Asian Junkie Asian pop. Without discretion.
IU has drawn the attention of netizens recently for a change in her skin tone, which appears to be a point of contention.
Earlier today, a post was made on an online community board comparing IU’s skin during her debut days with her current appearance, and people are commenting that IU didn’t have the same light skin tone when she first debuted.
Though some netizens are suggesting that the change was caused by whitening products and treatment, others are suggesting various explanations for her previously darker tone. When IU first debuted, her make up was usually toned down, and she was still in the process of maturing so her looks were prone to change. The difference in skin tone could also be due to lighting.
Netizens commented on the post, “She’s still pretty then and now“, “Does IU have slander forces? Why do people keep talking about her past?“, “I guess she continuously received whitening treatment. I’m jealous“, and “I was dark when I was little too, but I’m white now, it’s definitely possible for skin tone to change.”
Skin whitening is a popular thing in Korea, so it’s possible that was behind her skin tone change.
Paleness is associated with things such as innocence, class, and purity, and not coincidentally, those qualities go along perfectly with her image, so being light skinned would undoubtedly benefit her.
In this case, I find it believable that she tried to lighten her skin by whatever means, just because it would help her career. Nothing wrong with it, but I’m just saying.
—–
I’m not going to get into how skin tones in Asia serve as a form of classism, but I’ll just say that they generally do.
This is why you’ll see celebrities who are supposed to have pure and positive images as white as can be (IU), but the celebrities who want controversial and sexualized images (Hyori) achieve that by darkening their skin color.
Not saying it’s right, but that’s the way it is, not only in Korea, but basically everywhere around the world.
Those pics look like they’re due to lighting….
Nah, she does seem lighter in videos.
Ah ok.. well I dunno much about her just only she’s like supposedly so great in Korea (eh.. *shrugs*) but lighting can make a difference with skin tone but I’ll take other peoples word for it
Hyorin better not have any bright ideas doing something like this. I’ll personally go to Seoul and stop her myself! The appearance and the sexiness of honey brown colored Asians should be replenished and gain back as the preferable tone! ….Was it ever was preferable? Well, for me it is .__. Especially for guys.
I can’t stand how my heritage defines social class and appearance.
She’s a good example of the branding by skin color thing.
yeah there are some other obvious examples of idols who have had skin tone changes, like tiffany jessica or sunny while yuri remained tan because she’s supposed to be the “black pearl” of snsd. i also noticed how the tanner members of snsd appear to have lighter skin tones for their “innocent” mvs. its kind of sad that skin tone is that important…
Exactly.
Yuri is dark because she’s supposed to be the sexy one. Even Hyoyeon to an extent, because she’s supposed to be aggressive.
Yeah I remember when I was eating in a Chinese restaurant with my family, my mom’s friend was eating at the same place. She went over to say hi to us and keep going on about how pale I looked and how pretty I looked with pale skin…and I’m Vietnamese, not Korean…(My pale skin is just being lazy)
Honestly I think Asia emphasize the pale skin way too much. I do think some asians do look better with pale skins but some look good with tan skin too, not everyone need to have a certain skin tone.
Up to the individual, really.
It’s odd though, in America it has changed completely. Now white people want to be dark.
I personally think its pretty jacked up. That’s why I like Jay Park a lot sometimes. He tans he says. So that to me is like him giving korea the big FU haha.
In America, pale skin is usually associated with being sickly.
You don’t see too many non-Asian women striving for the “pale” look.
Opposite.
The Asian attitude is probably better for health reasons, though. Also probably helps them look younger longer.
Tanning does nothing but increase your odds of getting skin cancer and looking like a leather handbag when you get old.
Vitamin D deficiency and discourages doing things outdoors.
in the old european days, being pale meant you were high class of the ruling society, and if you were dark you were the bottom feeder (peasants). The high society doesnt work or do shit, they stay inside all day while the peasants work in the sun.
but in todays western society, a dark skin tone is now sexy, mostly because as mentioned, paleness = sickly/illness
When you talk about pale equating innocence i think about those douche hunger games fans.
With each passing day I realise just how effed up the world is. So crazy that in the 21 century people would still hold on to such archaic ways of thinking.
I hate humans.
Sadly, I can’t really see humans ever changing the dark=negative and white=positive thing.
I cant find myself being attracted to somebody that has pale skin. Which is why I dont get all the hubbub about certain idols because of their skin tone. I prefer darker tone, but this chinese girl at my local bank is swaying me from this preference……
It could be far more simple than people are making out..
Pre-debut – shes a schoolgirl nobody who is out in the sun everyday.
Post debut – huge success, balla, busy as fuck and no time to spend outdoors..Coupled with the stress involved with her lifestyle.
Occam’s razor
Guess so.
Would depend on how she is naturally.
all i know is that id like to whiten up her face..if you know what i mean :naughty:
She has a hectic schedule, now that she has gained a lot of popularity, and I honestly wouldn’t be surprised if she said that she avoids the sun like it’s a fucking disease.
She looked cuter with a bit of color. She looks washed out in the bottom right picture.
She wasn’t tears to begin with. Plus I’m thinking she barely goes out besides to practice or venues or whatever the fuck else she does and is barely outside in the sun. Anyone would get pale as fuck too.
In my country if you’re light skinned then people automatically assumes you’re rich or at least above average.. which is dumb
only dark people say that – -
Nah.
I actually do think she looks better pale than dark, but yeah, she does look almost too pale in the bottom right pic.
I don’t even pay attention to my skin color. o_o Koreans would probably have a fit about me. My lower arms are tan, upper arms white, face kinda pale, legs really white, feet tan. :))