Japan vs. South Korea: Differences in Beauty Standards, Men, and Diversity
I have to say that when my friends said, “Guys, let’s go to Japan for our long weekend,” I was thinking, “Really? Why?” I have been living in Korea for a year now, and, visually speaking, it can sometimes be a little boring. I come from a culturally diverse family, so this situation has been the longest that I have been without diversity.
One of the things that you learn fairly quickly when you arrive in Korea is that, as a culture, they value unity. They like to look like a group, instead of standing out. Coming from America, that was so strange to me since we are always trying to stand out and be different and unique.
In Japan, the women seemed to not be worried about a certain ideal of beauty and were more interested in creating their own ideal.
Japan is the same way as America. It was so refreshing to get out of the terminal and see variety. Men and women had the freedom to dress as they please. You didn’t see couples walking around wearing the same outfits or groups of friends dressed in head to toe matching outfits. Japan had the feel of a much older city, and with that feeling, comes more individuality.
Since living in Korea, I honest to God have forgotten that men exist. No one looks at me, or checks me out; I am kind of like an invisible person walking down the street. It can definitely mess with your self-esteem, and I was beginning to think that I am not attractive. Thankfully, Tokyo reminded me that I am a beautiful woman, and my skin color has no bearing on my beauty. Men checked my friends and I out several occasions, and it felt really nice.
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The men in Tokyo are so different. They have varying skin tones, different body types, tattoos, facial hair and punk hairstyles and just a bit more swag than Korean men.
Since living in Korea, I honest to God have forgotten that men exist. No one looks at me, or checks me out; I am kind of like an invisible person walking down the street.
When walking down the streets of Seoul, you will always notice that there is a beauty store literally on every corner. In Korea, women and men are completely obsessed with their appearances, and, as a result, there is a booming beauty industry here. I was surprised at how few beauty shops I saw in Tokyo. The women in Tokyo also weren’t covered in ten pounds of makeup.
There seems to be less pressure on the women in Tokyo to look a certain way. In Korea, the ideal woman is rail thin and very pale, and they will go to extreme measures to reach that goal. In Japan, the women seemed to not be worried about a certain ideal of beauty and were more interested in creating their own ideal.
The way to say foreigner in Korean is “waygookin,” and it is a word that I hear quite often here. No matter how long you live in Korea, you will always be a foreigner. Don’t get me wrong — the people in Korea are very friendly. They have been very sweet to me while I have been here. But when you visit a foreign country, you may ask yourself if you could you live there for an extended period of time.
With Korea, the answer is no. I think because Tokyo is an older and more well established city, foreigners may feel more comfortable there. No one cared that my friends and I were foreign, and we didn’t seem to be inconveniences to anyone.
I do love Korea, and it was a great place for me to experience living abroad, but it is still growing and becoming an international destination. I really enjoyed my visit to Japan, and I can’t wait to return.
Japan vs. South Korea: Differences in Beauty, Men, and Diversity
Related Reading
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Japan Travel Tips: Ariel’s Take on Health, Safety and Romance
6 Things that Surprised Me about Life in Japan
Have you traveled to Japan or South Korea? What were your impressions? Email us at [email protected] for information about sharing your experience and advice with the Pink Pangea community. We can’t wait to hear from you.
Japan vs. South Korea: Differences in Beauty Standards, Men, and Diversity photo credits: Pixabay and Danielle Fraser.
Danielle Fraser is currently teaching English in South Korea. She is taking some time off from her regular profession to nurture her passions for traveling, photography and writing.
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Tokyo is the best! people are beautiful and friendly and nice
And when it comes in relationship they are Really express it. I see some couples doing PDA but its depends if thr couple wants to do it or not.
Which Japan have you been to? PDA in Japan???? Japanese are notorious for not showing personal touch in public even wuth their partners. They are very shy. Its frown upon in Japan.
Koreans are much more touchy feely passionate people. You see alot of young couples holding hands or sneaking a kiss or wearing couples clothing. Expressing saranghae ( I love you) to each other. Japanese rarely say I love you. None of that in Japan.
You could put it this way:
Koreans are more aggressive and honest (in both good and bad ways). The Japanese respect their elderly by using specific phrases (like in spanish, usted) and are quite sensitive when it comes to private occasions. They have this culture where keeping silent is, in some situations, polite, unlike Korea or America where they are more open. This type of, not selfish, but more oppressive behavior leads to problems such as stealing. As an example, vending machines. You see them everywhere ON THE STREETS in Japan but not in Korea, China, or other Asian countries. This is because of that way of thinking, the self-after-others pov that keeps crime rates low and communities clean.
So, while the Japanese do not bother to steal lost wallets, and even take them to a police station, what do the Koreans do? Well, being more selfish than Japan, there are far more disputes over little things that would have never been a problem over at, say, the streets of Tokyo or Osaka. For example, the rip-offs. No, not the chinese toy designers, the korean marketers. Everything from the style of manga and anime, ninja, samurai, sushi, and even car companies (Honda/Hyundai), they keep on copying everything. I guess it’s the level of education they get, or the far more “developing country”, selfish state of mind they have. I mean, Obama didn’t apologize for Hiroshima, but the koreans are getting supposed “rape victims” from Nanking to weep in the most crippling, disturbing way to buy affection…. building a bunch of statues IN AMERICA as a memorial for “Japan’s cruelty during the war”….. Koreans are pretty nasty. After all of the ripping-off of Japanese culture, is this what they give back?
If Koreans are nasty what does that make you?
Wow. You are so ignorant I don”t even know where to begin.
Why don’t you do some research before posting your tirad.
First both countries are great. Its a lot more fun and safer than America. As for Korea copying Japan Japanese have been greatly influenced by Korea and China. Korea introduced architecture, pottery making, lacquer work, gold and silver jewelry making, silk weaving, mythlogy, literature, food, language, etc. to Japan.
Why should America apologize for bombing Japan??? Japan started the war stupid. Japan invaded Korea three times in history and caused misery and heartache. Rape of Nanking? That was in China tonta.
Hyundai was founded before Honda.
A year or two ago a Korean guy found a briefcase which contained almost a million dollars and he turn it in to the police. And he refused the the reward money which is 20% of the amount by Korean law.
So little ignorant girl you have no idea what you are talking about.
Korea is pretty liberated unlike Japan which is pretty conservative. The correlation between America and Korea is much more vast than the similarities between America and Japan. Japan is pretty much a country where respect, gracefulness, insightfulness, strong-spiritedness overwhelms modernity, feminism and sexual acts. Matrimony between a couple in Japan is pretty much taken seriously unlike in America where divorce is never difficult. I’m a Japanese-Filipino and my name is in Filipino, only translated in Japanese letters. Anyways, Based on my research on Korea, society there is pretty conscious of their overall appeal like women in America are however their education system is despicably difficult. There are programs here in the Philippines instituted in Korea and trust me, their Mathematics isn’t that simple. So I’m concluding that there are also a lot of high-IQ phenomenons there ( in the American stereotype, nerds. ) That’s just some of the differences for there are a lot more! You’ll get to know them all if you search it up, of course. Read blogs, magazines, encyclopedias and much more. P.S I’m sorry if I’m boring, I’m only 12 and I’m really bad at English :'(
Maybe Korean men just aren’t into you. Time for you to move to Japan.
In Japan as an expat you will NEVER be accepted as one of their own no matter how long you have live there.
“Japan is the same way as America”
Have you heard of the phrase ” nail that sticks up gets hammer down” I believe its Japanese. So much for diversity.
Oh, by the way when it comes to romance Japanese couples rarely even hold hands and of course kissing in public is a punishable by death. LOL !
In Korea modest PDA is pretty common. Another differences in culture.
Just wanted to clarify, in cities like Tokyo and Yokohama couples hold hands all the time! My boyfriend is Japanese and he’s really affectionate and he’s always telling me that he loves me. We hold hands but we don’t make out in public, that’s so awkward, we don’t want to do that. Also, Im half Black and pretty tan with curly hair, far from the pale and skinny “ideal” but people often compliment me and tell me I’m beautiful. You don’t necessarily have to look like the “ideal” to be considered beautiful here. I’m staying in Japan for good. When you find happiness, treasure it. Don’t let what others say get between you and your dream. Good luck with your journeys!
Exactly. Thank you.
What?! Punishable by death? I guess you’ve mistaken North Korea for Japan, or you just really hate the country…
Its called sarcasm. duhhh
I have a different opinion in a way. I agree that Korea is more united in a sense more so than America but its difficult to compare a small single cultured country to a country made by non natives like America. Also I really do believe due to Korea’s history the unity is so much more significant. Also from what I’ve noticed in Japan, the same concept of beauty in Korea applies to Japan as well. Being thin and pale, also as you said about making one’s own ideal of beauty seems a little off. Just like any country there is a concept of beauty everyone thrives for and its a bit difficult to compare a whole year in Korea to a couple days in Japan. Japan has there own ideal of beauty that may seem different and even seem like they are looking for their own ideal but it is there. Japan has its own distinct style and Korea does too. If I see a Korean and Japanese girl just by the way they dress I can tell what their nationalities are.
Anyways my overall thought was that Japan also had their own ideal beauty just as Korea does. Also there must be a reason K-pop is so popular in Japan, I really believe that fashion and beauty is a huge factor to it.
Now you know why I say that Tokyo is my favorite city in the world .
Tokyo wants to be unique. Unlike Korea, they have a DIY/Craft culture.
What do you mean “they have a craft culture”? And why do you say that korea hasn’t?