I imagine even without that, the imported western social and industry standards make the competition psychotically cutthroat; and anyone not supermodel-attractive, light-skinned enough, and coming out of a corporate lifestyle-control-industry pipeline to ensure maintenance of "visible perfection" is made to leave audition in tears and blacklisted from the industry. Also when they turn 35 most of them are cut loose.

This is a totally uneducated assumption however, based on some of the detached tidbits I've heard over the years about the k-pop industry. None of it is really my bag.

[–] EmoThugInMyPhase@hexbear.net 7 points 1 month ago* (last edited 1 month ago)

I believe more than half of Korean women have some sort of cosmetic surgery before college, and they report better chances of employment when adhering to the beauty standards. In India it’s a lot worse imo because the changes from skin whitening is so extreme and noticeable

I kind of despise south korea for exporting its cookie cutter youth aesthetics onto neighboring Asian countries lol