Hautetalk: From ITZY’s Yuna To TWICE’s Jeongyeon, Why Are Female K-Pop Idols Judged By Weight And Not Talent?
It's about damn time that we demand a shift in this perspective.
What does it take to be a female K-pop idol? Years of gruelling training, sleepless nights, and dedication? Sure. But let’s be real: the world doesn’t care about that half as much as it cares about the size of her waist. From ITZY’s Yuna to TWICE’s Jeongyeon, these women are scrutinised from every angle. “Has she gained weight?” “Her legs look thick.” “She needs to lose that belly fat.”
These aren’t just mere comments; they’re trending topics on the internet. And the saddest part is that they literally overshadow the hard work these idols pour into their careers. For them, it’s a never-ending cycle of judgement, and it’s utterly exhausting.
Why This Obsession?
Let’s be honest. K-pop is an industry that largely thrives on visuals. The perfect “idol” image that viewers root for is meticulously crafted. The agencies often push idols to follow brutal diets and maintain a weight that’s often unhealthy and unrealistic. This creates a toxic environment where unrealistic beauty standards become the norm.
Like? If we want to talk about misogyny in K-pop, let’s talk about yuna getting more hate than a lot of disgusting male idols just bc she wears hip pads, not a group getting deserved hate for being disgustingly racist.
— Alyssa*ꫂ ၴႅၴ🌻 (@alyssa_gglvr) May 18, 2025
Y’all celebrating Jeongyeon being “skinny again” like her body was ever yours to comment on. She’s endured health issues, pain, and pressure and instead of empathy, you fat-shamed her through it all. Her weight doesn’t define her worth. Stop glorifying thinness like it’s a win.
— This is for Ace 4️⃣ TWICE IS HERE (@opppppppty) May 19, 2025
Leads To Issues
Not just unrealistic beauty standards, this obsession with weight leads to serious issues like eating disorders and mental health struggles. I think it’s about damn time that we demand a shift in perspective.They dedicate countless hours to perfecting their singing, dancing, and stage presence, and yet we talk about their bodies. Let’s talk about their artistry, passion and talent and not their bodies. Their bodies are their own, not public property for endless, unwarranted criticism.
First Published: May 22, 2025 7:03 PM
