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Korean Men's Body Images

Korean Photoshop Disaster #3: Park Tae-hwan’s Babyface


( Source: High Cut )

Granted, it’s not the most egregious case of a Korean athlete’s face being photoshopped. That dubious honor still remains firmly in the hands of Gillette Korea, whose choice of pockmarked Manchester United footballer Park Ji-sung (박지성) to endorse them last ye


Korean Sociological Image #28: Cosmetic Surgery Advertisements Featuring Caucasians


I’ve never done any systematic study of advertisements for Korean cosmetic surgery clinics. But still, I’d wager that the overwhelming majority do not feature Caucasians.


Lusting After Teenagers…or the Maturing of Women’s Fan Culture?


When living at home forces young Koreans to keep their sexual encounters a secret, it’s no great surprise that Korean society strongly discourages open expressions of sexuality outside of marriage.


Korean Advertising: Just Beautiful Women Holding Bottles?


( Source )

Some words of wisdom from Londoner Bruce Haines, currently head of Korea’s largest ad agency Cheil Worldwide (제일기획):

Q) What’s one big difference between advertising in Korea and the UK?


Korean Sociological Image #23: Male Objectification


Acutely aware of the role my heterosexual male gaze can play in my choice of subjects and images for this blog sometimes, ironically I  spend more time looking for those involving men these days, hoping to find something of note with which to achieve a balance.


Gendered Tea-drink Advertising in South Korea (Updated)


Lee Hyori Black Bean Tea( Source )

Granted, Marxism might not be the first thing one thinks of when one sees Lee Hyori’s navel. But as it turns out, it’s a perfect fit.


Korean Sociological Image #22: Fresh, Young Meat


Kara Cob Chicken Advertisment Male Objectification

For reasons that will soon become clear, girl-group Kara’s (카라) latest commercial for Cob Chicken (Cob 구어조은닭) is making big waves in the Korea media at the moment. But one suspects that most male viewers in particular are missing just how ground-breaking it really is:


A Better Me?


Shin Min-a Olivetv Advertisment( Source: Korea Times )

An advertisement from OliveTV that caught my eye today. Ironically, far from delivering its intended message, it serves better as a subtle indictment of it.


Korean Sociological Image #19: Gee, Gee, Gee…Using Girls’ Generation to Study Gender Roles in Korean Advertising

Sex, Sensibility and the Bottom Line: Evolving Images of Women in Korean Soju Advertising


Cheoum Cheoreom Cool Breasts Buttocks 168

Watching one of Lotte’s commercials for its new Cheoum Cheoreom Cool (처음처럼 쿨) soju dozens of times…as one does…then many thoughts come to mind, but that it is being effectively marketed towards women isn’t one of them. Yet weren’t they the main reason low-alcohol soju brands were launched in the first place?


No Skin Required: Healthy Images of Couples in the Korean Media


Han Ji-hye So Ji-sub Bang BangMuch as I’d like to always present a sophisticated and hard-hitting persona on the blog, I’d have to admit that the following two commercials from Bang Bang (뱅뱅) are very sweet and endearing, and put big smiles on my wife’s and my faces.


Korean Photoshop Disaster #1: Magic Hole

Naturally, the unfortunate name of Anycall’s new phone has already led to a great deal of speculation as to what was meant by it exactly. But as a former astronomy major (or at least, before an ankle injury forced me into Korean sociology that is),  and considering how stretched and warped poor UEE (유이), Lee [...]

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