Thin is In: Weight and Obesity in South Korea

[idgon09]

i am moving to koreafor a year in aug. and i'm 5'4" 160lb. I wear a size 6 or 8 and L shirt in American Eagle/Abercrombie clothing and I'm not bad looking facially but I have thin hair, which I dislike a lot. I'm very comfortable in my skin for the most part, but I'm wondering if to get by without feeling overweight/awkward in Korea would I need to lose weight? I've been wanting to lose 15-20lb for myself, but do you advise being stricter on it to lose weight before moving there?

[nixxi1]

so what do you like hate fat people or somethin?

[Tanishaluvzmumbai]

Like kwon yuri from snsd she was skinny top thick on bottom thick legs and a bumb!then she got scary skinny ....then she got back up to her normal weight again in less than 2 months later! And she said in an interview something along the lines of she wishes she wohld follow her own mind and not be like everyone wants....im happy she gained back her weight!

[ihahahayou]

Many are watchful with weights in korea especially women and will try to help each other with negative motivations and comments to eat less.

[efroggys]

Do you speak korean?

[Queefbiffles]

so is being 5'7' and 130 fat?? oh god. DIET TIME.

[B5girl2342]

Im worried...to go to korea now =/

[IchigiXSHINeeX2pm]

Ya. I think l'll go on a diet before I go to Korea. Thats really sad that those boys made fun of the limping lady :(

[sheenamariechavez]

because they have this belief that if a person is fat, he/she is lazy...no discipline...

[boucoupthick504]

I don't think I'd handle that very well. I'm tall and a bit overweight (5'11, 239lbs). I know this. I don't need anyone telling me this like it's breaking news. I could only imagine someone saying that to me. I'd be like, "Ok, is it my turn? Your teeth are crooked, you should really invest in braces. Your hair is thinning, buy a wig..." Or any other flaw that they may have. Yeah if you want to be brutally honest with me, allow me to return the favor.

[KittyKimtheBunny]

The fact that koreans are so straight forward is what has me a little worried but not too much haha. I wear a size 14-16 because I am very ample in the chest and backside region lol but I have a flat stomach. I am overweight for my height(I weigh 235 but only 5'5") but I am a very healthy person overall. One big concern of mine was finding the type of clothes that will actually fit my body type when I move to korea.

[nichilliR]

how tall are you ?

x



[charlycheer]

@nichilliR 5'8...would like to say 5'9 but I think I never grew my goal inch haha

[nichilliR]

@charlycheer thanks for your reply :)

i am a bit over 5´9, how do koreans see tall people ?

[charlycheer]

@nichilliR they like my long legs but i think they like tall but dislike it depending on the person

[Syelwan]

@charlycheer: What about women with slightly bigger than usual breast?

[homewrecker2288]

Do you think an over weight person could find clothes in Korea?

[charlycheer]

@homewrecker2288 Koreans go online..that's what Minji told me...but I don't know a specific website...but there are big sizes I hear in itaewon...but I don't know how big

[homewrecker2288]

@charlycheer Interesting I will have to bring lots of clothes then and if I need something just buy it online. I will check out Itaewon when I get there.

[SeverdSeouL]

Beauty is in the eye of the beholder. Korea has become a very shallow society. Especially because of the heavy western influence, which is eroding their culture and value system.

[ktishme]

Also, I'm not skinny, I'm actually overweight, but I guess I have a nice face??? I get the "you're beautiful" comments a lot. I guess it's also cause I'm so aryan XD (blue eyes, blonde hair, pointy nose). Anyways, I havne't suffered much for being overweight. The only people who have actually commented on my weight were my students (the jerks! XDD) and ummm this one chiropractor I went to. But I do notice that the nicer I look the better I am treated. actually, it kind of pisses me off... ><

[ktishme]

The bigger girls probably shop at Gmarket, like me! I was able to find some really cute clothes on Gmarket~ XD They have a plus size clothes section. (and Koreans do care too much about their looks in my opinion!!)

[BG001Trader]

I was normally about 110-114lbs..I took up belly dancing and promptly quit..I looked like the hangman stick figure..now I'm 126lbs and look a million times better doing it..being bigger is great in belly dance.

[charlycheer]

@BG001Trader yes I agree..haha you made me laugh when you mentioned stick figure haha

[Crimson121]

Your getting fat....do something.....

I laughed, I feel bad lol

[AngieAudition]

Can you do a video about more diversity or more immgrants coming to South Korea

[ticklebug]

Additionally, there is a different reason for obesity. Ask Australians. They are officially the fattest country in the world now with Mexico, the US and Greece right behind. :)

[ticklebug]

You can't blame American globalization on fat people. Why? Because people have a choice what to put in their mouths. There are no Americans with guns forcing McDonalds down the throats of Koreans. Next, if we can so easily blame Americanization on obesity, then do Americans get off the hook for being so fat - as we can blame McDonalds instead of ourselves? Finally if American fast food (which is not really American food anyway) was to be blamed for obesity, why isn't every American fat?

[aronicaveronica]

I was wondering if you were gonna make a video about the difference in behavior in culture like the way boy and girls act and how the interact with each other ?????

[charlycheer]

@aronicaveronica I'll add it to my list!

[animelovergirl5]

@Charlycheer I think that most of what you said true~ Koreans DO base part of their lives on looks. in Korea I think Ajumas and Ajjusshis are the main overweight ones right? because i've heard of some CRAZY stuff ppl do to lose weight. But also, it's not a bad thing that they base part of their life on looks. Because most people in the world judge on looks, just Koreans are more upfront about it. . I'm Chinese, and when I went to China I got a lot of stares too because I'm a little chubby.

[charlycheer]

@animelovergirl5 yes I agree..we all judge on looks in many ways however like you and I both said, Koreans are more open and blunt about it

[ViolinistAthlete]

I have friends who taught in Korea who are overweight and they had good jobs and made a lot of friends, so I don't know that they base everything on weight.

I have actually heard that they kind of expect Americans to be bigger than Asian women, because that's just the way it is.

I don't know what my experience will be. haha. I'm 6' tall, have a large chest, and I'm curvy. Guess I will see when I get there in a few months. I'm pretty comfortable in my own skin, so I'm not super worried. ^^

[charlycheer]

@ViolinistAthlete oh I didn't say they base EVERYTHING on weight..but size an looks are openly examined

[KPopinRoK]

I have a lot of work to do. =( Haha...But I've been working on it for myself and not just because I want to look good when I make it to Korea. Lol. But you're like an ideal shape Charly. I think anywhere you go, people will comment you regardless because you look fantastic.

[Hyojung22]

It's true that looks are very important here, but for some people who might get it wrong, looks not everything! Korean people do think other things and inside are more important. We care about looks, but that doesnt mean we only care about looks. For me, people who don't care about their looks at all are just lazy. I care about my looks, but study and work hard too. : )

[charlycheer]

@Hyojung22 thanks for your input..yes that's true..I noticed that as well

[ChariotMan5]

Man Obesity is a Really Big Problem Here Especially NYC.

[havefaith89]

My friend said that the place where women are just scary skinny and tiiiny is Japan. Besides being tan she's normal in Korea (she's a size 6) but in Japan she feels like a hippo. People probably look at you like your a model Charly, you're very beautiful!

[ehskrap18]

The world didn't have industrial products, so... the food that people ate was natrual (or more natural than now). But some countries increased they industry, and entrepreneurs saw that their industries had potencial in countries who went to modernity and It changed life of people. Everything after wars ( The 1° and 2° world war) changed in the asian lifes. Globalization and food industries have good and bad things and obesity, diabetes and eating disorders are some conditions that It give us.

[OhNoGalia]

I have a topic suggestion~ that whole thing in korea where people abandon their honey skin to have pale skin and use products such as skin whiting products because it's considered "beautiful" or even innocent.

[charlycheer]

@OhNoGalia thanks for the request!

[dailyorangejews]

hahah yeap. My friend's grandmother was like, "oh! You're so pretty, you just need to lose some weight." hahahahah

[trixsam]

Wow the title kind of made me feel bad about myself. But no worries I'm working on it so people can see the me I know is inside.

[gothbaby6]

I'm 5'11" and around 134-135 lbs...I don't think I'll find pants my length lol (dresses & skirts I guess) Also, because of my height, I have like monster-truck-sized-feet haha! Anyways...good vid ;D

[rahea7]

Is like a Nicki Minaj shape accepted because I'm thin on top, thick on the bottom. And i'm about 5'6 5'7 ish. But not with such a big butt lol.

[soffy2002]

I'm kinda skinny but where I'm from (Jamaica) it's not considered sexy or attractive to be skinny. Men like women with more curves so even if you're not fat you still need to have butt and hips or at least boobs.

[AAGENHEAV]

wow just watching the video and reading the comments I've realized that if I plan to visit korea I have to bring my own clothes and cancel my shoe shopping problem(wait that might be a good thing). I'm 5'11 and my ideal weight is 165,to 170lbs,and I wear a size 10 or 11 shoe. all the clothes you purchased or show on ur other channel are so cute but I dont think they will compliment my curvy figure, thanks for the heads up.

[sweet201065]

what do you eat to stay thin? because i would like to switch to korean or any asian style of food simply because there diet is alot more healthy than food in the us

[iamthetaisho]

Wow Korea is not my dream destination, japan is. But it's very similar over there too. I'm not fat but I'm curvy. I'm not very toned in my tummy which is what I'm self conscious about. But if I were to go over there I'd probably come back 20 lbs lighter. You just need to develop a thick skin.

[QueenNikki422]

yep. im eating a piece of cake right now. haha. thats why i cant come to korea. lol

[journey2findme]

@QueenNikki422 haha one of my friend's grew up in korea (went here for college) and she eats cake too, but before like 3pm ideally in the morning...I know isn't that weird. She said it was a trick her mom taught her, I was like damn maybe I should pick that up :) So you can eat cake, just gotta eat it at breakfeast I guess...

[QueenNikki422]

@journey2findme Perfect! i ate it before 3p today. guess im good to go hahaha

[JennyLyric]

i have an OPPA from korea who is a graduate student at my college (27 yrs old). I am averagely thing (100lbs, 5'4) and when i told him i was trying to watch what i eat, he told me that im actually too thin and i should eat more haha (i was caught off gaurd because i didnt expect him to be so blunt)... when i told my unnies, they said they were suprised because korean guys usually like their girls thin

[ExtendedStudent4Real]

Sounds like America to me, people just don't want to face it. In bigger cities looks and weight is important in smaller cities not so much. And peope do laugh or stare at larger people behind their backs, and make suggestions to their face. Forget what you heard most thin people stay thin by dieting. My 105 pound (25 yr old) sister had me fooled until I saw her freezer, full of SmartOnes!

[journey2findme]

@ExtendedStudent4Real No it's a bit different haha. I've lived in big cities my whole life (ny, la, tampa) and have been overweight most of my life (just started getting to a healthy weight) and I always got good internships, into the college I wanted, and jobs I went for. There are two sides to it too, some people say fat people seem more friendly ... etc. And I have never ever had anyone above the age of 12 make fun of my weight :/ It's different... But I do agree thin ppl eat light too haha

[nagaempress]

Koreans cook their food...look at the amount of preprocessed food we have here. We need to go back to making our food!

[nagaempress]

My idea weight is 175 pounds Id look like a Moose over there LOL

[iloveredbull09]

I can't find it but I remember reading an atricle about Korean girls eat tissue paper to fill up their stomachs without eating calories.

And Korea is the plastic surgery capital - I have heard about 16 year olds getting surgery and their parents encouraging it

I wonder what it will take for those kinds of thoughts to change?

[charlycheer]

@iloveredbull09 eating tissue is actually a common trick for some people with eating disorders..and yes plastic surgery is done at a young age and it's pretty norml here..parents give eye surgery as a gift for graduation or etc

[ehskrap18]

@iloveredbull09 I think... this isn't only in Korea, It is in Asia! Cuz they have a really big social pressure about who is the better. That´s why they (asian countries) have the higher porcentage from suicides.

[yang80301024]

Clothes for Over Weight women in Korea they has specific store it's call Big size clothes store.

And online shopping mall also ^^

[yang80301024]

Over Weight women in Korea they has specific store it's call Big size clothes store.

And online shopping mall also ^^

[Fhenry]

image is an important thing and people will talk if ur image doesn't meet their expectations it sucks really however being thick isn't all that bad I like it haha there are times when I see a thick->chubby girl and say to myself damn she's hot mainly because they have shape and her body is tight meaning no flabs and a lot of western guys like this...you can be thick but have a nice shape

[fabiaela]

I've noticed that most Korean people definetely do seem very frank and honest, like my Korean teacher always asks us really personal questions which is cute but embarrasing and you were saying in another video that Nicole (or may be Minji?) asked that boy point blank if he had a girlfriend and then for his number......we never do stuff like that in England :S I definetely admire people who are like that, thats how you get to places in life ^^

[SkySho116]

And one more thing. You really come to know how small Asians are, when you go shopping, at least in Korea and Japan. In Korea and Japan they will not have your size, even for shoes. A friend and I went to COEX Mall, and we stopped at a Puma store. As soon as we walked in the young lady there told us, "We don't have your size." I laughed, and told her I only where a 10 1/2. She said, "No, we don't have that size." And shirts! An extra large, there, is a smedium in the States.

[charlycheer]

@SkySho116 haahah funny thing is the same thing happened to me and I told the man "no you have my size! I only wear a 7" haha which is size 240..I have small feet for my height sometimes I can fit a 6.5

[SkySho116]

You're right about food. They eat less meat, too. Not a lot of space for cows and pigs in Asia. I think there's a lot of plastic surgery in Korea, too. Some Korean women hate there legs. They're naturally thick.  I can understand why because of all the hills, there.

[SkySho116]

Asia reminds me of the US in the 70s. In the 70s most people in the States were thin. However, there was a phase (I can't speak to now), where some Asians wanted to be even thinner. I remember one of the Korean Soldiers I knew weighing himself in the gym, but he had to be under 140 pounds. He told me he wanted to lose weight, and I was really shocked by that. I tried to reassure him about his weight, but I could tell later that he was losing weight.

[qiranger]

It's sad with the influx of western food that people are losing their fitness.

[Shaybaybee726]

@CharlyCheer: I do agree "looks" are very important. The better looking you are the better you are treated. However, I feel that a lot of Koreans really don't know what "attractive" is when they see a foreigner and most of the time they find the beauty in foreigners simply because they look so different and automatically classify them as beautiful even if they really aren't. LOL ((I have NEVER been called FAT while here that's just so wrong :-(

[charlycheer]

@Shaybaybee726 yeah I agree..most of it is just the foreigner fact

[kpopgrrl]

@Shaybaybee726

I had the same experience. I'm short and overweight. No one ever said anything about my size but I have a feeling they noticed. I did lose some weight while I was there (1 month). The Korean diet is definitely lighter than ours and the hills help. :) Chicago is flat.

[charlycheer]

@kpopgrrl do you understand Korean? Maybe you didn't understand what they were saying haha..yeah you're right, many people come here and lose weight because the food is so different

[kpopgrrl]

@charlycheer

One of my roomates in the homestay is really tall and she complained about getting a lot of stares. I think my height helped me blend in. I could probably pass for fat Korean from behind. :P

[Hyojung22]

@Shaybaybee726 I agree, but it's the same as when western people see koreans too. Every culture has different standard for beauty, but western people think korean girls(or asian girls) who look very "asian looking" are beautiful. I think this is because they look exotic and so different. We often say we can't understand how western people think some girls hot and blah blah. hahah It's funny we both think that way anyways!

[lindahloveskpop]

I still till this day don't understand why thin Koreans want to be thiner! maybe they see those magazines that show really bony woman ~ ugh! well i read in news paper that over 70% of girls in china think there fat, it said there the skinniest out of Americans , Koreans and Japanese. I think asia has been some what brain washed. why are looks so important? I think they find Americans girls imitating so they dress there best .. idk (?)

[KpopManiacSFL]

@lindahloveskpop I have a lot of Chinese friends and they are so skinny but most think they are fat...I guess its similar to the fact that the Chinese who are intelligent don't think they are. Most (not all) have been brought up to try to reach their full potential and to be "perfect". Many have low self-esteem, boys and girls. They have an awesome culture and history, but this mind set needs to stop.