Last April, a case of overdose on Photoshop caused a group of ‘Miss Korea’ contestants to look like cloned beauties produced by the same plastic surgeon. Though it is now clear that the ladies were not high technology clones created to take over the pageant, the incident made some of us feel that beauty pageants these days are geared towards finding a certain type of beauty standard, rather than celebrating the beauty in different women.
Is it really necessary to “enhance” the beauty of these already stunning women? Let’s take a look at the Miss Korea pageant ladies before the era of Photoshop and cosmetic surgery!
The first Miss Korea beauty pageant reminiscent of the current contests was officially held in 1957, though selections for ‘Miss Korea’ dated back to as early as 1952, and Korea making its debut in the Miss Universe pageant in 1954. Pictures from the early years of the annual national beauty pageant show that contestants were judged based on a procedure similar to what we’re familiar with today, with several judging phases which required the ladies to wear different outfits.
▼ Even as early as in the 1960s, the Miss Korea pageant was a considerably large-scale event.
▼ Contestants had to dress in various outfits.
▼ One-piece swimsuits were the norm back then, before bikinis took over the stage.
▼ The winner gets the parade of her life in this funky vehicle.
In the 1970s to 1980s, women with fuller faces and figures were preferred, but when it got to the 1990s, smaller faces with sharper outlines were considered to be the most beautiful. In the 2000s, the trend seemed to shift towards healthy, lean figures and characteristic faces. Though the standard for “beauty” changes over time, some of these past contestants still stand a good chance in today’s pageants, don’t you think?
▲ Sun-Hee Park (Miss Korea, 1982)
Height: 166cm
Weight: 50kg
Bust-Waist-Hip measurements: 88-58-88cm
▲ Sang Myeong Gim (Took part in 1979)
Height: 165cm
Weight: 51kg
Bust-Waist-Hip measurements: 86-58-89cm
▲ An-Na Baeg (Took part in 1975)
Height: 167cm
Weight: 49kg
Bust-Waist-Hip measurements: 91-58-91cm
▲ Hwa-La Jang (Took part in 1977)
Height: 169cm
Weight: 55kg
Bust-Waist-Hip measurements: 89-55-90cm
▲ In-Suk Hwang (Took part in 1976)
Height: 167cm
Weight: 50kg
Bust-Waist-Hip measurements: 89-64-92cm
▲ Yeon-Joo Park (Miss Korea, 1972)
Height: 170cm
Weight: 58kg
Bust-Waist-Hip measurements: 88-59-88cm
▲ Ji-Hye Seo (Miss Korea, 1975)
Height: 168cm
Weight: 56kg
Bust-Waist-Hip measurements: 91-57-91cm
▲ Chang-Hwa Jeong (Took part in 1976)
Height: 168cm
Weight: 50kg
Bust-Waist-Hip measurements: 89-58-91cm
▲ Yeong-Seon Jang (Took part in 1971)
Height: 167cm
Weight: 57kg
Bust-Waist-Hip measurements: 89-62-90cm
We think they looked pretty good even without Photoshop and clone-producing cosmetic surgery, but what do you think? Share your thoughts in the comments section below!
Source: Zhaizhai News
Images: Photo.Korea.kr, Nazababa
Japan Extreme Budget Travel! A trip from Tokyo to Izumo for just 30,000 yen [Part 2]
Starbucks Japan releases first-ever Hinamatsuri Girls’ Day Frappuccino
The fish in rural Fukui that rivals Japan’s most auspicious sea bream
Japanese restaurant chain serves Dragon Ball donuts and Senzu Beans this spring
Eevee returns to Japan’s famous Tokyo Banana, bundled with a cute tote bag
Japan Extreme Budget Travel! A trip from Tokyo to Izumo for just 30,000 yen [Part 2]
Starbucks Japan releases first-ever Hinamatsuri Girls’ Day Frappuccino
The fish in rural Fukui that rivals Japan’s most auspicious sea bream
Japanese restaurant chain serves Dragon Ball donuts and Senzu Beans this spring
Eevee returns to Japan’s famous Tokyo Banana, bundled with a cute tote bag
Forget dog-earing and bookmarks that fall, make your own easy origami bookmark instead!
Maid street in Akihabara gets a new vending machine that’s sweeter than usual
Pandas as pets?!? That’s impawsible!!!
Ramen vending machine in Tokyo satisfies noodle and gyoza cravings at any time of day or night
7-Eleven now has make-it-yourself smoothies in Japan, and they’re amazing
Highest Starbucks in Japan set to open this spring in the Tokyo sky
The 10 most annoying things foreign tourists do on Japanese trains, according to locals
Tokyo Skytree turns pink for the cherry blossom season
Yakuzen ramen restaurant in Tokyo is very different to a yakuza ramen restaurant
Shibuya Station’s Hachiko Gate and Yamanote Line stairway locations change next month
Starbucks Japan releases new sakura goods and drinkware for cherry blossom season 2026
Starbucks Japan adds new sakura Frappuccino and cherry blossom drinks to the menu
Japan Extreme Budget Travel! A trip from Tokyo to Izumo for just 30,000 yen [Part 1]
Japan’s new “Cunte” contact lenses aren’t pronounced like you’re probably thinking they are
Japan’s newest Shinkansen has no seats…or passengers [Video]
Foreigners accounting for over 80 percent of off-course skiers needing rescue in Japan’s Hokkaido
Super-salty pizza sends six kids to the hospital in Japan, linguistics blamed
Starbucks Japan unveils new sakura Frappuccino for cherry blossom season 2026
Foreign tourists in Japan will get free Shinkansen tickets to promote regional tourism
Take a trip to Japan’s Dododo Land, the most irritating place on Earth
Naruto and Converse team up for new line of shinobi sneakers[Photos]
Is China’s don’t-go-to-Japan warning affecting the lines at a popular Tokyo gyukatsu restaurant?
Survey asks foreign tourists what bothered them in Japan, more than half gave same answer
Japan’s human washing machines will go on sale to general public, demos to be held in Tokyo
Starbucks Japan releases new drinkware and goods for Valentine’s Day
We deeply regret going into this tunnel on our walk in the mountains of Japan
Studio Ghibli releases Kodama forest spirits from Princess Mononoke to light up your home
Major Japanese hotel chain says reservations via overseas booking sites may not be valid
Put sesame oil in your coffee? Japanese maker says it’s the best way to start your day【Taste test】
No more using real katana for tourism activities, Japan’s National Police Agency says
Forget dog-earing and bookmarks that fall, make your own easy origami bookmark instead!
Maid street in Akihabara gets a new vending machine that’s sweeter than usual
Pandas as pets?!? That’s impawsible!!!
Ramen vending machine in Tokyo satisfies noodle and gyoza cravings at any time of day or night
7-Eleven now has make-it-yourself smoothies in Japan, and they’re amazing
Drift ice in Japan is a disappearing winter miracle you need to see now
Starbucks Japan releases new sakura goods and drinkware for cherry blossom season 2026
“Bumping men” are a uniquely Japanese class of criminals that are hard to deal with
Tokyo street sweets: The must-snack treats of Nakano’s Refutei
Hadoken! The LINE stickers we’ve all been waiting for: Street Fighter II
How to avoid queues at this Ichiran ramen restaurant in Japan
Saitama is home to the best strawberries in Japan that you’ve probably never even heard of