Colorism refers to discrimination in which people are treated differently based on the color of their skin. Lighter, white skin is typically valued over darker skin in ethnic or racial groups. Colorism is harmful because not only does it enforce racism, but it also instills the acerbic idea that one is not beautiful or worthy due to the color of their skin. In this article, we hope to explain how colorism is situated inSouth Korea using the show Single’s Inferno. 

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To learn more about colorism, please check out our piece on colorism at https://passionfruit.one/spotlight/colorism. 

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Single’s Inferno is a Netflix-original Korean reality dating show. The show garnered immense popularity across the world – it even secured a spot in Netflix’s Global Top 10 list. As the series gained more attention, more people began to critique the colorist comments the participants often made on the show. Here is a conversation between two of the male participants regarding a female participant:

“I liked Jiyeon. Her skin is so pale.”

“She seemed so white and pure. That’s my first impression of her.”

“Her skin is so light. I like people who have light skin.”

The international audience and Korean audience responded to the controversy with nearly polarizing attitudes: the former seemed offended and disapproved of it, while the latter appeared less so, perhaps even  dismissive or defensive:

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International Responses:

“...the whole ‘I like pale skin’ bs, I had to click off”. @somintysofly

“I have to admit as an Afro Latina it is painfully cringy seeing these singles place such an emphasis of ‘light’ and ‘pale’ skin. I see colorism is alive and well around the world…” @AngieDaCoolNerd

“... saying prefer pale skin it’s the equivalent to American guys saying they like blondes…” @BlackWeebxo 

From Sportskeeda

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Korean Responses:

“Wow, they really don’t respect personal preferences,” wrote one viewer. Another said, “White skin has been a standard for beauty for ages in our country, what’s this about? What ‘white people’?” (Yoon)

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“Saying something like that in Korea wouldn’t be that controversial. But in multiracial countries, I think complimenting someone based on their skin color definitely could be taken the wrong way” (Asian Boss)“

“사실 국내에서 그런 발언은 전혀 문제 될게 없을 거라고 생각이 드는데, 아무래도 다인종 국가라던가 해외에서는 당연히 어떤 피부 색깔에 대한 칭찬은 좀 예민하게 받아들여 줄 수 있을 거라고 생각이 들어요”

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“In any case, everyone thinks differently and has their own reasons as to why they behave a certain way. But if you scrutinize those details with a judgmental mindset, you will only see it as more negative. So I hope people just enjoy the show and focus more on finding their soulmate.” (Asian Boss)

    “어쨌든 사람마다 다 뭐 생각이 다르고, 어떤 행동을 하는 데 있어서 이유가 다르듯이, 그거를 애초에 안 좋은 시선으로 바라보려고 하면은 그렇게 더 보이는 것 같거든요. 그래서 그냥 그런 편견 없이 바라보고, 자기 맞는 짝 잘 찾으면 되지 않을까”

From The Korea Herald and Asian Boss (Youtube)

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While the male contestants’ intention might not have been harmful, it indirectly reflects their subconscious preference for lighter skin. This sets the stage for future complications. This roots back to past Korean makeup traditions and beauty standards. During the Goguryeo Kingdom period (AD 37 - 668), pale, white skin symbolized wealth and higher class, and so, people used cosmetics made from natural ingredients to make their skin look whiter. 

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Fair skin has since been a Korean beauty standard and does not stem from racism. Geon-soo Han,  Professor of Cultural Anthropology at Kangwon National University, states: “It most likely stemmed from wanting to look like someone who doesn’t work outdoors, not an admiration for Westerners” (Yang).

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Additionally, because the Korean population is relatively homogenous – “only about five percent of the population is non-ethnic Korean” (Liao) – skin color is not largely problematic; an exception of being “a slight distinction between white-collar workers and manual laborers” (Yang). 

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Korea’s lack of diversity and social equity directly affects its society’s awareness of colorism and its problematic nature.  For many local Koreans, conversations on racism or colorism can feel new and different from what they are accustomed to. Thus, many of Single’s Inferno’s Korean audience population may not see it as an issue, and instead, rather as a personal or cultural preference.

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Netflix Korea’s Vice President Kang Dong Han responds to the controversy, “...Something may be okay in South Korea, but not okay in other countries. And of course, there are countless instances where it’s the opposite as well. This is why studying humanities is so necessary. It is incredibly important and I do take it very seriously.” The backlash Korea received may seem unfair and appear as Western-centric thinking. Although cultural differences exist, we shouldn’t rule  issues (like colorism) as a “cultural preference.” Fundamentally, there’s nothing wrong with liking pale skin. However, associating pale skin with beauty and purity implies that darker skin is lesser than pale skin. This is an issue that not only affects viewers outside of Korea but also Koreans. The Korean public learns and internalizes these toxic ideals and norms, seriously affecting their confidence and self-worth. We must recognize that colorism is only seen as a cultural issue because it is deeply ingrained in Korea’s society.

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When colorism is ingrained in a society, it leads to implicit bias: “act[ing] on the basis of prejudice and stereotypes without intending to do so” (Brownstein). In a homogeneous society, it is common for people to learn about other cultures through popular media, such as TV shows or movies. However, they may lead to an inaccurate perception of other cultures. This may lead to some misunderstandings down the road.

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As Korea becomes more multicultural, everyday life begins to reveal the outcome of colorism. “[T]here is much higher regard for white people coming from developed countries, in comparison to Asians from developing parts of Asia, or Africans” (Liao). Job opportunities are also reflecting preference for the former over the latter group. Because Korean culture now has an increasingly global audience, accepting such criticisms about its colorist culture is crucial.

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Even though Korea’s beauty standards and preferences may not originate from racism, its colorist culture will eventually and inevitably lead to racism. One step forward that we can take could be for content creators and producers to be more aware of and considerate of their global audience.

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