focus from her male friends, even more option and also, most importantly, more control.
James has been functioning at Bar 123 for a couple of years. Instead, he informs me, it is all down to the host's very own analysis.

And that's why I believed of opening a bar like this - a kind of discussion bar.".