Why were idols so tan during 1st gen?

Wtf have I just read?

Reported

Fun fact: Koreans tan.

The Kpop industry didn't care about them having tans back then. Now it does, and tries to avoid it, because the Kpop industry (like much of Korean society) is colorist. Pretty simple stuff.

Quote from Drew_B

Why would they be colorist? What was wrong with their natural skin back then that's frowned upon now?

You'd have to ask them. Even if you were to ask me why someone from my own country is racist, I wouldn't be able to tell you, because I don't share their worldview.

Quote from Drew_B

Why would they be colorist? What was wrong with their natural skin back then that's frowned upon now?

Classism. It's a whole thing in East Asia that originated in the dynastic periods. Because the lower class had to work outside to survive they would tan and because the upper class didn't have to work and stayed inside more they would remain on the fairer side. This led to pale skin being associated with wealth and beauty and tan skin being associated with the poor. Also, they did uplift pale skin during 1st and 2nd gen, it's just that they didn't have the technological means back then to edit skin tones in pictures.

The horrible artificial orange tan was actually the beauty standard of the western pop artist then. That was the OG Y2k look.

some of than tan in first gen might have been sprayed on

reference

Probably also impacted by the Gyaru fashion style popular in Japan at the time

Which was... a whole look

Quote from Daileemidzy

Classism. It's a whole thing in East Asia that originated in the dynastic periods. Because the lower class had to work outside to survive they would tan and because the upper class didn't have to work and stayed inside more they would remain on the fairer side. This led to pale skin being associated with wealth and beauty and tan skin being associated with the poor. Also, they did uplift pale skin during 1st and 2nd gen, it's just that they didn't have the technological means back then to edit skin tones in pictures.

This, it's still a thing in many east asian countries, especially if you are from rich families

every korean ive seen in person was pale af

of course thats just anecdotal evidence but in general koreans are not "Dark-skinned" by any means

the tan is very much a result of camera and lighting, which of course combined with easily tannable skin that maybe idols didnt care about back then, i cant confirm that

even looking at japanese dramas from the 90s, even the palest actors didnt look as pale as they do in modern cameras but that doesnt mean old cameras are more realistic or correct

not to mention, the most popular east asian male beauty icon in the 90s was very much tan, not naturally but because of his surfing addiction, and people didnt seem to give a shit

They got a whole industry of stuff to look more pale. Skin care, treatments, makeup, protecting themselves from the sun like it's radiation. Most of these vampire looking idols were naturally more tan before debuting