Understanding Body Image and Appearance Management Behaviors Among Adult Women in South Korea Within a Sociocultural Context: A Review

Body image has been widely examined in Western societies such as the United States, yet far less is known about body image in other cultures. A country with a booming plastic surgery industry, which is suggestive of the presence of negative body image, South Korea provides a unique context to study body image. The purpose of this review was to synthesize literature examining body image and related variables in South Korean adult women and identify relevant sociocultural factors and localized perspectives (e.g., Confucianism and gender roles) for understanding body image in South Korean society. Findings generally indicate that many South Korean adult women often experience negative body image, which is associated with adverse functioning. Sociocultural factors including media, social group factors (e.g., respect for others), societal advantages in career and marriage, and general acceptance of plastic surgery seemingly play a role in the importance of achieving ideal beauty standards in South Korean adult women. Limitations of existing literature include lack of attention to sociocultural factors in conceptualization and lack of measures assessing these factors, inconsistency in measuring body image, and the cross-sectional design of all studies reviewed.