The South Korean entertainment industry has long been criticized for its stringent and often contradictory beauty standards, with female idols, in particular, frequently facing scrutiny over their bodies, fashion, and overall appearance. While many are aware of this issue, few dare to openly challenge it. Recently, a social media post by Girls' Generation (소녀시대) member Kim Tae-yeon (김태연), known professionally as Taeyeon, from five years ago, fiercely criticizing these female appearance standards, has resurfaced, igniting heated discussions among netizens.
The post was originally published in 2021 when Taeyeon made her comeback with the single “Weekend.” During that period, she received numerous negative comments from netizens regarding her appearance and physique. Faced with an onslaught of criticism, she took the unusual step of directly responding on social media.
Taeyeon wrote, “No matter what you do, someone will criticize you anyway, so just live your life your own way.” She then listed absurd scenarios where women are attacked regardless of their actions: “If you’re fat, they say you’re fat; if you’re thin, they say you look sick. If you wear loose clothes, some say you look like a man; if you wear tight clothes, they complain you’re dressed too revealingly.”
“If you eat a lot, you’re called a pig; if you eat little, they say you’re too picky. If you like luxury brands, they call you vain; if you choose affordable brands, they complain you have no taste.” Taeyeon concluded by reiterating, “Since you’ll be criticized no matter what you do, just live your life your own way.”
This past statement recently regained attention on Korean online communities, with many netizens noting that, five years later, the appearance pressure faced by women, especially female idols, seems to have changed little, and even extends to ordinary women.
After the post resurfaced, netizens flooded the comments with messages of agreement: “Exactly, she hit the nail on the head.” Others expressed sympathy for the pressure Taeyeon has endured throughout her long career: “I wonder how much she’s had to put up with, being in this industry for so long. I just hope Taeyeon can live her life without caring about others’ opinions and reactions.”
Another netizen lamented, “I completely agree. Seeing content like this really makes you wonder if something is wrong with society, where people complain no matter what you do.”
Some even pointed out that similar situations frequently occur in the comment sections of short-form video platforms today: “Lately, whenever I look at comments on Shorts or Reels, I get the same feeling.” Another person expressed resignation, saying, “Even after seeing this article, some people will probably still find fault, which is truly exhausting.”
Additionally, some netizens mentioned that Lee Ji-eun (이지은), known professionally as IU, had previously expressed similar sentiments, noting that women are often forced to confront various contradictory standards.
Taeyeon’s years-old post resonating again highlights the long-standing appearance anxiety in the Korean entertainment industry and the societal phenomenon where women are subject to criticism and judgment no matter what they do.
Editor’s Note: There’s truly a sense of helplessness, feeling like “no matter what you do, it’s wrong.” Criticized for being fat, criticized for being thin; everything from what you wear to how much you eat invites nitpicking. It’s no wonder this message, resurfacing after five years, still resonates so strongly. Ultimately, living in a way that feels comfortable for yourself is far more important than trying to please everyone.
