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Learn more regarding women-only host bars in Gangnam, Korea South Korea's quick financial growth has actually indicated some startling adjustments within its traditional social framework, consisting of the increase of supposed host bars, where affluent women pay the equivalent of countless bucks for male company. In the dim light of a basement, a loads completely groomed young men stoop in rows, calling out their names. Muscle, with glossy boy-band hairstyles, they stuff side by side right into the slim room, awaiting us to make our choice. Outdoors in the passage, even more of their colleagues are getting here for another evening at the office. It is 2am, as well as we are their very first clients. Covert underneath the sidewalks of Seoul's ritziest postal code, Gangnam, the men at Bar 123 become part of an expanding industry, which outgrew the long customs of Japanese geisha as well as Korea's kisaeng houses however with one vital distinction - the customers here are all women. Known as "host bars", these all-night alcohol consumption areas provide female customers the chance to select and pay for male buddies, in some cases at a cost of thousands of pounds a night. One of the females I fulfill at Bar 123 is Minkyoung, a waitressing supervisor for a luxury hotel. She says she comes to host bars one or two times a month. The appeal of host bars can be subtle. Here, she says, she has even more focus from her male friends, even more selection and, crucially, even more control. ADVERTISEMENT " In routine bars the individuals that drink with me have just one goal - to have a casual sex. I do not want that, so that's why I come right here, I want to have fun," she claims. Hosts are hired by bars similar to this one to offer friendship and entertainment. Officially that suggests putting beverages for their customers, dancing and also speaking with them, as well as vocal singing karaoke. Host bar in Seoul Sex is not formally available in most host bars. That would be unlawful however even Minkyoung appears happy to touch and flirt with her host, as well as the males here approximate that around half the consumers desire to pay for sex, either on or off the premises. James has actually been operating at Bar 123 for a number of years. In Korean culture, he states, there is a great deal of satisfaction and also discussing a cost for sex is never ever done explicitly. Instead, he informs me, it is all down to the host's very own evaluation. " The individuals right here are pros - we understand what we're doing," he says. " After talking with a woman for a hr we generally understand how much money she makes as well as what she does for a living. We've currently evaluated her individuality and what she's eager to give." James as well as other hosts state their clients include a few of South Korea's elite, which the cash as well as rewards available are incredible. One customer James fulfilled, during his initial week in the task, asked him to authorize himself over to her for 2 years. 성남노래방 " She claimed 'allow's make an agreement. I've obtained this piece of paper as well as I've numbered it 1-5. Whatever you list next to those numbers, I'll obtain you.'". James states at the time he took it as a joke but because figured out the same lady spent ₤ 60,000 ($ 97,000) on an additional host. " If it took place now, I would certainly do it - I would certainly be assuming straight.". Ironically possibly, host bars outgrew among Korea's most established and, some state, misogynist organization practices - the room salon. These are personal alcohol consumption spaces where groups of men select, and are offered by, eye-catching female people hosting. It was the hostesses' demand to allow off vapor after job, states expert host Kim Dong-hee, that produced the initial need for host bars, with all-male team. These girls are forced to do things they do not want to do for money. " I think a great deal of them are in pain, and a whole lot really feel lonely. Put simply, they intend to get our time and our bodies.". Hostesses still compose a huge percentage of the clients at host bars right here, yet at Bar 123, for example, as much as 40% of the customers on an offered evening are currently from various other profession. The factors for that growing allure are bound in South Korea's quick financial surge. Within 50 years, the nation moved from post-war devastation to OECD participant. But, according to Jasper Kim, head of the Asia-Pacific Global Research Group in Seoul, something crucial was lost along the road. " I think that with all this rapid growth comes rapid change, as well as Koreans simply don't recognize how to deal with it. Significantly, industrialism is overtaking basic societal standards that you would certainly expect a number of years ago.". Jasper Kim claims South Korea's notoriously lengthy working hours have left many Korean women really feeling lonely, while the country's technical breakthrough has left many individuals feeling detached. " The human element of Korean culture that existed in the past merely doesn't exist today. Individuals are concentrated on innovation, people are concentrated on their jobs, they aren't concentrated on human connections any longer. " In lots of means, Korean culture today type of advises me of 1960s culture in the United States, where it's on the edge of some kind of cultural revolution.". The grandpa of Seoul's host bar scene, Kim Dong-hee, agrees that a lot of the females who pertain to host bars are not spending for sex however, for companionship, 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. Image caption,. Hosts at Red Model Bars can not touch clients. " Men intend to have visual enjoyment as well as wish to really feel things, they're responsive. Females like to speak and to pay attention. And also that's why I considered opening a bar such as this - a kind of dialogue bar.". Red Model Bars are various to standard host bars in one essential regard - there is a no-touching regulation. Hosts rest on one side of the table, customers on the other, as well as no physical call is allowed, and also certainly no sex. Probably because of this there is a lack of furtiveness amongst individuals that work or consume below - the lights are reduced, the style generally dark red and the area is split right into very discreet cubicles, but it is an open-plan space as well as clients as well as hosts are split in each booth by a large table. This brand-new business design depends completely on females paying the equivalent of hundreds and even thousands of bucks to talk to fine-looking boys over a drink. Still, it seems to be working - 3 brand-new branches are due to open this year. Sitting at a table at one end of the bar was just one of their regular clients, a flower shop called Kim Nayu. She tells me she comes here daily to satisfy her favorite host and also review issues she is contending work. The cost for this piece of male focus is $487-650 (₤ 300-400) a day. " Talking to pals would certainly be more affordable" she admits, "yet they don't pay attention as much. They're busy, as well as quickly to discuss themselves. Here, individuals will certainly take note of me and they'll pay attention to me.". " I spend a great deal of money yet it deserves it of what I get psychologically. Individuals pay to go to see a psychologist or psychiatrist, so it's similar however much less difficult.". Nayu's favourite host Sung-il says it can be hard to keep his individual as well as specialist life separate. " Honestly I 'd be lying if I state I have not been tempted to take things better with some clients, since we're human, we're males, however there are policies.". One of his customers spoke a great deal to her husband regarding him and when the three of them fulfilled, Sung-il and also the spouse became close friends. " No one hides - the employees don't conceal that they work here, and clients can be open too.". This visibility is posturing a brand-new type of obstacle to South Korean culture, different from the sometimes shabby abyss of traditional host bars and their hinterland of male prostitution. By supplying females a "respectable" method to challenge standard gender roles as well as bend their financial power, these brand-new bars ask questions of Korean culture that are ending up being more difficult to disregard. Listen to the full record on BBC Radio 4's Crossing Continents. You can pay attention by means of the Radio 4 site or using the Crossing Continents podcast. The appeal of host bars can be refined. Right here, she claims, she has even more attention from her male friends, more selection as well as, crucially, even 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 very own evaluation. And also that's why I assumed of opening up a bar like this - a kind of discussion bar.".
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