The Influence of Beauty Standards on The Condition of Society in South Korea| 2023

The Influence of Beauty Standards on The Condition of Society in South

Korea

Authors :
Nadia Iazmi Najla1, Ghefira Ni’matul ‘Ulya2, Tatu Zakiyatun Nufus
Psychology Faculty of UIN Syarif Hidayatullah Jakarta, Indonesia

Abstract
This research explores the concept of beauty in South Korea which has high standards of beauty, influenced by
western culture. Beauty is considered a privilege and has a central role in social life and career. Beauty
standards include various physical aspects, such as face shape, skin color, and body shape. This affects
individual perceptions and opportunities. Competitive South Korean society emphasizes physical appearance as
an important factor for acceptance in society and the workplace. Women are faced with pressure to meet these
beauty criteria, so beauty is considered a privilege that opens many doors of opportunity. The research method
uses a qualitative and phenomenological approach to understand people’s views on beauty standards. The results
show that the influence of beauty standards can be observed from adolescence to adulthood. This condition
shows the importance of physical appearance in South Korean society and affects social life, work, and
individuals who meet beauty standards are considered to have greater opportunities, while those who do not
meet expectations are often less valued and have fewer opportunities. The conclusion of this study reflects that
physical appearance is the main focus of their efforts to be accepted and succeed in South Korean society.

Keywords: Beauty Standards, South Korea, Condition of Society

Introduction
The definition of beauty, according to the Big Indonesian Dictionary (KBBI), refers to
elegance, beauty, and grace, especially related to the physical appearance of humans such as
the body and face. The concept of beauty has always been associated with women, who have
always been taught that physical appearance plays an important role in life. In the 19 th century
in Europe, the definition of beauty expanded beyond just the shape of the face. Therefore,
until today, beauty is considered something that every woman should have.
One of the most talked-about cultures in Korea is its beauty. South Koreans view
beauty as important in terms of appearance and physicality. They also consider beauty as a
privilege to achieve the desired things. The influence in Korea itself is still racist because
they think that differences are strange and unnatural. This can happen in our environment,
both in schools and workplaces.
In this writing, we can see that the things we do sometimes greatly affect the views of
others. This is what makes us uncomfortable to stay around. Even the concept of Korean
beauty standards is made into a drama either in a Webtoon story or a series. This shows the

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fact how very influential beauty is. South Korean society itself, especially women, will
always feel less about themselves.

Literature Review
A. Beauty Standards
A beauty standard is a measure of beauty that becomes a stereotype. This standard
is influenced by Western culture. According to Fakhira (2019), in her thesis, the
description of a woman who meets beauty standards is:
a. Face Shape
Many Koreans consider the “V-Line” face shape as the ideal standard,
which includes a sharp chin or jaw similar to the letter “V”. Although some
appreciate a slightly rounded face shape, the decision to undergo plastic
surgery to achieve this beauty standard remains an option for some.
b. Skin Color
The skin color they consider beautiful is a glowing white color,
without acne, and smooth. They will blemish their skin by using a face mask
at night.
c. Long and Thin Legs
Long and thin legs are considered an important factor in beauty
assessment. They do various kinds of exercise to achieve these criteria.
d. Round Eyes and Eye Creases
South Korean women generally have small eyes. Therefore, they
highly covet eye creases so that they are large and round. They consider
double eye creases as beautiful individuals in South Korean society.
e. Nose Shape
The ideal shape of the nose is considered to have a pointed shape with
a rounded tip. Simple nose lines are considered to create balance and
optimality for Korean women’s faces.
f. S-Line Body
South Korean women consider the ideal body shape to be an S-shape,
with full breasts and buttocks, and a slim stomach and waist. They also use
categories such as B-line for bodies with large breasts and bellies, and O-line
for overweight or obesity problems.

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In addition, according to ID Hospital, the ideal nose shape has an angle of 90°-95°
(female) and 95°-105° (male). Women’s beauty standards have become a tool to
attract men and are considered an important asset for the future. If a woman weighs
more than 45kg, then she is considered not ideal and does not have an attractive side.
B. Societal Conditions
According to Bora, a book author and influencer, in her YouTube video, South
Koreans consider physical appearance and clothing to be more important to their
social life than their abilities. The reason South Koreans pay so much attention to
appearance is because South Korea is a small country and the society is competitive.
Therefore, people compete to take care of themselves, go on a strict diet, or have
plastic surgery to achieve these standards. A psychology professor in South Korea, Na
Ji-Kyung, says South Koreans choose to adapt to their environment through a process
called secondary control. South Koreans gain self-esteem from the acceptance of
others. Unlike the focus of people in Western countries, they form their self-esteem.
Those who don’t meet the beauty standards are bullied and shunned by people in
the neighborhood. In South Korea, being beautiful means getting a better job. Most
people who own large companies are male-dominated. Usually, large companies ask
for CVs that require photos of prospective employees, from there they will see who
has a beautiful of handsome face and a neat appearance. There are parents in South
Korea who allow their children to have plastic surgery as a graduation gift. With the
hope that the surgery performed can increase the self-confidence of their children who
will enter the University level (Naim, 2022).

Methodology
The writing of this scientific work is argumentative with a qualitative approach. The
object of this scientific work is beauty standards in South Korea and the condition of society
toward these standards. The data sources used in the preparation of this scientific work are
secondary data sources that have relevance to the research topic between 2013 and 2023. The
data can be obtained from various supporting literature such as journals and the internet. The
phenomenological approach is used in this research because in aims to explore and
understand the conditions of society in South Korea.

Result and finding

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South Korea has high standards of beauty. Based on the data obtained, this influence
occurs in teenagers, women, and adult men. Everything must look perfect and there must be
no flaws. Beauty standards will greatly affect their future. Someone who looks perfect will
get many big and good opportunities, but unlike someone ordinary, he will get a smaller
opportunity. Of course, this greatly affects their mindset on how to survive in the surrounding
environment safely without anyone judging them.
According to Kim Insook, (Fakhira, 2019), As many as 88% of those who undergo
plastic surgery are women, with botox and anti-aging injections being the most common
procedures. Based on data from the World Health Organization, South Korean women rank
first in the world with 17% of the population undergoing plastic surgery. There are some
South Koreans who create Webtoon works. They describe the beauty criteria in their country
and the reaction of the surrounding environment. The Webtoon even describes a gradual
make-up tutorial while studying the shape of the face. Being beautiful increases self-
confidence in individuals. Body satisfaction is often correlated with high self-esteem and
self-esteem. People with good self-esteem tend to seek a healthy lifestyle (Daniali in
Widyaningrum, Ramadhani, and Lestari, 2023). The results of the literature that has been
read, beauty standards have a great influence on the condition of society in South Korea.

Conclusion
This paper reveals that the concept of beauty in South Korea has high standards
because it is influenced by Western culture, and has a central role in the social life and career
of every individual, especially for women. These beauty standards include various physical
aspects such as face shape, skin color, and body shape, and can affect a person's perception
and opportunities. South Korea's competitive culture emphasizes physical appearance as an
important factor to be accepted in society, even in the workplace. Women are faced with
pressure to fulfill these beauty criteria. Therefore, beauty is considered a privilege that can
open doors of opportunity.
The results show that the influence of beauty standards can be observed from
adolescence to adulthood with a significant impact on opportunities and self-perception. This
illustrates the importance of physical appearance in South Korean society, which can affect
an individual's social life, employment, and even self-confidence. Individuals who meet
beauty standards are perceived to have greater opportunities, while those who do not meet
expectations often feel less valued. This creates a dynamic where physical appearance

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becomes the main focus of being accepted and succeeding in South Korean society. There is
an example of a Webtoon that raises this beauty issue, the Webtoon is entitled The Secret Of
Angel.

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