5 Second-Gen K-Pop Beauty Standards That Fans Think Have Disappeared Today

It’s undeniable that K-Pop has taken the world by storm. From mesmerizing choreographies to catchy melodies, the Hallyu wave is everywhere. But what about the idols themselves? As much as we love and appreciate their talent, we can’t overlook the visual aesthetics that the industry puts forward. However, the beauty standards of K-Pop have been constantly evolving over time.

Let’s take a stroll down memory lane and check out some of the iconic beauty trends 2nd generation idols used to rock that seem to have lost their prominence today.

Girls’ Generation’s Yoona was popular for fitting Korean beauty standards perfectly. | @lim__yoona/Instagram

1. Thin Lips

During the second generation of K-pop, thin lips were seen as desirable, with idols like Girls’ Generation‘s Taeyeon embodying this look. Now, the trend has shifted towards full lips, possibly as a reflection of K-Pop’s expanding definition of beauty. Idols like BLACKPINK‘s Lisa are setting the pace with their fuller lips, illustrating this change.

Girls’ Generation’s Taeyeon | SMTOWN/YouTube BLACKPINK’s Lisa | @lalalalisa_m/Instagram

2. Imperfect teeth

The second generation was a bit more forgiving with dental imperfections. TVXQ!‘s Yunho, was one of the many who owned this look before perfect pearly whites became the industry’s go-to. Now, it seems like every idol has a smile straight out of a toothpaste commercial. Perhaps it’s the influence of Western beauty standards, or maybe it’s about maintaining that polished K-pop aesthetic.

 

3. Muscular Body

Back in the day, idols like 2PM‘s Taecyeon embodied traditional masculinity with their athletic and muscular bodies. Fast forward to today, and we’re seeing male idols rocking softer or more androgynous looks like BTS‘s Jimin. K-Pop is rewriting the definition of masculinity, with a helping hand from the global blurring of gender lines in fashion and beauty.  

4. Heavy Eyeliner

Who can forget the legendary “smoky makeup” look? 2NE1‘s CL was the queen of this trend. It was even all the rage among male idols who were looking to portray a more dramatic and intense concept. However, the bold eyeliner look has given way to a more natural, minimalistic makeup aesthetic in recent years, keeping up with global beauty trends that highlight a “less is more” approach.

| 2NE1/YouTube

5. No Tattoos

Tattoos were not common among 2nd generation idols due to South Korea’s more conservative societal views. Most of the time, they were seen as an act of “rebellion” and usually hidden. Today, however, tattoos are more accepted and seen as a form of self-expression. Idols like BTS‘s Jungkook have been at the forefront of this new trend, fearlessly showing off their ink in concerts and photoshoots.

jungkook's tattoo arm in different angles. pic.twitter.com/niVFaYGSuO

— jeon jungkook (@archivesofkook) June 11, 2023