‘Keeping up with the Korean Yeojas’: the paradox of Korean women’s participation of aesthetic exercise in contemporary Korea

Abstract

Over the past decade, there has been a noticeable increase in the engagement of Korean women (‘yeoja’ in Korean translation) in physical activities. Despite discussions emphasizing active exercise and fitness, motivations for women’s participation have often been centered around weight management and dieting. This study explores the experiences of Korean women participating in aesthetic exercise – physical activities such as yoga, Pilates, and pole fitness which focus on female-appropriate weight management. Aesthetic exercise participation emerges as a complex and paradoxical phenomenon, blending feminized workouts, ideal body images, and individual aspirations to attain social standards. Participants express ambivalence, viewing exercise as both a ‘healthy way of losing’ and a means to ‘keep up with’ societal ideals of the female body. Thus, it highlights the intricate interplay between societal expectations, personal goals, and the pursuit of an envisioned ideal, offering insights into the dynamic nature of women’s involvement in aesthetic exercise in the Korean context.