South Korea's rapid financial advancement has actually indicated some surprising changes within its traditional social structure, including the increase of so-called host bars, where well-off women pay the equivalent of hundreds of bucks for male business.
In the dark light of a below ground room, a loads flawlessly groomed boys kneel in rows, calling out their names.
Muscle, with glossy boy-band hairstyles, they pack side by side into the narrow space, waiting on us to make our choice. Outside in the hallway, more of their colleagues are showing up for an additional evening at the workplace. It is 2am, and we are their very first customers.
Concealed underneath the sidewalks of Seoul's ritziest postal code, Gangnam, the males at Bar 123 are component of an expanding market, which outgrew the long customs of Japanese geisha and Korea's kisaeng residences but with one crucial distinction - the consumers here are all females.
Called "host bars", these all-night alcohol consumption spaces supply female clients the opportunity to choose as well as pay for male friends, occasionally at a price of countless extra pounds a night.
Among the females I fulfill at Bar 123 is Minkyoung, a waitressing manager for a five-star resort. She claims she concerns host bars as soon as or two times a month.
The appeal of host bars can be refined. Here, she says, she has more attention from her male friends, more option and also, crucially, even more control.
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" In routine bars the men that drink with me have only one goal - to have an one-night stand. However I don't want that, so that's why I come below, I wish to enjoy," she claims.
Hosts are hired by bars such as this one to offer companionship and entertainment. Formally that means pouring beverages for their consumers, chatting and also dancing with them, and also vocal singing karaoke.
Host bar in Seoul
Sex is not officially available in the majority of host bars. That would certainly be illegal but even Minkyoung seems satisfied to flirt as well as touch with her host, and also the men right here approximate that around half the clients wish to spend for sex, either on or off the facilities.
James has been functioning at Bar 123 for a couple of years. In Korean society, he states, there is a great deal of satisfaction and also bargaining a cost for sex is never done clearly. Instead, he tells me, it is all down to the host's own evaluation.
" The people right here are pros - we understand what we're doing," he claims.
" After talking with a lady for an hour we essentially know just how much cash she makes and also what she does for a living. We've currently analysed her character and what she's prepared to provide."
James as well as various other hosts state their consumers consist of a few of South Korea's elite, which the cash as well as advantages available are unbelievable. One customer James met, during his very first week in the job, asked him to authorize himself over to her for two years.
" She claimed 'let's make a contract. I've obtained this notepad and also I've numbered it 1-5. Whatever you make a note of following to those numbers, I'll obtain you.'".
James claims at the time he took it as a joke yet given that figured out the exact same lady spent ₤ 60,000 ($ 97,000) on an additional host.
" If it took place now, I 'd do it - I would certainly be assuming straight.".
Actually maybe, host bars outgrew among Korea's most entrenched as well as, some claim, misogynist organization customs - the space hair salon. These are personal drinking spaces where groups of males choose, and are offered by, appealing women hostesses.
It was the hostesses' requirement to let off vapor after job, says veteran host Kim Dong-hee, that created the initial demand for host bars, with all-male staff.
These girls are required to do points they do not want to do for cash.
" I think a lot of them are in pain, as well as a great deal feel lonesome. Merely placed, they want to get our time and also our bodies.".
Hostesses still compose a big percentage of the customers at host bars right here, but at Bar 123, for instance, as much as 40% of the consumers on an offered night are currently from other strolls of life.
The factors for that growing allure are linked up in South Korea's rapid economic increase. Within 50 years, the country moved 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 believe that with all this quick development comes quick adjustment, and also Koreans simply do not recognize just how to handle it. Progressively, industrialism is surpassing fundamental social norms that you would anticipate a number of years earlier.".
Jasper Kim says South Korea's infamously lengthy functioning hours have left many Korean ladies feeling lonely, while the country's technological advancement has left many people feeling removed.
" The human component of Korean society that existed previously just doesn't exist today. Individuals are focused on technology, people are concentrated on their tasks, they aren't concentrated on human relationships any longer.
" In many means, Korean society today kind of reminds me of 1960s culture in the US, where it's on the edge of some sort of cultural revolution.".
The grandpa of Seoul's host bar scene, Kim Dong-hee, concurs that a number of the ladies who come to host bars are not spending for sex but also for companionship, which is why he opened up a new chain of freshly-marketed outlets targeted at the mainstream market - called Red Model Bars.
Red Model Bar hosts.
Picture inscription,.
정자노래방 Hosts at Red Model Bars can not touch customers.
" Men intend to have aesthetic enjoyment as well as want to feel things, they're responsive. Ladies like to chat as well as to pay attention. As well as that's why I thought about opening up a bar such as this - a sort of dialogue bar.".
Red Model Bars are different to traditional host bars in one crucial respect - there is a no-touching guideline. Hosts rest on one side of the table, clients on the other, and no physical call is enabled, and also certainly no sex.
Perhaps as a result there is a lack of furtiveness amongst the people that work or consume below - the lights are low, the design primarily dark red and also the room is split into discreet cubicles, but it is an open-plan area as well as hosts and also customers are divided in each cubicle by a huge table.
This new organization version depends totally on ladies paying the equivalent of hundreds or perhaps hundreds of dollars to talk with attractive young males over a drink. Still, it appears to be functioning - three new branches are due to open this year.
Sitting at a table at one end of bench was one of their routine clients, a floral designer called Kim Nayu. She tells me she comes here every day to fulfill her favorite host and also discuss issues she is contending job.
The rate for this piece of male focus is $487-650 (₤ 300-400) a day.
" Talking to close friends would be cheaper" she confesses, "however they don't listen as much. They're hectic, and also in a rush to chat regarding themselves. Below, individuals will certainly focus on me as well as they'll listen to me.".
" I invest a great deal of money however it deserves it wherefore I obtain mentally. People pay to head to see a psychologist or psychoanalyst, so it's similar yet much less demanding.".
Nayu's preferred host Sung-il claims it can be difficult to maintain his personal and professional life different.
" Honestly I would certainly be existing if I state I haven't been attracted to take things even more with some consumers, due to the fact that we're human, we're men, yet there are guidelines.".
One of his customers chatted a great deal to her husband regarding him as well as when the 3 of them fulfilled, Sung-il as well as the spouse became buddies.
" No one hides - the workers don't hide that they function right here, and also customers can be open also.".
This visibility is posturing a brand-new sort of challenge to South Korean culture, different from the in some cases sleazy underworld of standard host bars as well as their hinterland of male prostitution.
By supplying women a "decent" means to challenge traditional gender duties as well as flex their financial power, these new bars ask concerns of Korean society that are becoming tougher to ignore.
Listen to the complete record on BBC Radio 4's Crossing Continents. You can pay attention using the Radio 4 website or by means of the Crossing Continents podcast.
The appeal of host bars can be refined. Below, she claims, she has even more focus from her male buddies, even more selection as well as, crucially, more control.
James has been working at Bar 123 for a pair of years. Instead, he tells me, it is all down to the host's very own analysis.
And that's why I believed of opening a bar like this - a kind of dialogue bar.".