The night of Oct. 29, 2022 still lingers as a harrowing memory for Choi Sun-mi, the 50-year-old mother of the late Park Ga-young, one of the 159 victims of the deadly crowd crush i.
Discrimination towards the LGBTQ community is a countrywide issue, with fears of ostracism and abuse motivating many individuals to hide or repress their sexual identity. It s a prejudice that foreign sexual minorities also face after arriving in Korea.
Having beauty standards is not unique to Korea. Different countries and cultures have their own sets of criteria to determine what is and isn t desirable. But Korean beauty standards border on the absurd. For women, a slim figure, flawlessly pale skin, distinctive jaw and large, double-lidded eyes are examples of the supposedly attractive ― yet simultaneously unachievable ― features.
Exasperation comes in tow with dating regardless of where you are in the world but, if all goes well, it can lead to a meaningful and long-lasting relationship. Unfortunately, there is also a lot that can go wrong. Dating in Korea is no exception.
The expectations and roles of women have seen a global shift thanks to women s rights, education and birth control. What were once longstanding societal norms are now being challenged and an acceptance for different lifestyles that complement the individual has started to emerge. However, this shift is still in its infancy and not without its judgments, with women who openly reject motherhood inviting the most scrutiny.