“Restrict TV Appearance of ‘K-Pop Music Idols’ with Similar Faces,” Says South Korean Ministry of Gender Equality and Family
2019-2-16, Insight
The Ministry of Gender Equality and Family [여성가족부] (Minister: Jin Sun-mee) sent its “Gender Equality Broadcast Program Production Guideline” to broadcasters. [In Korean, it’s the Ministry of Women and Family, but the ministry replaced “Women” with “Gender Equality” for English speaking audiences.] [truncated]
Page 42 of the Guideline states “Do not let actors and singers with similar external appearance appear on TV in too high a proportion.” It continued in more detail “The uniform look among the singers in music programs is serious” and pointed out that most of the singers are of K-Pop idol groups, and that their external appearance is not diverse. (truncated) It stated “Most of them have slim body, light skin, similar hair style, body-revealing attire, and similar makeup.”
The ministry’s guideline does not stop there.
“Don’t wear too much makeup that is not appropriate for the occasion, wear revealing or tight clothes, or reveal body.” As an example, it stated “the majority of the time, the weather women’s clothes are too form fitting.”
“[Broadcasters] Must refrain from producing [programs] or expressions that focus on the external appearance of women.” (truncated)
The guideline, which contains a lot of other information, can be found on the homepage of the Ministry of Gender Equality and Family and the homepage of the Korea Both Genders Equality Education Promotion Center (한국양성평등교육진흥원). (truncated)
