In the land of K-Pop, where perfection is elevated to a cardinal virtue, the cult of thinness transcends gender. But it is not without its deviations.
In Blackpink, the South Korean version of the Spice Girls, I’m asking for Lisa. Height: 1.66m, waist measurement approximately 70cm and 44.7kg shown on scale. By K-Drama (popular Korean mini-series), we get actress Bae Suzy’s measurements in a few clicks. 168 cm tall and 50 kg. Intimate information that may seem surprising, but is not so new when we know how much appearance dominates in the Land of the Morning Calm. Addiction to cosmetic surgery has been regularly commented on in the media for several years. During the traditional Chuseok holiday (a harvest festival that is one of the most important in the country), usually in September or October, many Korean women undergo eye or nose surgery, which has become a ritual.
Beyond the scalpel, there is another directive: the perfect body directive. “Both the women’s and men’s standards are modeled after characters from Korean manga manhwa. These are very slender physiques, with triangular faces, underlying musculature, but not very defined, there is no mention of sports. six pack and no fat,” explains sociologist Sylvie October, an expert on Korea. “We are very far from the neglected side that can sometimes look pompous or rebellious in the West.”
“The crime. don’t eat”
In the Korean imagination, the thinner or even thinner you are, the better. The country also had the second-lowest obesity rate among OECD countries in 2017, at around 5%, compared to an average of 19.5%. However, there are still many magazines that offer weight loss tips and advice. “In South Korea, this problem of thinness is everyone’s business, both men and women,” argues Vincenzo Cicelli, author K-pop, soft power and global culture (Presses Universitaires de France), which he wrote with Sylvie October. “It’s the opposite of the overconsumption society that Korea entered in the late 1990s. Until then, Koreans were still subject to dietary restrictions. And in societies of deprivation, the transgression is eating. Meanwhile, among those marked by abundance, the sin is not eating.”
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K-pop influence
In recent years, this quest for thinness has intensified in Korea under the influence of K-pop. A phenomenon has appeared: “K-pop diet”. Korean pop stars detail their daily meals on YouTube or in magazines. Menus to stay lean or lose weight that give pride of place to fruits, vegetables, and good protein, all made with very little fat and lots of spices for flavor. As Vincenzo Cicelli notes, “In Korea, we develop a sense of effort.” “It’s common to see South Korean actors and singers show off everything they’ve put in to get where they are. They share their advice, their difficulties, the trials they have gone through…”
The thinness of Koreans also correlates with the traditionally balanced character of their cuisine. “Their food base, which is poor in meat, is mainly based on kimchi (fermented and spicy cabbage), rice and chili,” recalls Sylvie October. Except that sometimes the plate is far from satisfying. As we read everywhere in Korean blogs, the diet followed by famous singer and actress IU consists of, for example, an apple for breakfast, a sweet potato for lunch, and a protein shake for dinner. Nothing more… Enough to be dangerous to health (physically and mentally) in the long run.
In the center, the South Korean singer IU is surrounded by two dancers during a concert. (Hong Kong, December 16, 2016) Getty Images:
Women are not the only ones who suffer more from the dictates of aesthetics and extreme thinness. In the words of Vincenzo Cicelli, “Men and women are under pressure. The extraordinary beauty of K-Drama actors must be seen. Nobody is overweight.”
Very competitive company
Finally, this thin body ideal is reinforced by a competition-based society. “The level of competition among young Koreans is intense. They all achieve a high level of education and all speak at least English, because the labor market is saturated and very competitive,” notes sociologist Sylvie Oktobre. “You have to play on yourself to make a difference soft skills Being fit and having a lean body weighs in the balance. This is why the use of cosmetic surgery has increased massively in Korean society. “All Korean stars are recycled and assume it (like Park Min Young, Minzi or Kwanghee),” Vincenzo Cicelli exclaims. It is not taboo at all. on the contrary, it is part of society and it is even difficult to avoid this model, otherwise you will be excluded.” Sylvie October adds: “If we compare with Brazil, there women are trained to increase their value in the “marriage” market. In Europe, we turn to cosmetic surgery to look younger. It is to find a job in Korea.”
Indeed, even though South Koreans are among the most educated and qualified in the world, many struggle to find their first job. Thus, young people aged 25 to 29 make up 22% of the country’s unemployed, which is a record youth unemployment rate among OECD member countries. Which, we can well imagine, dangerously exacerbates this obsession with aesthetics and thinness. The story of the snake biting its own tail.
Source: Le Figaro
