Recently in the entertainment industry, the phrase "뼈말라" is being consumed like a trend as if it represents an ideal body type. Following Wendy, Soyou, Kim Min-ha, and even international star Ariana Grande, the recent appearances of extremely thin stars have raised concerns about their health.
Fans who watched Red Velvet member Wendy's stage reacted with concern for her health before commenting on the performance. A fancam video of Wendy released at a recent Red Velvet fan concert drew comments such as "She looks too thin," "I hope she is healthy," and "If she looks like that on camera, she must be even thinner in real life." Reactions worrying about her body shape poured in more than comments about the stage itself.
Of course, you cannot determine someone's health just by their appearance. Actual health status is something only the person can know. Even so, the reason these reactions are repeated is that "extreme thinness" has recently become a topic of conversation in the entertainment industry.
In fact, former Sistar member Soyou drew attention for appearing much thinner after losing about 20kg, replacing her previously toned healthy look. Actress Kim Min-ha said she lost weight over a long period to play a terminally ill role in a project, which helped ease fans' concerns.
It is no different abroad. After the release of Ariana Grande's new song "Petal" music video, social media saw both concerns such as "Is she okay?" and counterarguments that "evaluating her body itself is body shaming."
The problem now is that the expression "뼈말라" is being used like a compliment. Originally used to express worry about being excessively thin, the word is now often used as if it denotes an ideal body. On social media, contents like "making 뼈말라" and "뼈말라 challenge" have emerged, and thinness is being consumed like a goal.
Celebrities' bodies are always at the center of attention. But if extreme weight loss repeatedly attracts attention and that look is consumed like a trend, there are concerns it could instill distorted body perceptions especially in teenagers and young people.
Of course, the reasons for weight loss vary by person. It may be a change for a project, health management, or a personal choice. But one thing is clear. What is needed now is not a culture that competes over "how thin you are," but a healthy appearance that allows long careers. In an era when "뼈말라" has become a buzzword used like a trend, voices calling for a culture that prioritizes health over extreme body shapes are growing.
[photo] SNS, music video capture
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