South Korea's rapid financial growth has actually implied some stunning modifications within its conservative social framework, including the increase of supposed host bars, where well-off females pay the equivalent of thousands of dollars for male company.
In the dark light of a below ground area, a loads perfectly brushed boys stoop in rows, calling out their names.
Muscle, with glossy boy-band hairstyles, they stuff alongside into the slim space, awaiting us to make our choice. Outdoors in the passage, even more of their coworkers are arriving for one more night at the workplace. It is 2am, and we are their very first consumers.
Covert below the sidewalks of Seoul's ritziest postcode, Gangnam, the men at Bar 123 are part of an expanding industry, which expanded out of the long practices of Japanese geisha as well as Korea's kisaeng houses however with one crucial distinction - the customers below are all ladies.
Referred to as "host bars", these all-night alcohol consumption spaces provide women clients the chance to select as well as pay for male buddies, occasionally at a cost of countless pounds a night.
Among the ladies I fulfill at Bar 123 is Minkyoung, a waitressing supervisor for a luxury resort. She states she concerns host bars one or two times a month.
The appeal of host bars can be refined. Here, she says, she has even more attention from her male companions, more choice as well as, most importantly, even more control.
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" In regular bars the individuals that consume with me have only one goal - to have an one-night stand. I don't desire that, so that's why I come right here, I want to have enjoyable," she says.
Hosts are employed by bars such as this one to supply friendship and entertainment. Formally that indicates pouring beverages for their consumers, dancing as well as talking with them, and vocal singing karaoke.
Host bar in Seoul
Sex is not formally on deal in many host bars. That would be prohibited however even Minkyoung appears satisfied to flirt and also touch with her host, and the men right here estimate that around half the customers wish to spend for sex, either on or off the properties.
James has been functioning at Bar 123 for a couple of years. In Korean culture, he claims, there is a great deal of satisfaction and also bargaining a cost for sex is never done clearly. Instead, he informs me, it is all to the host's own analysis.
" The men here are pros - we recognize what we're doing," he claims.
" After speaking with a girl for an hour we basically know how much cash she makes and also what she provides for a living. We've currently evaluated her character and also what she's eager to give."
James and other hosts state their customers consist of some of South Korea's elite, which the cash and advantages on offer boggle the mind. One customer James met, throughout his first week in the work, asked him to authorize himself over to her for 2 years.
" She stated 'let's make an agreement. I've got this notepad and also I've numbered it 1-5. Whatever you write down following to those numbers, I'll get you.'".
James says at the time he took it as a joke however since learnt the very same woman invested ₤ 60,000 ($ 97,000) on an additional host.
" If it occurred currently, I would certainly do it - I would certainly be believing straight.".
Paradoxically probably, host bars expanded out of one of Korea's most established and, some claim, misogynist organization traditions - the space salon. These are private alcohol consumption rooms where teams of males select, as well as are offered by, attractive female people hosting.
It was the hostesses' need to allow off vapor after work, states veteran host Kim Dong-hee, that created the first demand for host bars, with all-male team.
These ladies are forced to do points they don't desire to do for money.
" I think a lot of them are in pain, and a whole lot really feel lonely. Just put, they intend to acquire our time and our bodies.".
Hostesses still compose a large portion of the customers at host bars right here, however at Bar 123, for instance, up to 40% of the clients on a given evening are now from various other profession.
The reasons for that growing appeal are locked up in South Korea's fast 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 crucial was lost along the road.
" I believe that with all this rapid development comes fast adjustment, as well as Koreans just don't understand exactly how to deal with it. Progressively, commercialism is overtaking standard societal norms that you would expect a couple of decades back.".
Jasper Kim claims South Korea's notoriously lengthy working hours have left many Korean women feeling lonely, while the nation's technological development has actually left many individuals feeling removed.
" The human aspect of Korean society that existed in the past just does not exist today. Individuals are focused on innovation, individuals are focused on their work, they aren't concentrated on human relationships anymore.
" In many ways, Korean society today kind of advises me of 1960s society in the US, where it's on the verge of some type of social revolution.".
The grandfather of Seoul's host bar scene, Kim Dong-hee, concurs that most of the females who come to host bars are not spending for sex but also for friendship, which is why he opened a new chain of freshly-marketed outlets focused on the mainstream market - called Red Model Bars.
Red Model Bar hosts.
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Hosts at Red Model Bars can not touch clients.
" Men intend to have aesthetic satisfaction and wish to feel points, they're responsive. Females like to chat and also to listen. As well as that's why I considered opening up a bar such as this - a kind of discussion bar.".
Red Model Bars are various to standard host bars in one essential respect - there is a no-touching policy. Hosts rest on one side of the table, consumers on the other, as well as no physical call is allowed, as well as certainly no sex.
성남룸
Maybe consequently there is an absence of furtiveness among individuals that work or consume here - the lights are low, the decor mainly dark red and the space is separated right into discreet cubicles, but it is an open-plan space and hosts as well as clients are separated in each booth by a huge table.
This brand-new service design depends completely on ladies paying the matching of hundreds and even hundreds of bucks to speak to attractive young males over a beverage. Still, it seems to be working - 3 new branches result from open this year.
Sitting at a table at one end of bench was among their normal clients, a flower designer called Kim Nayu. She tells me she comes below each day to fulfill her preferred host and also review issues she is having at job.
The price for this piece of male attention is $487-650 (₤ 300-400) a day.
" Talking to close friends would be less expensive" she confesses, "however they do not pay attention as much. They're hectic, as well as in a rush to talk regarding themselves. Here, individuals will certainly take notice of me and they'll listen to me.".
" I spend a great deal of money but it's worth it of what I obtain psychologically. People pay to visit see a psychologist or psychiatrist, so it's similar but less demanding.".
Nayu's preferred host Sung-il states it can be hard to maintain his individual and also professional life different.
" Honestly I would certainly be lying if I claim I haven't been lured to take points further with some customers, because we're human, we're males, yet there are guidelines.".
One of his customers yapped to her husband about him as well as when the three of them met, Sung-il and also the husband became friends.
" No one conceals - the employees don't hide that they function here, and consumers can be open as well.".
This openness is positioning a new sort of difficulty to South Korean society, different from the sometimes shabby abyss of conventional host bars and their hinterland of male prostitution.
By providing females a "decent" means to challenge standard sex functions and also flex their economic power, these new bars ask concerns of Korean culture that are becoming more challenging to ignore.
Hear the full record on BBC Radio 4's Crossing Continents. You can listen using the Radio 4 site or via the Crossing Continents podcast.
The attraction of host bars can be refined. Below, she claims, she has more interest from her male companions, more choice as well as, most importantly, even more control.
James has actually been functioning at Bar 123 for a pair of years. Instead, he informs me, it is all down to the host's own evaluation.
And also that's why I assumed of opening up a bar like this - a kind of dialogue bar.".