South Korea's fast economic development has actually meant some surprising changes within its conservative social structure, consisting of the rise of so-called host bars, where wealthy females pay the matching of countless dollars for male company.
In the dim light of a below ground area, a lots flawlessly groomed young males kneel in rows, calling out their names.
Muscle, with shiny boy-band hairdos, they stuff side by side right into the slim space, awaiting us to make our selection. Outside in the hallway, more of their coworkers are arriving for an additional night at the workplace. It is 2am, and we are their very first consumers.
Hidden underneath the pavements of Seoul's ritziest postal code, Gangnam, the men at Bar 123 are part of a growing market, which grew out of the lengthy customs of Japanese geisha as well as Korea's kisaeng houses but with one vital difference - the clients here are all ladies.
Called "host bars", these all-night drinking rooms use women consumers the chance to pay as well as pick for male friends, in some cases at a cost of hundreds of extra pounds an evening.
One of the females I satisfy at Bar 123 is Minkyoung, a waitressing supervisor for a five-star resort. She claims she pertains to host bars as soon as or twice a month.
The allure of host bars can be refined. Below, she states, she has even more attention from her male companions, more choice and, most importantly, even more control.
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" In routine bars the guys that consume alcohol with me have just one objective - to have an one-night stand. However I do not desire that, to ensure that's why I come right here, I wish to have enjoyable," she states.
Hosts are worked with by bars such as this one to offer companionship and also enjoyment. Officially that implies putting beverages for their consumers, dancing and also chatting with them, as well as vocal singing karaoke.
Host bar in Seoul
Sex is not formally available in many host bars. That would certainly be illegal however also Minkyoung appears happy to touch and flirt with her host, and the males here approximate that around half the consumers desire to spend for sex, either on or off the premises.
James has been operating at Bar 123 for a pair of years. In Korean society, he says, there is a lot of pride and also bargaining a cost for sex is never ever done explicitly. Rather, he informs me, it is all down to the host's very own evaluation.
" The people right here are pros - we know what we're doing," he says.
" After speaking to a girl for a hr we basically understand just how much cash she makes as well as what she does for a living. We've already analysed her character and what she agrees to offer."
James as well as other hosts say their clients consist of several of South Korea's elite, which the cash and also benefits available are incredible. One client James fulfilled, during his very first week in the task, asked him to authorize himself over to her for two years.
" She said 'allow's make a contract. I've got this notepad and also I've numbered it 1-5. Whatever you list beside those numbers, I'll get you.'".
James claims at the time he took it as a joke but considering that discovered the exact same female spent ₤ 60,000 ($ 97,000) on another host.
" If it happened currently, I 'd do it - I 'd be assuming straight.".
Ironically maybe, host bars outgrew one of Korea's most entrenched as well as, some state, misogynist company customs - the space salon. These are private drinking spaces where teams of males choose, as well as are served by, appealing women people hosting.
It was the people hosting' need to allow off heavy steam after work, claims veteran host Kim Dong-hee, that created the first demand for host bars, with all-male personnel.
These women are required to do things they do not desire to do for money.
" I think a lot of them are in pain, and a great deal feel lonely. Basically, they intend to acquire our time and our bodies.".
Hostesses still comprise a huge percent of the clients at host bars below, but at Bar 123, as an example, approximately 40% of the consumers on a provided evening are now from other walks of life.
The reasons for that expanding allure are bound in South Korea's fast financial surge. Within 50 years, the nation changed from post-war destruction to OECD member.
Yet, according to Jasper Kim, head of the Asia-Pacific Global Research Group in Seoul, something important was shed along the method.
" I assume that with all this rapid development comes fast modification, and Koreans simply don't know exactly how to handle it. Increasingly, commercialism is surpassing fundamental societal standards that you would expect a pair of decades earlier.".
Jasper Kim says South Korea's infamously lengthy functioning hours have left many Korean women really feeling lonely, while the country's technical development has actually left many individuals really feeling removed.
" The human aspect of Korean society that existed in the past simply does not exist today. Individuals are concentrated on technology, individuals are focused on their jobs, they aren't concentrated on human connections anymore.
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" In lots of means, Korean culture today sort of reminds me of 1960s culture in the United States, where it's on the brink of some sort of social revolution.".
The grandfather of Seoul's host bar scene, Kim Dong-hee, agrees that a lot of the ladies who concern host bars are not paying for sex but also for friendship, which is why he opened up a new chain of freshly-marketed electrical outlets targeted at the mainstream market - called Red Model Bars.
Red Model Bar hosts.
Picture subtitle,.
Hosts at Red Model Bars can not touch customers.
" Men intend to have aesthetic satisfaction and want to really feel points, they're tactile. Women like to chat and also to pay attention. Which's why I thought about opening a bar like this - a type of dialogue bar.".
Red Model Bars are different to traditional host bars in one essential regard - there is a no-touching rule. Hosts remain on one side of the table, customers on the other, as well as no physical get in touch with is allowed, and also absolutely no sex.
Maybe therefore there is an absence of furtiveness among individuals that function or consume right here - the lights are reduced, the decor mostly dark red and the space is separated right into very discreet cubicles, but it is an open-plan space as well as hosts and also consumers are separated in each booth by a big table.
This brand-new company model depends completely on ladies paying the matching of hundreds or perhaps hundreds of dollars to speak to fine-looking boys over a drink. Still, it appears to be functioning - three new branches are because of open this year.
Resting at a table at one end of the bar was just one of their routine consumers, a flower designer called Kim Nayu. She tells me she comes below daily to satisfy her favourite host as well as talk about issues she is having at job.
The cost for this slice of male focus is $487-650 (₤ 300-400) a day.
" Talking to close friends would certainly be more affordable" she confesses, "however they don't pay attention as much. They're hectic, and also quickly to speak about themselves. Below, people will take note of me and they'll pay attention to me.".
" I invest a great deal of money but it deserves it wherefore I obtain psychologically. People pay to head to see a psycho therapist or psychoanalyst, so it's comparable yet much less difficult.".
Nayu's favorite host Sung-il claims it can be difficult to maintain his personal and also specialist life separate.
" Honestly I would certainly be existing if I state I have not been lured to take things additionally with some clients, since we're human, we're males, however there are rules.".
Among his clients spoke a whole lot to her spouse concerning him and when the three of them fulfilled, Sung-il as well as the husband came to be friends.
" No one hides - the workers don't conceal that they function here, and clients can be open also.".
This visibility is posturing a new type of difficulty to South Korean society, various from the often seedy abyss of standard host bars and their hinterland of male hooking.
By using females a "decent" means to challenge traditional gender duties as well as bend their economic power, these brand-new bars ask concerns of Korean society that are becoming more difficult to disregard.
Hear the full record on BBC Radio 4's Crossing Continents. You can listen by means of the Radio 4 site or using the Crossing Continents podcast.
The attraction of host bars can be subtle. Right here, she states, she has even more focus from her male buddies, more option and also, most importantly, even more control.
James has been working 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 a bar like this - a kind of discussion bar.".