South Korea's fast economic advancement has implied some stunning changes within its conventional social structure, consisting of the increase of so-called host bars, where affluent women pay the matching of thousands of bucks for male business.
In the dark light of a basement, a lots flawlessly groomed boys stoop in rows, calling out their names.
Muscular, with shiny boy-band hairdos, they stuff side by side into the narrow area, waiting for us to make our selection. Outdoors in the corridor, more of their coworkers are arriving for one more evening at the office. It is 2am, as well as we are their first customers.
Covert underneath the sidewalks of Seoul's ritziest postal code, Gangnam, the guys at Bar 123 become part of an expanding market, which outgrew the long traditions of Japanese geisha and also Korea's kisaeng residences but with one crucial difference - the customers right here are all ladies.
Referred to as "host bars", these all-night drinking areas provide women clients the possibility to choose and also pay for male buddies, sometimes at an expense of thousands of pounds a night.
One of the females I satisfy at Bar 123 is Minkyoung, a waitressing manager for a five-star resort. She says she concerns host bars one or two times a month.
Minkyoung is very pretty and her clothes are immaculate. She does not look like someone who would certainly need to pay for male company. The appeal of host bars can be refined. Below, she claims, she has more focus from her male buddies, more selection and also, crucially, even more control.
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" In normal bars the men that consume alcohol with me have just one goal - to have an one-night stand. I don't desire that, so that's why I come below, I desire to have enjoyable," she claims.
Hosts are hired by bars such as this one to offer friendship and entertainment. Officially that indicates putting beverages for their clients, dancing as well as speaking with them, and singing karaoke.
Host bar in Seoul
Sex is not formally available in a lot of host bars. That would be illegal however even Minkyoung appears delighted to flirt and touch with her host, and also the men here approximate that around half the consumers wish to spend for sex, either on or off the premises.
James has actually been operating at Bar 123 for a couple of years. In Korean society, he claims, there is a great deal of pride and also bargaining a cost for sex is never ever done explicitly. Rather, he tells me, it is all down to the host's very own evaluation.
" The guys right here are pros - we know what we're doing," he claims.
" After speaking to a girl for an hour we basically recognize just how much money she makes and what she does for a living. We've currently analysed her individuality as well as what she agrees to give."
James and other hosts state their customers consist of a few of South Korea's elite, which the cash as well as rewards on deal are amazing. One customer James met, during his first week in the job, asked him to authorize himself over to her for 2 years.
" She said 'let's make a contract. I've obtained this piece of paper as well as I've numbered it 1-5. Whatever you write down beside those numbers, I'll get you.'".
James claims at the time he took it as a joke but given that learnt the very same woman spent ₤ 60,000 ($ 97,000) on another host.
" If it occurred currently, I would certainly do it - I would certainly be thinking straight.".
Actually probably, host bars outgrew among Korea's most established and also, some say, misogynist service practices - the area salon. These are personal alcohol consumption areas where groups of guys choose, and also are offered by, attractive female people hosting.
It was the hostesses' demand to allow off heavy steam after work, says veteran host Kim Dong-hee, that developed the first need for host bars, with all-male staff.
" What these hostesses want is to [make us] do the exact same point they needed to carry out in their own work environment. These girls are forced to do points they do not wish to provide for money.
" I think a whole lot of them are in discomfort, and also a whole lot really feel lonely. Put simply, they want to purchase our time and also our bodies.".
Hostesses still comprise a large percentage of the consumers at host bars here, however at Bar 123, as an example, approximately 40% of the consumers on a given night are currently from various other profession.
The reasons for that expanding charm are bound in South Korea's quick economic surge. Within 50 years, the nation shifted from post-war destruction to OECD member.
According to Jasper Kim, head of the Asia-Pacific Global Research Group in Seoul, something important was lost along the way.
" I assume that with all this quick development comes fast modification, as well as Koreans simply don't know how to manage it. Increasingly, industrialism is overtaking fundamental societal norms that you would certainly anticipate a pair of years ago.".
Jasper Kim says South Korea's notoriously lengthy functioning hrs have actually left lots of Korean ladies really feeling lonesome, while the nation's technical breakthrough has left several people really feeling removed.
" The human element of Korean culture that existed before merely doesn't exist today. 그랜드룸싸롱 Individuals are concentrated on technology, individuals are focused on their jobs, they aren't focused on human relations any longer.
" In lots of methods, Korean culture today type of advises me of 1960s society in the United States, where it's on the verge of some sort of cultural change.".
The grandfather of Seoul's host bar scene, Kim Dong-hee, agrees that most of the females that pertain to host bars are not paying for sex but also for friendship, which is why he opened a new chain of freshly-marketed outlets aimed 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 visual pleasure as well as intend to really feel things, they're responsive. Females like to talk and to pay attention. As well as that's why I thought about opening a bar like this - a sort of dialogue bar.".
Red Model Bars are different to conventional host bars in one crucial regard - there is a no-touching policy. Hosts sit on one side of the table, customers on the various other, and no physical get in touch with is enabled, as well as absolutely no sex.
Perhaps consequently there is an absence of furtiveness amongst the individuals that work or consume alcohol here - the lights are reduced, the decoration mainly dark red and also the space is separated into very discreet cubicles, yet it is an open-plan area and also clients and also hosts are divided in each booth by a large table.
This brand-new organization model depends totally on women paying the equivalent of hundreds or even countless dollars to speak to fine-looking young men over a drink. Still, it appears to be working - three brand-new branches are because of open this year.
Sitting at a table at one end of bench was among their routine consumers, a floral designer called Kim Nayu. She tells me she comes right here every day to fulfill her much-loved host and also review issues she is having at job.
The price for this slice of male interest is $487-650 (₤ 300-400) a day.
" Talking to good friends would certainly be less expensive" she admits, "but they don't listen as much. They're active, and quickly to speak about themselves. Here, individuals will pay attention to me and also they'll listen to me.".
" I invest a great deal of money but it's worth it wherefore I obtain emotionally. Individuals pay to visit see a psycho therapist or psychoanalyst, so it's similar yet less demanding.".
Nayu's preferred host Sung-il claims it can be difficult to keep his specialist and personal life separate.
" Honestly I would certainly be lying if I state I have not been tempted to take things further with some consumers, due to the fact that we're human, we're males, however there are rules.".
One of his consumers yapped to her partner regarding him and when the 3 of them met, Sung-il as well as the husband became close friends.
" No one conceals - the employees do not hide that they function right here, and also clients can be open as well.".
This visibility is presenting a new sort of difficulty to South Korean society, various from the often sleazy underworld of standard host bars and also their hinterland of male prostitution.
By supplying ladies a "commendable" method to challenge conventional gender duties and flex their economic power, these new bars ask concerns of Korean culture that are coming to be tougher to disregard.
Hear the full report on BBC Radio 4's Crossing Continents. You can pay attention through the Radio 4 website or using the Crossing Continents podcast.
The appeal of host bars can be subtle. Below, she states, she has more interest from her male buddies, even more selection and also, crucially, more control.
James has actually been functioning at Bar 123 for a couple of years. Instead, he tells me, it is all down to the host's own assessment.
And that's why I thought of opening a bar like this - a kind of dialogue bar.".