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Mon, May 23, 2022 | 11:59
From dating to cleaning … even secret demand?
데이트부터 청소부터… 시급남편까지
Posted : 2012-02-21 19:20
Updated : 2012-02-21 19:20
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This is a world where you can buy anything if you have the money. There is nothing that cannot be obtained from a variety of goods to diverse services. Even “husbands” can be rented.

The “hourly-paid” husband service is thriving these days after being first introduced in Georgia two years ago, landed in Korea in January last year.

The services cost 20,000 won to 30,000 won an hour on average. However, the charges vary depending on what kind of service is offered and how difficult it is to provide. The exact amount is settled through consultations and agreement. The services are given when male assistants accept the settled price.

“High-income singles and divorced women are the main clients of the service,” said a person running a business who refused to be identified. “I won’t elaborate further to protect privacy of the clients.”

It is “absolute confidential” about the client information as they never want to make it public. The provider guarantees security about the personal information and consultations of service users and what kinds of services they used.

Identity of the hourly-paid husband is protected in the similar manner. Male service providers are selected from applicants through resumes, interviews and etiquette education. Even they themselves do not know each other.

Clients are also unable to know the face and profile in advance. They can only confirm the profile on the website of the firm when they put deposit.

It’s doubtful if there are women who request consultation for clandestine affairs or the sex trade. The company has been troubled with calls of women for other secret demand, except for the services it handles.

“There are not a few single women who demand secret services, such as sex trade,” said an official of the firm. “The “hourly-paid husband” has nuances of clandestine relationship.”

It is feared that the service might lead to illegal sex trade if either of the two parties want to do although the ‘hourly husband’ service provider claims it is very ‘sound.’ A citizen worried that even though the firm strongly bans sex trade, it is hard to control deals between individuals.

“Most of our clients are satisfied with our sound services,” said a spokesman of the firm. “I’ll bet that we do business within legal limits.”

데이트부터 청소부터… 시급남편까지
돈만 내면 뭐든지 살 수 있는 시대다. 각종 물품부터 다양한 서비스까지 못 구할 게 없다. 심지어 '남편'까지도 빌려 쓸 수 있는 서비스가 등장했다. 최근 성업 중인 '시급(時給)남편'이 바로 그것이다. 비용은 통상 시간당 2만~3만원선. 그러나 서비스의 성격이나 난이도에 따라 가격이 천차만별이라고 한다. 정확한 액수는 상담과 합의를 거쳐 결정되며 산정된 가격을 도우미가 받아들이면 서비스가 시작된다는 설명이다. 그렇다면 어떤 여성들이 시급남편 업체를 주로 이용할까. "주로 고소득층의 미혼, 이혼여성이 주고객층"이라면서도 "고객 정보 보호 차원에서 더 이상 자세한 얘긴 해줄 수 없다"고 관련 종사자는 선을 그었다. 시급남편 이용사실이 알려지는 것을 꺼려하기 때문에 고객들에 대한 정보는 '철저한 비밀'에 부쳐진다. 서비스 이용 회원들의 개인정보와 상담 내용, 서비스 이용 내역 등에 대한 보안은 확실히 보장된다. 남성 도우미들의 신원도 마찬가지다. 도우미들은 지원자를 대상으로 서류와 면접, 인성교육과정을 거쳐 등록되는데 도우미들끼리도 서로를 모를 만큼 비밀이 보장된다고 한다. 고객들 역시 도우미들의 얼굴이나 프로필에 대해서 알 수 없다. 다만 이 업체는 예약금을 입금한 고객에 한해서만 업체 홈페이지에서 남성 도우미들의 프로필을 확인할 수 있게 하고 있다. 문득 은밀한 애정 서비스나 성매매를 목적으로 상담을 해오는 여성이 있지는 않을까? 서비스 회사는 지향하는 서비스 외에 은밀한 요구를 들어달라는 여성들의 전화에 골머리를 앓고 있다. 관련 종사자에 따르면 "사랑에 굶주린 독신여성들이 성매매 등 은밀한 서비스와 관련해 상담을 해오는 경우가 적지 않다"며 "시급남편이라는 말 자체가 은밀한 뉘앙스를 풍기기 때문인 것 같다"고 말했다. 상황이 이렇다 보니 시급남편 업체가 지금 당장은 '건전'을 표방하고 있다고는 하지만 마음만 먹으면 불건전 성매매로 흐를 수 있는 우려가 있다. 특히 업체가 성매매를 강하게 금지한다 해도 개개인간에 이뤄지는 거래까지 통제할 수는 없다는 점에서 걱정은 더욱 커진다. 이 같은 우려의 시각에 대해 "우리 회사 이용객들 대부분은 건전한 서비스에 만족하고 있다"며 "하늘이 두 쪽 나도 법의 테두리 안에서 영업을 할 것"이라고 자신했다. "시급남편을 바라보는 일그러진 시선이 문제"라며 "인식개선이 필요한 것 같다"고 호소했다.
 
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