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The Guardian - UK
The Guardian - UK
World
Arian Khameneh in Seoul

‘Muscles look cooler’: South Korean women reshape idea of beauty

Yoo Wonhee
Yoo Wonhee, 26, is part of group of South Korean women pushing for a geongangmi or ‘healthy’ beauty look focused on strength and athleticism. Photograph: Bodylog

When Yoo Wonhee was younger, she had a frail body and didn’t think of herself as strong. She says in the past, many Koreans would starve themselves to be skinny. Now, Yoo spends time building her muscles and says her chiselled physique is the envy of her peers.

“I just think having muscles looks cooler. I don’t want to be skinny, I want to be bigger. Social standards do exist of course, but for me, there is no better standard than being satisfied with yourself,” the 26-year-old says.

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