Known as "host bars", these all-night drinking rooms offer female customers the chance to select and pay for male companions, sometimes at a cost of thousands of pounds a night. South Korea's rapid economic development has meant some startling changes within its conservative social structure, including the rise of so-called host bars, where wealthy women pay the equivalent 주소사이트 of thousands of dollars for male company. Red Model Bars are different to traditional host bars in one key respect - there is a no-touching rule. Hosts sit on one side of the table, customers on the other, and no physical contact is allowed, and certainly no sex. That would be illegal but even Minkyoung seems happy to touch and flirt with her host, and the men here estimate that around half the customers want to pay for sex, either on or off the premises. Ironically perhaps, host bars grew out of one of Korea's most entrenched and, some say, misogynist business traditions - the room salo


"In regular bars the guys who drink with me have only one goal - to have a one-night stand. But I don't want that, so that's why I come here, I want to have fun," she says. One of the women I meet at Bar 123 is Minkyoung, a waitressing manager for a five-star hotel. Sitting at a table at one end of the bar was one of their regular customers, a florist called Kim Nayu. She tells me she comes here every day to meet her favourite host and discuss issues she is having at wor


"Honestly I'd be lying if I say I haven't been tempted to take things further with some customers, because we're human, we're men, but there are rules." "Men want to have visual pleasure and want to feel things, they're tactile. Women like to talk and to listen. And that's why I thought of opening a bar like this - a kind of dialogue bar." "The human element of Korean society that existed before simply doesn't exist today. People are focused on technology, people are focused on their jobs, they aren't focused on human relations anymore. Jasper Kim says South Korea's notoriously long working hours have left many Korean women feeling lonely, while the country's technical advance has left many people feeling detached. "After talking to a girl for an hour we basically know how much money she makes and what she does for a living. We've already analysed her personality and what 주소사이트 she's willing to give." Hidden beneath the pavements of Seoul's ritziest postcode, Gangnam, the men at Bar 123 are part of a growing industry, which grew out of the long traditions of Japanese geisha and Korea's kisaeng houses but with one crucial difference - the customers here are all wome


Pragmatism, deeply rooted in Confucian and Buddhist philosophies, emphasises realism, adaptability and balance. A Confucian proverb, "A living dog is better than a dead minister," underscores the focus on real-world practicality, while Buddhist nihilism, encapsulated by the notion that ‘one comes empty-handed and goes empty-handed’, reminds Koreans of life’s impermanence. This fusion of philosophies shapes an ethos Kim refers to as ‘optimistic nihilism', driving a culture that thrives on resilience and resourcefulness. From an artistic perspective, Kim’s methodology is as deliberate as his subject matte


Experience an hour, an afternoon, or a day that will enhance your inner and outer beauty and nurture your soul. Our guides are old hats in Seoul, Korea. They ALL have a passion to show visitors around their ‘hoods. The Dark Side of Seoul Tour was a blast! Joe was a knowledgeable and accommodating guide that told interesting stories with a dramatic flair! I was legitimately creeped out by a few of the


It includes flexible private touring with your own guide and driver, luxury accommodation, private transfers, first-class travel on the high-speed KTX train, and culinary and cultural activities that 주소사이트 put you in touch with Korean culture. It embodies emotional attachment and human connection, transcending distinctions between self and others. It’s a subtle force that binds communities, creating a sense of belonging. Even as the country embraces modernity and individuality, ‘jeong’ persists as a unifying threa


Stay for a treatment from our extensive selection of modern, global spa services. Wi Spa offers ultimate relaxation 주소사이트 and restoration 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. If you are in Korea during Buddha’s birthday, the lotus lanterns at Samgwangsa Temple are not to be misse


We were shooting the final shot with Anthony 주소사이트 Bourdain before he returned to the hotel and jumped on a flight back to New York. He was sitting at a lonely street food cart in... We were in Hong Kong's Apple Daily. They had joined our BPM (BBQ, Pub, Market) Tour. If you want to find out more about our tours and book, go to KoreaFoodTours.co


There are plenty of things to keep you busy, and it’s easy to just walk around with a beer or bottle of soju and pop into places that tickle your fancy. At the same time, it can be overwhelming narrowing it down, especially as a traveler. There will be some establishments that forbid foreigners, as well as some unspoken rules and 주소사이트 customs that one might not be aware of. From finding the best bars and clubs in Hongdae to tips to keep it easy on the wallet, here are some things you need to know before going out in Hongdae. It took me a while to start enjoying myself at this club, as they kind of didn’t really know what to play. It started off with One Direction, then they’d play reggaeton, and then classic roc