Host Bars – The Changing Face of South Korea

Living under the threat of a nuclear war by a meglo-maniac does have its stressful time, but South Korea has successfully put the threat of doomsday into the back of its mind and is instead surging forward in its pursuit of pleasures. Its current biggest export, otherwise know as K-pop, is taking over the world gradually. In fact, one of the latest hit songs, Gangnam Style by Psy, actually sets the background for this post.

A series of new bars are opening in Gangnam, the most affluent area in Seoul, but are catering towards females. In other words, men are openly selling their company, looks and whatever else they possess. Whilst sex is not openly sold (being illegal), it happens under the table (or on the table, depending on the situation). In fact, this is reminiscent of Japan where business men go to meet highly educated women to have a companionship with (again, sex is optional).

What this article did point out however is in South Korea’s high-tech revolution (like, you can check the picture of the cow when you buy your meat!), people may be physically closer due to population growth but socially more distanced. Whether it’s work that keeps couples apart or just the fact that the social character makes people hard to connect (I’m looking at you Japan), what bothers me in a way is that this is only a symptom of a bigger problem. Is our innate quest for a better education, a higher-paying job squeezing out the social element in us?

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About William

William is a very simple person who can't sit at a desk for an extended period of time without going insane. He is currently studying law but hopes to find a career with more than just daily paperwork. He believes that humans are blind to their own bias and often reason is merely a state of mind. He also doens't mind being contraversial at times, believing that accepted notions should be challenged to encourage greater thinking. He has a hunger for going off the beaten track and doing something other than the usual asian pursuits (karaoke!), and is passionate about hiking and extreme sports. He likes to kick back to music and a good movie now and then and is proud of having never been drunk in his life (or broken a bone!). Eventually, he wants to have made a difference to the world somehow, and strongly believes the maxim that glory is fleeting but obscurity is forever. Oh, and he likes to blog on 8asians and brag about himself in bios.
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