Seoul

Thaidude,

I really liked the Oakwood. IT was like having your own apartment. IT has a kitchen, LR, BR, dressing area and huge bathroom with a steamroom feature. It is also convenient to the airport bus and the underground mall.

Thai Dude:

My opinion, Ritz Carlton, Club Floor, Club Parlor Room. If you have trouble getting a decent rate, PM me.

Can anyone give an update on this crackdown deal? Visiting Seoul for 1 month in Oct. Will "588" and other RLD places be open or is it really closed? And if closed, where's a good place to go with similar choices and prices?

And does anyone know how much a roundtrip ticket costs from Seoul to Bangkok?

Thanks guys.

Poseidon,

Roundtrip to Bangkok is about 600,000 - 700,000 give or take depending on various factors.

As for the crackdown, the double barber poles are still spinning in my neighborhood. I think only the major districts have been hit.

What are the women doing? Anyone's guess. Good idea might be to go to hotel nightclubs, etc. looking for freelancers. Hard to crack down on them. Maybe there'll be a larger number of women at these place in the coming weeks.

No doubt the general crackdown will subside in a month or so.

But I've just been to the Yongsan area, and a new mega mall complex is opening up at the Yongsan station, right infront of the redlight district. The theatre attached to there will open up in the beginning of october also. As well as an e-mart soon afterwards.
I can't but imagine that that would affect the business at the yongsan redlight. Bad business for the e-mart, theatres, and the big name brands to have half clad gals soliciting while couples and kids goto the mall, hmm. Oh there is 588 I forgot.

Anyways, also saw that real estate offices opened up at the block where the redlight district is, so we might see a re-imaging of the whole area.

Poseidon Guy,

This is probably not the best time to ask, since Koreans are still on holiday for Chuseok (Thanksgiving) and many people (including working girls) return to their homes and home cities and people basically "chill out" for a few days. Ask the question again, in a week's time.

To Coupler, Member #1382, Chopper Pilot,

Coupler, "the double barber poles are still spinning in my neighborhood".

I've never been to a barber pole place. How can you tell them apart from legit places? How much is it? And what exactly is the routine? Where are some good places to go? Exact directions would be helpful, since I'm really new to Seoul.

Thank you for your info. Yes, it is "thanksgiving" in Korea, I will ask again in a week or so when I'm in Seoul.

It's been 5 years since I've been in Seoul last time. I was looking forward to Miari Texas, and Cheonangi (I'm sure I'm not spelling it right). Are there any "glass house" places open?

I just spent 12 days in Bangkok in early Sept. What can I say about Bangkok, this was my 6th trip in 2 years. The prices are hard to beat, especially compared to Korea. If anyone is interested in Bangkok info. PM me.

Where is Yongsan area? Is this a subway stop in Seoul? And was the RLD open even with the mall being open? I wasn't clear if it was still open or closed.

Thanks Guys!

Poseidon Guy

This post giving directions and a map was put up by Play Thing on 02-11-04. Hope it helps.

CP

For those who never been to Yongsan RLD, here is the map for you.

Yongsan is very easy to reach with the public transportation, especially subways. It can be reached with Subway Line #1 (Black) or Line #4 (Blue). Figure out the subway map and get on either line.

If you come on Line #1, get off at the Yongsan Stn , which is 2 stations south of the Seoul Stn. Just follow the other ppl (only 1 exit) and, when you step out of the station, there will be a big open ground. Cross the ground, cross the street, then just around the corner you will find your that familiar Red Light.

Total distance from station exit to the RLD is less than 100M.

The route via Line #4 is much easier. Target station is ShinYongSan ("shin" in front of "YongSan" means "NEW" in Chinese), get off, exit 3 is where you are heading. If you can see the land-bridge you are on the right track. Go straight ahead, then make a right turn at the corner, then just a few more steps will take you there. Less than 50M in this case.

If you stay in the downtown Seoul, then the total time to get to Yongsan RLD is less than 30mins from your hotel. And on the map, I marked the Police Box, just in case you run into something unacceptable while you can complain/report to them, hehe.... Remember ppl here is co-existing, so use your brain not just penis.

PlayThing

Photograph: yongsanrld.jpg
This image has been viewed 2364 time(s).

Well I read in the news today that if a foreigner is caught in a sting at a sex place. They are deported. YOUCH! No blowjobs for me for awhile then.

Anyway I was walking past the hill today on the way to a bookshop. There were police up the hill near Indian Joes. I think they were doing breathalysing. Anyway enough to perk my interest. I am thinking the juicy bars near this police stop were cursing the cops as they couldnt go out and lure customers.

But I walk past all this up past the LG25 and opposite In and Out and what do I near right next to In and Out. 3 police officers sitting in the alley. I dont know what they were doing there. I was thinking they were watching the alley that opens out from LG25.

They were there for awhile as I spent about 40 mins at the bookshop.

Be careful out there!

Chopper Pilot,

Thanks for the info. For someone who has never lived in Seoul, all these places sounds the same after a while, it helps to have exact directions (courtesy of Play Thing).

Cheers!

poseidon,

the double spinning barber pole places are basically fronts for various services. it's really hit and miss.

prices can vary from 60,000 to 110,000.

services can vary from simple hj, to fs including bbbj. (can also get a 'no foreigners' at the door)

and the woman can vary from good looking 20's to hideous 40's or 50's.

my advice is to avoid these places unless you have specific info about a particular place. (i've never actually been inside one of these places. i'm citing this info from a very reliable source.)

my observation is from the outside. they are rep001tered throughout the city. they have usually two or three set of double spinning barber poles side by each. and they are almost always in the basement.

about the crackdown,

how is everybody so sure that it's only gonna be one month? it don't think there's ever been a crackdown of this magnitude. it seems to be serious enough to be long term.

The roadblock checking for drunk drivers up near Indian Joe's has been operating for about a month now and is unrelated to the prostitution crackdown. Until a week ago, the girls at Indian Joe's and those other three or four places were completely unfazed by the police presence.

As for the cops near In And Out, there has been a pretty constant police presence along that entire street ever since that Korean hostage was murdered in Iraq. Again, I don't think it has anything much to do with the current state of affairs but obviously the police are milking the extra benefit of making the mongers nervous.

Overall I would say the 9pm USFK curfew is affecting people's nerves and business in Itaewon far more than the crackdown. The military police are harrassing the shit out of everyone since the curfew affects pretty much anyone even remotely connected to the US army.

And since we're on the subject of crackdown, are there any Cabaret Voltaire fans out there?

Update on the Gov. Crackdown on the sex industry.

The Chusok Holidays put everything into a slow motion, and the same applied to the Sex industy. Most of the mongering destination were closed during the holidays, and probably to the end of this week. They are just watching whos going to be the first victim of the govement propaganda.

As you expect, the police began to advertize the number of punts they arrested, and the every report I read - by the locals - says that the mongering would be *VERY* difficult next few weeks. Stay away from the well-known beaten path for the time being.

The focus of the crackdown is to get rid of any (pseudo) sex slave scene in Korea. So, use it to your advertange. They are after the organized sex trade - this list goes like Anna, KTV, MP, Turkish Bath, RLDs, BBS, etc- , then you should focus on the Freelancers instead.

Itaewon is not my favorite destination, but seems relatively safe. Delievery Girl should not be a problem if you don't care exposing where you are. The best bet would be the internet freebies.

Koreans expect this state will last at least a month or so. Be relaxed and be keen to the change at the same time.

Again stay away from the RLDs discussed here. They are the main targets of this crackdown.

PlayThing

The Miari gal just called me up a few minutes ago, and being the wonderful guy I am, came here to let you all know first (it also helps I was already seated at the computer).

She says the place she works at is open for business again today. I didn't ask about other places, but I assume other places are open as well.

What does this mean? Well, I guess it's safe to go back to Miari, but I'd still be cautious and advise anyone from going for at least a week or so. Let's see what happens first.

I can say however, this past week has been fabulous for me. She had been spending every night at my place and I really got to know her so much better and *gasp* really fall for her.

Anyway, that's all folks!

*edit*

She just called me again, and other places in the area are doing business as well. However, all curtains are closed. I guess it's a "low-key" method. However, there's no way the cops don't know what's going on. I'll find out what happens soon enough.

As for 588, I don't know how that goes, as I don't think most of those places have curtains. Anyway, I would advise you all to stay away for now.

*edit for the second time*

She called me again. It's now Oct. 1, 11:04am.

She told me there were absolutely no customers last night. Not even one, so they closed at 2am. She said if business continues to be that way then the owner will close for good by the end of the month. I'd assume the other places would do the same as well.

Drive past Yongsan RDL last nite and all shops still closed.

Any idea where to pick up freelancers?