Why has South Korea allowed adult ‘room salons’ to reopen?
- The decision has attracted criticism given other businesses remain shut
- The venues occupy a unique status in the country’s patriarchal corporate culture
However, as Friday night becomes Saturday morning, another alleyway lined by karaoke bars known as “room salons” begins to fill with visitors, mostly men still wearing their office clothes. Young women are also arriving at these venues, which are designated as yuheung upso, or “adult entertainment establishments”. For a price, these hostesses will be available to join the men in rented rooms stocked with food and alcohol.
Room salons were closed for one month as part of the pandemic response, provoking protests among owners who claimed they would face bankruptcy if prevented from resuming business. The venues were subsequently allowed to partially reopen in mid-June, a decision that attracted criticism but also highlighted the unique status of such venues in South Korea’s corporate culture.
‘SOCIAL PROMISE’
According to Eom Joong-sik, a professor at Gachon University’s Division of Infectious Diseases, the decision to reopen salon rooms was misguided.
“There are places with high social needs that need to be open even if the risk is high because it’s too crucial for too many people,” he says. “On the other hand, there are many places that provide for little to no social needs that should be closed decisively even if it has a low-risk chance of causing a potential outbreak.”