The average weight for a South Korean woman is around 58 kg (128 lbs), though figures vary slightly by study, with some showing college students averaging around 57.1 kg and general youth data pointing to about 55.5 kg, reflecting a gradual increase over time and generally lower BMI ranges compared to Western norms, with a strong emphasis on being thin.
Although extreme diets are considered the norm for all K-pop idols, recent media attention has been drawn to the fixation of female idol weight loss, particularly after a Korean drama star commented that "if a woman weighs over 50kg, she must be nuts".
BMI is calculated by dividing weight (kg) by the square of height (m)2. The guidelines presented by the World Health Organization of the Asia Pacific Region and the Korean Society for the Study of Obesity present the following definitions: underweight (< 18.5 kg/m2), healthy weight (18.5–22.9 kg/m2), overweight (23– ...
Whether 80kg (176 lbs) is "heavy" for a woman depends on her height, body composition (muscle vs. fat), and frame, as Body Mass Index (BMI) can categorize it as overweight or obese for shorter women but might be healthy for taller individuals with significant muscle mass, though a BMI over 30 (obesity) is generally considered unhealthy for most. A single number doesn't define health; factors like fitness level, strength, and body shape matter more than just weight.
70kg isn't inherently heavy for a woman; it depends heavily on height, body composition, and build, but it often falls into a healthy range for taller women, while for shorter women, it could lean towards overweight. For example, a 175cm (5'9") woman at 70kg has a healthy BMI, but a 163cm (5'4") woman at the same weight might be considered borderline overweight, according to this article from The Daily Telegraph.
Generally used to refer to males who could be overpowered and taken advantaged of by other males who are above 200 pounds. Could also be used as a general statement about a male weighing approximately 140-160 pounds or 60-70 kilograms.” - Urban Dictionary.
통통한 {adj.} chubby (also: plump)
The average height for South Korean men is 170.7 cm (5 ft 7 in), whilst for women it is 157.4 cm (5 ft 2 in). On average, South Korean men are 5 inches or so taller than North Korean men, whilst there is but a mere inch in it when you compare the height of North Korean women with their southern cousins.
For men, 20% body fat is generally considered in the "acceptable" or "average" range, bordering on "fitness" or slightly overweight, with some extra fat but no clear muscle definition, while for women, 20% is in the "fitness" or "good" category, showing some definition but not overly lean. The term "chubby" is subjective, but at 20% body fat, most people won't look extremely lean, though it's healthy for men and good for women, falling within typical ranges before obesity becomes a concern, say 8fit and InBody USA.
The "3 date rule" in Korean dating refers to the common practice of establishing an official couple status (boyfriend/girlfriend) by the third date, moving from casual "talking" (sseom) to a defined relationship quickly, a faster pace than typical Western dating, allowing for deeper getting-to-know-you stages after becoming official, though it's becoming less strict with younger generations. It's about rapid commitment assessment, with the first few dates gauging chemistry before locking things down.
4B movement, South Korean feminist activist movement and political stance defined by four deliberate refusals: bihon (“no marriage”), bichulsan (“no childbirth”), biyonae (“no dating”), bisekseu (“no sex [with men]”).
Obesity prevalence has steadily increased over the past 11 years between 2009 and 2019 for the total population; from 29.7% in 2009 to 36.3% in 2019 (Fig. 1A). Obesity prevalence has increased significantly in men from 35.6% in 2009 to 46.2% in 2019, and 23.9% in 2009 to 27.3% in 2019 in women.
Elementary school girls went from 134.3 centimeters to 137.1 centimeters on average, female middle school students grew from 155.1 centimeters to 158.4 centimeters, while female students in high school went from 159.8 centimeters to 161.7 centimeters in the 10-year span.
Short dresses, shorts, and mini skirts are very common and widely accepted in Korea, even among kids and young teens, because they're believed to make your legs look longer. However, sleeveless tops or plunging necklines are still not very common, unless you're a K-pop star.
Korea has around 14,300 7-Eleven stores making it a popular Korean convenience store chain. These stores offer a wide range of convenience store food, snacks, drinks, ready-to-eat meals, and daily necessities. This includes Korean food options like tteokbokki, kimbap, and instant noodles (ramyeon).
Belly and Lara Jean are both played by Asain American actresses Lola Tung and Lana Condor, respectively, in "The Summer I Turned Pretty" and "To All the Boys." They're both so pretty and very talented. Both characters are supposed to be half Korean. Lola is Swedish and Chinese. Lana is Vietnamese.
The “50 kg myth” is an ideal created by Korean mainstream media by glorifying celebrities who openly talk about their weight being 40-something. K-pop idols often share their extreme diet regimes in order to achieve the under-50 ideal weight.
The Korean diet is rich in fish, tofu, eggs and legumes. By eating little red meat, they take in lighter protein sources and less fat and calories. Lean protein promotes satiety, supports metabolism and the maintenance of muscle mass.
BMI Categories – What Your Results Mean
If you're 165 cm tall, a healthy weight is between 54 kg and 68 kg. If you weigh over 81 kg, your BMI is above 30, placing you in the obesity range.
For a height of 5'3” (160 cm), the healthy weight range is 50-64 kg, aligning with a BMI of 18.5-24.9.