South Korea's fast financial advancement has actually suggested some stunning modifications within its conservative social structure, including the surge of supposed host bars, where wealthy females pay the equivalent of thousands of dollars for male firm.
In the dark light of a below ground space, a lots completely brushed boys stoop in rows, calling out their names.
Muscular, with glossy boy-band hairdos, they stuff side by side right into the slim area, waiting for us to make our option. Outdoors in the hallway, more of their colleagues are showing up for one more evening at the workplace. It is 2am, and also we are their first consumers.
Concealed beneath the sidewalks of Seoul's ritziest postal code, Gangnam, the men at Bar 123 belong to a growing market, which grew out of the lengthy practices of Japanese geisha as well as Korea's kisaeng residences yet with one essential distinction - the customers right here are all females.
Referred to as "host bars", these all-night alcohol consumption spaces offer female clients the possibility to pay as well as pick for male buddies, often at a cost of countless pounds an evening.
Among the females I fulfill at Bar 123 is Minkyoung, a waitressing supervisor for a first-class resort. Once or twice a month, she claims she comes to host bars.
The allure of host bars can be subtle. Here, she states, she has more attention from her male buddies, more selection and also, most importantly, even more control.
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" In routine bars the individuals who drink with me have just one goal - to have an one-night stand. I do not desire that, so that's why I come here, I desire to have fun," she claims.
Hosts are employed by bars such as this one to supply companionship as well as home entertainment. Formally that indicates pouring beverages for their consumers, dancing as well as talking with them, and also vocal singing karaoke.
Host bar in Seoul
Sex is not formally on deal in a lot of host bars. That would certainly be prohibited however even Minkyoung appears satisfied to tease as well as touch with her host, as well as the guys right here estimate that around half the consumers intend to spend for sex, either on or off the properties.
James has been functioning at Bar 123 for a number of years. In Korean society, he claims, there is a whole lot of satisfaction as well as negotiating a price for sex is never ever done clearly. Instead, he informs me, it is all to the host's own evaluation.
" The guys right here are pros - we understand what we're doing," he claims.
" After speaking with a woman for a hr we basically recognize just how much cash she makes as well as what she does for a living. We've currently analysed her individuality as well as what she's eager to give."
James and also other hosts state their clients consist of some of South Korea's elite, which the cash as well as perks on deal boggle the mind. One client James satisfied, throughout his very first week in the job, asked him to sign himself over to her for 2 years.
" She stated 'allow's make a contract. I've got this paper as well as I've numbered it 1-5. Whatever you create down alongside those numbers, I'll get you.'".
James claims at the time he took it as a joke but since discovered out the very same lady spent ₤ 60,000 ($ 97,000) on another host.
" If it occurred currently, I would certainly do it - I 'd be assuming straight.".
Paradoxically maybe, host bars expanded out of one of Korea's most entrenched and also, some say, misogynist service practices - the room hair salon. These are exclusive drinking spaces where teams of men select, and are offered by, appealing female people hosting.
It was the hostesses' demand to allow off heavy steam after work, states expert host Kim Dong-hee, that created the first need for host bars, with all-male staff.
" What these people hosting desire is to [make us] do the very same point they needed to perform in their very own workplace. These girls are forced to do things they don't intend to provide for money.
" I assume a great deal of them are in pain, as well as a whole lot really feel lonesome. Put simply, they desire to acquire our time and our bodies.".
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People hosting still make up a big portion of the customers at host bars right here, yet at Bar 123, for instance, approximately 40% of the customers on a provided night are currently from other strolls of life.
The factors for that growing appeal are bound in South Korea's quick financial increase. Within 50 years, the country shifted from post-war devastation to OECD participant.
But, according to Jasper Kim, head of the Asia-Pacific Global Research Group in Seoul, something vital was shed in the process.
" I believe that with all this quick growth comes fast adjustment, and also Koreans simply do not understand exactly how to deal with it. Significantly, commercialism is overtaking standard social norms that you would certainly expect a couple of years earlier.".
Jasper Kim says South Korea's infamously lengthy functioning hrs have actually left numerous Korean ladies really feeling lonesome, while the country's technological advance has left many individuals feeling detached.
" The human component of Korean culture that existed in the past just doesn't exist today. Individuals are concentrated on technology, individuals are concentrated on their work, they aren't focused on human relationships anymore.
" In many ways, Korean society today sort of advises me of 1960s culture in the US, 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 most of the females that involve host bars are not paying for sex but also for companionship, which is why he opened a new chain of freshly-marketed electrical outlets targeted at the mainstream market - called Red Model Bars.
Red Model Bar hosts.
Image caption,.
Hosts at Red Model Bars can not touch customers.
" Men intend to have aesthetic enjoyment as well as want to feel points, they're tactile. Females like to chat as well as to listen. As well as that's why I thought about opening up a bar such as this - a sort 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, consumers on the various other, as well as no physical call is enabled, as well as absolutely no sex.
Perhaps consequently there is an absence of furtiveness among individuals that work or consume alcohol right here - the lights are reduced, the decoration mainly dark red and also the room is split into discreet cubicles, yet it is an open-plan room and also hosts as well as consumers are divided in each booth by a huge table.
This brand-new company model depends totally on females paying the equivalent of hundreds or perhaps countless bucks to talk with fine-looking young men over a beverage. Still, it seems to be working - three brand-new branches are due to open this year.
Sitting at a table at one end of bench was among their normal clients, a floral designer called Kim Nayu. She tells me she comes right here on a daily basis to fulfill her favourite host as well as go over issues she is having at job.
The rate for this piece of male focus is $487-650 (₤ 300-400) a day.
" Talking to pals would certainly be less costly" she admits, "however they do not pay attention as much. They're active, and also quickly to discuss themselves. Here, people will focus on me as well as they'll listen to me.".
" I spend a lot of cash but it's worth it wherefore I obtain psychologically. Individuals pay to visit see a psycho therapist or psychoanalyst, so it's similar yet less stressful.".
Nayu's favorite host Sung-il claims it can be difficult to keep his individual and specialist life different.
" Honestly I 'd be lying if I state I have not been attracted to take things better with some customers, because we're human, we're men, but there are guidelines.".
One of his consumers yapped to her other half regarding him as well as when the three of them satisfied, Sung-il and the other half ended up being friends.
" No one hides - the workers don't hide that they function below, and consumers can be open as well.".
This openness is posing a brand-new kind of challenge to South Korean culture, different from the often sleazy abyss of traditional host bars as well as their hinterland of male hooking.
By using ladies a "reputable" means to test standard sex roles and bend their economic power, these brand-new bars ask inquiries of Korean society that are coming to be harder to disregard.
Listen to the complete report on BBC Radio 4's Crossing Continents. You can listen by means of the Radio 4 internet site or through the Crossing Continents podcast.
The attraction of host bars can be refined. Right here, she states, she has even more focus from her male buddies, more selection and, most importantly, even more control.
James has actually been functioning at Bar 123 for a pair of years. Rather, he tells me, it is all down to the host's very own assessment.
And also that's why I assumed of opening up a bar like this - a kind of dialogue bar.".