![perfect face woman perfect face woman](https://i2-prod.mirror.co.uk/incoming/article5423745.ece/ALTERNATES/s615b/MOST-BEAUTIFUL-FACES.jpg)
Pronounced “sang-koh-pul,” it refers to the crease or fold that many Asian people do not have in their eyelids.īy my students’ standards, I am perfect. In contemporary Korea, a perfect face is defined by a combination of the following features: a small face (the measurements for which seem entirely vague), big eyes, pale skin, and - most importantly - 쌍꺼풀.
![perfect face woman perfect face woman](https://perfectskinsolutions.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2014/06/woman-face-mobile.png)
Since, as Korean-American Mama Nabi of the blog Kimchi Mamas says, “Koreans in general have a more objective view of external beauty,” there’s only one standard of beauty here. Once again complimented on my “small face,” I had the following dialogue with a student a couple of weeks ago: Beauty in this country is matter-of-fact. While being told I’m gorgeous never makes me scowl, it still strikes me as unprofessional, and I feel like I suppose most Koreans do - like my appearance is under constant scrutiny. A group of women I have lunch with let me in on the rumour that I’ve had plastic surgery because the bridge of my nose is so high. And it’s not just students that feel comfortable regularly commenting on my appearance. Comments such as “Teacher! Small face! Big eyes!” have become the leitmotif of my school days. As has been lamented by many a foreigner, Korean people are quick to comment on the appearance of others - even if they’re being critical. That said, the social pressure to be beautiful is also heightened because of this frankness. So really, it’s just more acceptable to groom oneself publicly in South Korea. While people around the world use mirrors throughout the day, this is done secretively because public grooming is considered a sign of vanity in many Western cultures. Foreigners are initially shocked by this practice, but they soon find that Koreans are generally more frank about their grooming habits and their opinions on beauty. Most students (both boys and girls) and teachers at my school continually monitor their appearance in a mirror, which they keep on their person or at their desk. Like many Koreans, this boy is preoccupied with his appearance.