Lately, I watched the TV drama 'Dream High' by chance, and I realized the mass media has instigated people to fall victim to lookism. The story is about some students' efforts to become famous singers. In one scene which I watched, a teacher scolded a girl for failing to lose weight. The teacher told her, "You can change your appearance if you try hard. There are no ugly women; there are just lazy women." After that, the girl succeeded to lose weight, and she changed into a very cute girl, made a nice boyfriend and became loved by other people. She achieved everything that she could not when she was fat.

  The main viewers of this drama are teenagers and twenty-somethings. Most young viewers maybe thought overweight people are always behind their peers at school and they would fail at everything. 

  These days, not only cable TV shows but also public TV programs regard appearance as the most valued quality. On some comedy programs, handsome comedians play a beloved role, but ugly comedians take a role which is hated.  Only pretty women in the audience are showed on TV. Newscasts are no exception. All anchors are so beautiful and common citizens in interviews also are good-looking. Some TV programs related to health show some people who have  perfect bodies. The viewers might think that more attractive people are healthier.
 
 On one TV program, some foreign instructors who worked in Korea discussed about Korean résumés. They were surprised as soon as they saw the résumés and asked,  "Why should applicants attach their photo? Appearance has nothing to do with one's ability." Actually, in some countries, putting an applicant's picture is forbidden to hide the background concerning their appearance or race to interviewers. 
 
 I recognize that good looks gives a good impression. People are quick to have a good feeling toward an attractive person. However, young children and students who are unconsciously exposed to mass media have a sense of inferiority about their common appearances. They also judge people by appearance while ignoring personality or ability. 

  Unfortunately, a nice figure is one of the important points to judge a person in Korea. People know the public tendency toward lookism is wrong. Mass media should be changed to remove the prejudice and perception about appearance, no matter how long it takes. The mass media should lead to make a society where various values can be recognized. It should also emphasize the importance of personality and ability through a variety of programs.
 
By Son Eun-young
ey30@cbnu.ac.kr