Hello!
I hope today brings you hope and joy!
The topic I will introduce this time is "The Standard of Beauty."
Throughout human history, the standard of beauty has always existed.
It has just changed over time, but the standard has always been there.
Do you know the "Venus of Willendorf"?
The Venus figurine from Willendorf, Austria, was discovered during railroad construction and dates back to the Paleolithic era.
It's a small stone carving, about 11 centimeters in length, with a voluptuous figure that is often interpreted as symbolizing fertility and abundance.
Perhaps it was crafted to express beauty in the form of a sculpture, right?
Just like this, the standard of beauty has always existed with distinct characteristics in each era. Moreover, the perception of beauty can vary slightly from person to person.
That’s why people strive to achieve the image of beauty they personally find appealing.
A young person from Iran, Sahar Tabar (born Fatima Kushvand), admired the American actress Angelina Jolie and wanted to resemble her.
So, she underwent 50 surgeries to achieve a similar appearance.
This is an example of how some people choose to undergo plastic surgery in order to match the beauty standards they believe in.
Sometimes, when we see such transformations in the news, it's fascinating, but we may also understand why someone would go to such lengths.
East and West have different physical traits, and their standards of beauty vary as well.
Now, let me introduce the traditional beauty standards of Korea.
Korea’s traditional standards of beauty can be divided into three categories: "Sam-baek," "Sam-heuk," and "Sam-hong."
"Sam-baek" refers to having white skin, white teeth, and white hands. "Sam-heuk" means having black eyes, black hair, and black eyebrows. "Sam-hong" signifies having red lips, red cheeks, and red nails.
White skin and hands are not necessarily about being pale but rather about having a clean and bright appearance.
Even today, many Koreans value "healthy skin" as an important aspect of beauty.
Sometimes, people criticize Koreans, saying "Koreans are engaging in white-washing. Where do East Asians have white skin? They are just following Western trends."
Some even edit photos of Korean celebrities to make their skin look darker.
But did you know that there are actually many Koreans with fair skin?
Of course, not everyone has fair skin, and with changing times, some people choose to tan, so it’s difficult to say there’s one fixed standard.
However, whether it’s tanning or not having fair skin, what matters is having clean, healthy-looking skin.
Imagine this:
You’ve just been confessed to.
But the person, regardless of whether they are a man or a woman, appears unwashed, tired, and looks like they haven't taken care of themselves.
What if you don’t know this person and just met them moments ago?
There is a concept called the Mehrabian's Law.
It is based on research that says the impression we get from someone is influenced 55% by visual cues, 38% by auditory cues, and only 7% by the content of what is said — this is known as the 7%-38%-55% rule.
This theory, developed by Albert Mehrabian, a professor emeritus of psychology at the University of California, suggests that when it comes to making an impression or forming a liking, voice tone has an impact of 38%, body language has 55%, but the words we speak account for only 7%.
In other words, non-verbal elements such as visual and auditory cues have a much bigger influence on effective communication than the words themselves.
[Source: Naver Knowledge Encyclopedia, Mehrabian’s Law (PMG Knowledge Engine Research Institute)]
Koreans have traditionally preferred bright and healthy skin.
While the exact time period is uncertain, in the past, foreigners were referred to as “saekmok-in” (colored people).
This term, meaning people with color, was used because Westerners, in the eyes of Koreans, didn’t have white skin but rather reddish or brown “colors.”
Of course, this term is no longer in use today.
In Korea, parents don’t just apply sunscreen to prevent their children from tanning.
They apply it diligently to protect their children's skin from sunburn or damage.
The concepts of "Sam-heuk" and "Sam-hong" are similar in meaning.
Healthy people tend to have black hair, black eyes, and black eyebrows.
Have you ever noticed how body hair turns white when someone is severely ill or under great stress?
Or how cataracts can cause eyes to appear cloudy?
When you're sick, it’s harder to maintain the black color of your body.
And "Sam-hong" is also similar.
Have you ever experienced a blueish face when you were severely sick?
"Sam-hong" signifies that blood circulation is healthy in the fingers, lips, and cheeks.
A healthy and beautiful body.
As times change and trends shift, beauty standards continue to evolve.
However, one thing that doesn’t change is the standard of healthy beauty, don’t you think?
We are already beautiful as we are.
Instead of looking for beauty as seen in the world, try to find your own healthy beauty.
You will be able to discover just how beautiful you truly are.
I always cheer for your beauty.
#2025 challenge say "안녕하세요"
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#life is the most precious value of all
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#And the end of many other conflicts.
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