South Korea's quick economic advancement has actually suggested some shocking adjustments within its conservative social structure, including the rise of supposed host bars, where rich females pay the matching of countless dollars for male firm.
In the dark light of a below ground room, a loads completely brushed boys stoop in rows, calling out their names.
Muscle, with shiny boy-band hairstyles, they cram alongside into the slim area, waiting for us to make our choice. Outdoors in the corridor, even more of their colleagues are showing up for another night at job. It is 2am, and also we are their initial consumers.
Surprise under the sidewalks of Seoul's ritziest postal code, Gangnam, the males at Bar 123 become part of a growing sector, which grew out of the long traditions of Japanese geisha as well as Korea's kisaeng residences but with one critical difference - the consumers below are all females.
Recognized as "host bars", these all-night alcohol consumption spaces supply women consumers the opportunity to choose and also pay for male companions, sometimes at a price of thousands of pounds a night.
One of the ladies I fulfill at Bar 123 is Minkyoung, a waitressing manager for a five-star resort. Once or two times a month, she says she comes to host bars.
Minkyoung is really rather as well as her clothes are immaculate. She does not look like a person who would require to spend for male company. But the appeal of host bars can be subtle. Right here, she says, she has more focus from her male friends, more choice as well as, crucially, even more control.
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" In regular bars the men who consume with me have just one objective - to have a casual sex. Yet I don't desire that, to ensure that's why I come below, I wish to have a good time," she claims.
Hosts are worked with by bars like this one to give friendship and home entertainment. Formally that implies pouring beverages for their customers, dancing as well as speaking with them, as well as singing karaoke.
Host bar in Seoul
Sex is not formally available in the majority of host bars. That would be prohibited however even Minkyoung appears happy to touch and tease with her host, and also the males right here estimate that around half the consumers wish to pay for sex, either on or off the properties.
James has actually been functioning at Bar 123 for a pair of years. In Korean society, he states, there is a great deal of pride as well as discussing a cost for sex is never ever done clearly. Instead, he informs me, it is all to the host's very own evaluation.
" The people right here are pros - we understand what we're doing," he says.
" After talking with a woman for an hour we generally understand how much money she makes as well as what she provides for a living. We've currently evaluated her individuality and what she agrees to provide."
James and other hosts claim their consumers consist of a few of South Korea's elite, which the cash as well as rewards available are extraordinary. One customer James fulfilled, during his initial week in the work, asked him to sign himself over to her for two years.
" She claimed 'let's make a contract. I've got this item of paper and I've numbered it 1-5. Whatever you document alongside those numbers, I'll get you.'".
James states at the time he took it as a joke yet considering that figured out the same female spent ₤ 60,000 ($ 97,000) on an additional host.
" If it happened now, I 'd do it - I 'd be thinking straight.".
Actually perhaps, host bars outgrew among Korea's most established and, some say, misogynist service practices - the area hair salon. These are private alcohol consumption rooms where groups of guys select, and also are served by, attractive female people hosting.
It was the hostesses' need to allow off vapor after job, states expert host Kim Dong-hee, that developed the initial demand for host bars, with all-male team.
" What these people hosting desire is to [make us] do the same thing they needed to carry out in their own office. These ladies are required to do things they do not desire to do for cash.
" I think a whole lot of them are in discomfort, and a lot really feel lonesome. Put simply, they intend to acquire our time and also our bodies.".
People hosting still compose a huge portion of the consumers at host bars right here, but at Bar 123, for instance, as much as 40% of the customers on a provided night are currently from other profession.
The reasons for that expanding charm are tied up in South Korea's rapid financial surge. Within 50 years, the nation shifted from post-war destruction to OECD member.
Yet, according to Jasper Kim, head of the Asia-Pacific Global Research Group in Seoul, something essential was shed along the means.
" I think that with all this rapid growth comes fast modification, as well as Koreans simply do not understand just how to handle it. Progressively, commercialism is surpassing standard social norms that you would anticipate a number of decades earlier.".
Jasper Kim states South Korea's infamously long working hrs have left many Korean women feeling lonely, while the country's technical breakthrough has left many individuals really feeling separated.
" The human aspect of Korean culture that existed before just does not exist today. Individuals are concentrated on modern technology, individuals are concentrated on their jobs, they aren't focused on human relationships anymore.
" In numerous means, Korean society today type of advises me of 1960s society in the United States, where it's on the edge of some kind of social revolution.".
The grandpa of Seoul's host bar scene, Kim Dong-hee, concurs that most of the ladies that involve host bars are not paying for sex yet for friendship, which is why he opened a brand-new chain of freshly-marketed outlets targeted at the mainstream market - called Red Model Bars.
Red Model Bar hosts.
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Hosts at Red Model Bars can not touch customers.
" Men want to have aesthetic satisfaction and intend to feel things, they're responsive. Females like to talk and to listen. Which's why I thought of opening up a bar such as this - a type of discussion bar.".
Red Model Bars are different to conventional host bars in one key regard - there is a no-touching policy. Hosts rest on one side of the table, clients on the other, and also no physical contact is allowed, as well as absolutely no sex.
Maybe consequently there is a lack of furtiveness among the individuals who work or consume below - the lights are low, the decor mostly dark red as well as the room is split into discreet booths, yet it is an open-plan room as well as hosts as well as customers are divided in each booth by a huge table.
This new organization design depends completely on women paying the equivalent of hundreds and even countless bucks to speak with attractive boys over a beverage. Still, it appears to be working - 3 new branches are due to open this year.
Resting at a table at one end of bench was one of their regular customers, a floral designer called Kim Nayu. She tells me she comes right here on a daily basis to satisfy her favourite host and discuss issues she is contending work.
The price for this slice of male focus is $487-650 (₤ 300-400) a day.
" Talking to pals would certainly be cheaper" she confesses, "however they don't listen as much. They're busy, and in a hurry to chat about themselves. Right here, people will certainly focus on me as well as they'll pay attention to me.".
" I invest a great deal of money however it deserves it wherefore I obtain psychologically. People pay to head to see a psycho therapist or psychoanalyst, so it's comparable however much less demanding.".
성남노래방
Nayu's favorite host Sung-il states it can be hard to keep his expert and also individual life separate.
" Honestly I would certainly be lying if I say I have not been tempted to take things even more with some clients, due to the fact that we're human, we're males, but there are policies.".
Among his consumers yapped to her partner regarding him and when the 3 of them met, Sung-il and also the other half became friends.
" No one hides - the workers don't conceal that they work here, and consumers can be open too.".
This openness is positioning a brand-new type of difficulty to South Korean society, different from the occasionally seedy abyss of traditional host bars as well as their hinterland of male hooking.
By providing females a "reputable" way to challenge conventional sex roles and also flex their financial power, these new bars ask questions of Korean society that are becoming more challenging to disregard.
Hear the full report on BBC Radio 4's Crossing Continents. You can pay attention using the Radio 4 site or by means of the Crossing Continents podcast.
The appeal of host bars can be refined. Below, she states, she has even more focus from her male companions, more option as well as, most importantly, more control.
James has actually been working at Bar 123 for a pair of years. Instead, he tells me, it is all down to the host's very own assessment.
And also that's why I believed of opening a bar like this - a kind of discussion bar.".