Beauty Standards in the K-pop Industry
- frontpageinitiative
- Aug 15, 2021
- 2 min read
In a country where lookism is still highly prevalent in society, it’s no surprise that beauty standards are high in the K-pop industry. After all, the K-pop industry markets idols to appear perfect in the public eye so they remain relevant to fans, and this includes being attractive. Unfortunately, idols must pay the price for their seemingly flawless physical appearance. They must sacrifice their personal freedom and values to meet the unrealistic beauty standards of the industry.
The K-pop industry emphasizes good visuals. Thus, every group has at least one member designated for a role described as the “visual.” “Visuals” are the member(s) that conform to Korean beauty standards the most and are known for being the most conventionally attractive in the group. In many cases, visuals are often the most popular members in a variety of groups, as entertainment agencies provide them more screen-time or attention because of their good looks. “Pretty privilege” exists in the industry as the members who are perceived not to meet Korean beauty standards may face backlash among netizens who bash their appearance and make hurtful comments on the Internet. This was the case for Chaeryeong from ITZY.
Idols must stay in good physical shape and this involves following a strict diet and exercise regime. They are not allowed to eat midnight snacks or eat whenever they like. One diet many idols follow is called the Paper Cup Diet, in which idols eat nine paper cups worth of whole grains, fruits and vegetables on a daily basis. Because choreography is vital in K-pop, gym routines are grueling. When idols train, they tie 4 kg sandbags to their waist to make their dances look lighter and more effortless in the performance. Idols essentially either spend their days training, preparing to release new music, or exercising at the gym.
The beauty standards in the K-pop industry can be incredibly difficult to follow and take a toll on idols’ mental health; including issues of anxiety and depression that lead them to take a break from promotional activities. However, there is pressure on the industry to diversify beauty standards of idols, as acknowledged by South Korea’s Ministry of Gender Equality and Family, indicating that the industry is straying away from these unrealistic beauty standards and starting to valuing beauty of all kinds. This shift of society’s standards could positively affect idols in terms of their health and well-being as there is now less pressure to conform to unrealistic beauty standards than before.
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Published November 19, 2020
Edited by Sara Gogna
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