Popular Idol And Actress Breaks The Stereotype That Fair Skin Is The Korean Beauty Standard

Light skin and skin whitening are significant issues in the Korean entertainment industry, especially with K-Pop idols. In Korea, fair or light skin equates to beauty and being pretty or handsome, which often causes overexposure and whitening with K-Pop idol photos.

However, some representative celebrities have broken down the prejudice against natural or darker skin tones.

An online community post recently garnered attention for Seolhyun‘s mindset on her skin tone, breaking the prejudice against tanned/darker skin.

On the show, Three Meals A Day, actor Lee Seo Jin asked Seolhyun if she was always on the darker side and worried about her not being able to do her makeup the following day.

But Seolhyun responded in a cool and subtle way.

Then I guess my makeup will be ruined. Back then, I used to think I had to by fair-skinned and skinny, but in the end, people liked the darker skin tone and healthy me.

— Seolhyun

Netizens agreed that she had her own unique charm and were happy that she has realized it now.

“Seolhyun is so pretty…”
“I saw the title of the post and thought of Seolhyun.”
“I think Minji too.”
“Seolhyun is so healthy, pure, and pretty.”
“I used to think that pure equaled fair skin, but Seolhyun broke the stereotype. How is she so pretty.”
“I think it has nothing to do with skin color. I think it’s pretty if it’s clean with good complexion.”

“I’m a bit sad reading the last part. I wonder how difficult and worried she must have been before coming to the realization.”
“Seolhyun for sure. I also think TWICE’s Tzuyu too.”
“She is really pretty.”
“I remember she wore a white dress for an event. Before that, I didn’t know she was that pretty. She was so pretty that day.”
“She was the one that showed me that a white dress on darker skin tones is really pretty.”