Masculinity In South Korea Essay

Transnational influences for Korean soft masculinity include Japanese colonialism and metrosexual masculinity. The colonialism from 1910 to 1945 was seen as a crisis for masculinity. Following World War II, Japanese products like music, film and manga were banned in Korea. After President Kim Dae Jung took the office in 1998 the bans relaxed and later abolished. The introduction of Japanese manga has influenced the idealized male character with its kind and gentle leads. Boys over Flowers is a perfect example because it was originally a Japanese manga. The popularity of the beautiful actors was originally based on Japanese beauty. The contemporary metrosexual man focuses more on his appearance. This man is generally well-groomed, well-dressed and well-mannered and he does not feel as if he needs to repress his feminine side.

The economic appeal is that they become the consumers for all these clothes and facial products. According to ABC news, “South Korea is by far the largest in a growing global market for men's cosmetics, accounting for nearly a quarter of sales in the skin care market” (Akiko Fujita). This seems like an incentive for corporations to push for the effeminate image as well. Metrosexuality has been emerging alongside the rise in feminism. Women are still objectified in media, but the metrosexual man is beginning to transform man as well into an object of viewing pleasure for women who are beginning to be able to express their sexuality and desires more freely. However, it is important to note that metrosexuality and the flower boy image differ. Metrosexuality caters to a more global population whereas flower boys are seen mostly in East Asia. Facial products are used but metrosexual men tend to not wear make up and their style is more clean-cut rather than