The Wall

Every night, throngs of female fans flock to the Rio Hotel in Las Vegas to claw at a cast of men who tease, gyrate and strip. Among the group of Chippendales dancers is Steve Kim. He’s paid to make women believe that a martial artist or a naval officer could rock their world. That sculpted, hairless torsos do exist.

Beyond the signature cuffs and collar, Kim says he’s just an average guy with a fun night job. But having one of the few Asian faces in a traditionally all-white Chippendales cast makes Kim stand out just a bit more than he thinks.

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Raised in Portland, Ore., by a single mom, Kim, who is Korean and Italian, was often reminded that he was different. Classmates called him “kung fu boy” and “China boy,” and later, football teammates called him “Kimchi” as an off-color homage to his heritage.

He was a shy student who steered clear of the jocks, though his 6-foot 2-inch frame made him a natural at football and basketball. He dreamed of being the first Korean NBA player until he realized he wouldn’t grow any taller.

Kim studied international trade and marketing at Santa Clara University in California, where he also played football until the program was cut in 1992. After graduating in 1996, he worked in sales and marketing for various companies.

Although steadily employed, Kim was not very happy with his work. Then, in 1998, he developed a series of illnesses, including spinal stenosis that left him in pain and spending much of his time in and out of hospitals. Medication made him bloated, and his job — one of the “highlights” of which was marketing portable toilets — exacerbated his depression.

He dove into self-help books, including ones about mind-body connections, to help him fight his illnesses. He changed his diet, ate probiotics to boost his immune system and exercised regularly. At the same time, he read up on computers to prepare for a career change: a dive into the dot-com industry.

A year later, Kim felt healthier and found a job in computer programming. In 2000, Microsoft recruited him as a software developer.

The following year, Kim left Microsoft and moved to Denver, Colo., after being recruited to start a branch of a growing technology firm.

Shortly after, the company fell victim to the dot-com bust. Kim found himself unemployed, once again wondering what else was out there.

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A friend introduced Kim — who had gone from a $140,000 income to barely anything — to the world of exotic dancing.

One night, he tagged along with a male stripper to a party and on a dare, took his clothes off, too. It was easier and more natural than he thought. From there, Kim — who some say is a Keanu Reeves look-alike — began his segue from techie to stripper, much to his mother’s dismay.

“She was not too excited,” he says. “She loved the fact that I did computers. She was proud of that.”

Recruited to tour with the Chippendales for a year, Kim danced at nightclubs and casinos throughout the country. In 2002, he went to Vegas to be part of a calendar shoot and was asked to participate in the newly revamped show. If there’s an apex for a male stripper’s career, Kim had reached it. He was part of a classy show with a lot less grinding and “shaking his junk.” He earned a regular paycheck and eventually won approval from his family members who have all seen the show.

“I would say the money is good,” he says. “I also do love the job.”

A cache of fans, mostly Asian women, also came with the gig. He’s even heard about a fan club made up of girls from Los Angeles’ Koreatown.

One fan from Vancouver wrote this on his Web site: “Hey Steve, I saw your show this past weekend. I love it when you smile! I noticed a Korean flag on your pants on stage and I think it looks great! My background is Korean too. Go Koreans! Keep up the great work! Luv, Jenny.”

He’s had to deal with stalkers, too, including one that had a criminal record. He also deals with the presumption that all Chippendales are gay.

“That’s a rumor started by haters,” he says. “Boyfriends are haters. If you can’t do it, don’t hate. We’re a fantasy. Why would a guy do it in front of thousands of girls if they like guys?”

Exotic dancing — whether in a small town or Sin City — comes with a stigma and is generally seen as a socially unacceptable profession. But after spending some time in the raunchier side of the business, Kim considers the Chippendale show a classier option.

“We wear underwear. We don’t get all the way naked. We fool you, and we’re all about hugs and kisses. We’re pretty much always on stage,” he says.

The misconception that Chippendales are playboys bothers Kim. Once he ran into a former classmate who had been a popular jock and was now married with three kids. Learning of Kim’s profession, the guy asked for help in snagging women.

“I ditched him,” Kim says. “That was sad.”

Kim says he and his colleagues are merely normal people who grow numb to the attention and the droves of women. In reality, he says, Chippendales — some of whom are married with children or have girlfriends — are down-to-earth.

“The girls assume we’re these man whores, because we have girls chasing us around,” he says. “Honestly, we’re the most laid-back people you meet,” he said.

Kim says he’ll settle down when the time is right, but his Chippendale gig and two online-based businesses, which he launched a year ago, keep him busy. With his experience as a web developer, Kim created Real Muscle and Flex, two sites where browsers can pay to see guys working out and teasing viewers in real-time through web cams.

In his spare time, Kim says he works out five days a week and plays with his dogs Hachi and Yumi. His goal is to amass enough money to retire, travel and perhaps pursue an acting career. But he’s content with being a Chippendale for now.

His philosophy: “You’ve got to have a job where you’re having fun every day.”

Article courtesy of KoreAm Magazine