
When Yoo Wonhee was young, she had a frail human body and didn’t think of herself as strong. She suggests in the past, many Koreans would starve on their own to be skinny. Now, Yoo spends time creating her muscle tissues and states her chiselled physique is the envy of her peers.
“I just consider owning muscles appears to be like cooler. I do not want to be skinny, I want to be even bigger. Social requirements do exist of system, but for me, there is no better common than currently being satisfied with yourself,” the 26-year-previous suggests.
Yoo is one of a growing selection of South Korean women of all ages chasing a new attractiveness ideal that focuses on athleticism and energy. Regarded as “geongangmi” or “healthy beauty” it marks a shift away from a classic idea of attractiveness that prioritised being slim and pale. A geongangmi is muscular, energetic and solar-kissed. Well known women of all ages who are deemed geongangmi involve pop star Hyolyn and popular actor and novice boxer Lee Si-younger.
“If white tanning was popular in the past, there are a ton of men and women now who want dim-toned skin, as lots of celebrities these times have a brown tan as perfectly,” Yoo says.
Marketplace exploration enterprise Euromonitor claims the “healthy beauty” phenomenon has been selecting up tempo among the Korean millennial and generation Z about the very last two to a few decades. People today in their 20s who routinely go to gyms more than doubled in the 4 many years to 2020, census details present.
‘Functional’ entire body
Koo Hyun-kyung, 29, owner and particular trainer at Timber, a ladies-only gym that specialises in strength teaching and weightlifting, states that for many consumers, priorities have shifted from shedding fat to improving their quality of existence.
Around the final a few to 4 several years, she has noticed a important raise in the number of purchasers who are intrigued in finding more powerful at her gymnasium. She states revenues have tripled considering that it opened, irrespective of rough restrictions imposed on gyms all through the pandemic.
“There is an aspiration toward excellence when you want to understand a particular ability or pastime, that getting exercising in this scenario. You cannot have a pale, skinny body and be profitable in exercise, so persons are likely to change their magnificence standards towards aligning with their plans.”

She claims women aiming to enhance their visual appeal to draw in adult males has provided way to a motivation to have a “well-functioning body”.
A further feature of the geongangmi seem is the system profile shot, where by expert photos are taken of folks looking their ideal. The “body profile challenge” has taken off in Korea more than the past two decades, where by younger persons guide high priced, skilled-quality photoshoots numerous months ahead of finding as match as feasible and posing in their underwear. Human body profiles have turn into a position image for youthful folks as a signifies of demonstrating accomplishment through constructing muscle mass.
Shifting anticipations
Inspite of the developing attractiveness of the geongangmi appear, being pale and slender continues to be the dominant elegance perfect for women in South Korea.
Some critics argue that geongangmi has basically replaced previous elegance requirements with new, equally narrow beliefs. A remark from a single woman blogger reads: “I used to have to starve. Now I have to starve and workout.”
Shifting cultural expectations all-around women’s part in Korean society has also influenced how many assume about beauty.
Yun Ji-Yeong, feminist thinker and affiliate professor at Changwon Nationwide University, suggests considering the fact that 2015 there has been a increasing movement of girls who refuse to marry and want to challenge perceptions about their daily life in South Korea.
“Lots of females have gotten exposed to feminist thoughts, and which is certainly affecting Korean women’s need to seek serious health and fitness, rather of just seeking skinny and lovely,” claims Nikki Kim, 32, an office worker.

Kim thinks the lengthy-reigning “pure and fragile” perfect has early roots in the Korean educational setting that doesn’t stimulate girls to be energetic.
“In bodily schooling class, the boys are all taking part in soccer and basketball, while the women aren’t predicted to do a lot apart from chit-chatting in the corner,” she claims.
“Sometimes I would join in as the only lady to participate in basketball and the boys would explain to me to go back again and chit-chat in the corner. When I studied abroad in New Zealand, I was so shocked to see how everyone is anticipated to take part.”
“It’s just all wrong from the beginning,” Kim added.