Why Are Koreans So Skinny

Quick Summary

• Korean food comes with a lot of healthy vegetable dishes in the form of banchan or side dishes.
• There’s a significant level of social pressure to go on a diet and maintain a slim figure in South Korea.
• Koreans walk every day to commute, go to school, shop, or run errands.
• Koreans are serious about eating on time.
• But really, we need to stay slim because clothes are tiny!

Female K-pop idols have always been skinny, but they’re seriously thin now.

They’re called ultra-thin or “bone-thin,” as Koreans like to say. “Bone-thin” goes beyond slender to describe a body so skinny you can see their bones.

Most people in South Korea whose jobs are not in the public eye may not be that extreme, but they’re slim on average. And here’s why.

Food

1. More Veggies

Korean food comes with a lot of healthy vegetable dishes in the form of banchan or side dishes.

We have a main meat dish, but it’s more of a bigger side dish.

Even when Koreans go for BBQ, we always have ssam or a bite-sized veggie wrap. It’s usually a lettuce or sesame leaf, one piece of meat, a slice of roasted garlic, and a drop of dipping sauce. This way, we end up eating more veggies and salads than meat itself.

Naturally, traditional Korean dishes are not only nutritious but also low in calories.

2. Fermented Foods

Korean cuisine is based on fermentation.

Fermented foods like kimchi are staples while many dishes call for fermented condiments like soy sauce, soybean paste, and red chili paste.

Live microbes thrive in fermented foods, aiding digestion and improving gut health!

3. Portion Control

Koreans often eat smaller portions compared to those in the States, which helps maintain a lower calorie intake.

When going on a diet, we just cut the rice portion by half.

Exceptions are Mukbang YouTubers.

Social Pressure

1. Body Shaming

Koreans won’t hesitate to ask, “Did you gain weight?” or say, “You need to lose weight,” both privately and publicly.

I have what I consider a thin figure, but I’ve heard these more than you’d think.

Whether I like to hear it or not, it’s socially acceptable because people are showing concern through the comments.

There is a significant level of social pressure to go on a diet and maintain one’s figure in South Korea.

2. Beauty Standards

Korean beauty standards prioritize slimness, pressuring people to maintain a lower body weight.

Many Korean men would think that girls weighing over 110 pounds (or 50 kg) are heavy.

Also, we need to stay slim because clothes are tiny! Sizes run small in Korea. Generally, it’s one size down, like American small is Korean medium.

Active Lifestyle

1. Walking Culture

Koreans walk a lot.

Since most people use public transport like the subway and bus, Koreans walk every day to commute, go to school, shop, or run errands.

Even on escalators, people in a hurry choose to walk on the left side.

2. Weekend Hiking

It’s common for Koreans to go for a one or two-hour hike on the weekends because mountains are everywhere in South Korea.

When they don’t want to hike up a mountain, there are public parks and outdoor exercise equipment throughout the country.

Habit

1. Brushing Teeth After Every Meal

You may be surprised when visiting bathrooms during a lunch break in South Korea.

Everybody brushes their teeth in public bathrooms.

Koreans learn that we need to brush our teeth three times a day after every meal. We do it at school, then this habit goes on at work.

Naturally, you kind of lose appetite while the mint flavor of toothpaste lasts.

2. Strict Eating Schedule

Koreans are serious about eating on time.

Breakfast is usually from 7 to 8 AM, lunch from 12 to 1 PM, and dinner from 6 to 7 PM (or 7 to 8 PM).

Although late-night meals are tempting, fasting after 7 or 8 helps lose weight.

Conclusion

Combining food, social pressure, active lifestyle, and habit, it’s clear why many Koreans tend to maintain a slender physique.

The fact that Koreans are really into health and fitness contributes to this as well.