Kim Yong-Hwa’s 2006 movie, 200 Pound Beauty, follows an overweight and “ugly” ghost singer who lends her vocal talent by lip syncing for an attractive and famous pop star. The ghost singer goes as far as a failed suicide and finds plastic surgery the only remedy to her as-dramatized unfortunate life. While the overarching theme of the movie is to promote inner beauty, the viewer is influenced by the romanticized and oversimplified view of cosmetic surgery. In fact, Korea is the number one country for plastic surgeries performed per capita. According to the International Society of Aesthetic Plastic Surgeons, one in five South Korean women has gotten something done, compared to one in 20 in the United States. Accounts of teen hopefuls who audition
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It is important to note, however, that “flower boy” is not linked to Western ideologies of homosexuality – rather, it is another appealing characteristic to certain audiences. Aegyo, or cuteness that is best characterized by childlike and innocent attitudes18, is appealing to K-pop female fans. The sexual desire of these female fans are clear, and most interestingly displays the contrast of gender roles of these flower boys to conventional masculinity. While South Korea is still governed by a highly patriarchal society, the shift in appeal to flower-like boys interestingly displays feelings of female dominance. Compared to in Western culture, K-pop female fans have the ability to actively imagine a scenario in which they are the more powerful one in the relationship. A 2017 Youtube video “Kpop Idols Being Aegyo” has generated over 235,000 views, with user comments like “They make me die and die over again” or “Why am I watching handsome, cute and famous Korean men acting cute and I think it’s not weird. But when it comes to non-Korean men it makes me uncomfortable if they acted cute?” The innocence and cuteness that comes with gender fluidity in contemporary K-pop boy groups has provided Western audiences a break from patriarchal, male-dominated societies and clearly displays Korea’s shift in gender
It is important to note, however, that “flower boy” is not linked to Western ideologies of homosexuality – rather, it is another appealing characteristic to certain audiences. Aegyo, or cuteness that is best characterized by childlike and innocent attitudes18, is appealing to K-pop female fans. The sexual desire of these female fans are clear, and most interestingly displays the contrast of gender roles of these flower boys to conventional masculinity. While South Korea is still governed by a highly patriarchal society, the shift in appeal to flower-like boys interestingly displays feelings of female dominance. Compared to in Western culture, K-pop female fans have the ability to actively imagine a scenario in which they are the more powerful one in the relationship. A 2017 Youtube video “Kpop Idols Being Aegyo” has generated over 235,000 views, with user comments like “They make me die and die over again” or “Why am I watching handsome, cute and famous Korean men acting cute and I think it’s not weird. But when it comes to non-Korean men it makes me uncomfortable if they acted cute?” The innocence and cuteness that comes with gender fluidity in contemporary K-pop boy groups has provided Western audiences a break from patriarchal, male-dominated societies and clearly displays Korea’s shift in gender