In 2022, the average height of South Korean women in their thirties was ****** centimeters, with women in their twenties having a very similar average height. On average, South Korean women were ****** centimeters tall, and older women tended to be shorter. Average height increases slowly The average height of women in South Korea has seen a noticeable increase over the past decade. In 2012, women in their twenties were ****** centimeters on average. However, the average height grew by around **** centimeters in the past ten years. The change could be attributed to improvements in overall nutrition, healthcare, and living conditions in the country. The South Korean beauty standard In a survey, South Korean women were asked about their preferred height range, and their answers fell between *** to *** centimeters. Women not only have a preferred height for themselves but also for their future spouses. Single women’s ideal height for their potential husbands was at around ***** centimeters, while single men wished for their potential wives to be *** centimeters tall.

In 2022, South Korean women aged 20 to 29 years old were ****** centimeters tall. That year, the average height of South Korean women was ****** centimeters.

In 2023, South Korean high school students were among the tallest in Asia, with male students aged 16 years old averaging ***** cm and female students averaging ***** cm. Both South Korean men and women have seen drastic increases in height over the past century, and in the case of women, the change in average height is the largest increase for any population in the world. Height is linked to health The average height of a population can be a good indicator for the overall health of that country; aside from genetic factors, nutrition and childhood infections play an important role in how a child will develop in terms of growth. South Koreans can expect to live longer these days; the average life expectancy at birth has steadily increased and was at **** years as of 2022. Women are expected to live slightly longer than men by around five years. The average weight of South Korean high school students has also generally increased over the years, which may suggest nutrition has improved. However, as with many other OECD countries, the obesity rate has also increased among the population.

In 2022, South Korean women aged 50 to 59 years old were 157.9 centimeters tall. That year, the average height of South Korean women was 158.26 centimeters.

In 2022, South Korean women aged 30 to 39 years old were ****** centimeters tall. That year, the average height of South Korean women was ****** centimeters.

In 2022, the average height of South Korean men in their thirties lay at ****** centimeters. Men in older age groups tended to be shorter. On average, South Korean men were ****** centimeters tall that year. Diet and healthcare in South Korea It has been observed that improvements in nutrition and healthcare lead to increased average height over time. With the rapid industrialization in South Korea came improvements in healthcare and nutritional intake. South Korea ranks among the leading countries in the health index, which measures a population’s health and a country’s healthcare system. Even with an excellent healthcare system, South Koreans have increasingly been concerned about their diet and nutrition, exemplified by the share of people trying to consume certain nutrients every day. Height preferences in South Korea  According to a 2019 survey, for most respondents the preferred height for South Korean men was higher than the current average. This discrepancy was similar for the preferred height for women, showing how preferences for taller people stretched across genders. Not only are South Koreans preferring taller partners, but they are also getting taller over time. Another survey found that the ideal height for a spouse in the country came closer to the average height of younger generations.

In 2022, South Korean women weighed, on average, around ***** kilograms. Women across all age categories tended to have similar weight averages, apart from women aged 80 years and older, who weighed significantly less. The average height for women aged 39 years or younger that year was around *** centimeters.

South Korean beauty standards

The perception of beauty is generally heavily influenced by the media's portrayed image thereof. South Korean media promotes a limited one, namely the "thin ideal". Due to the goal of coming closer to the slim model, most South Korean women have tried to go on a diet. Additionally, most female respondents stated that weight control was the leading reason for participating in sports. For many researchers, the idealization of a thin body has lead has led to rising numbers of eating disorder cases and distorted self-images of young women.

The growing plastic surgery market

The share of people having undergone plastic surgery procedures is rising every year. According to a 2020 survey, women aged between 20 to 39 years represented the highest share of respondents who underwent plastic surgery. South Koreans showed the highest interest in double-eyelid surgery, followed by rhinoplasty. These procedures align with the beauty ideal of having big, double-lidded eyes and a high-bridged, pointy nose. Besides conveying a wealthy image, plastic surgery is also used to improve chances of finding a job and getting married. About ** percent of South Koreans think that it is acceptable to get plastic surgery for this reason.

In 2023, the female elementary student population aged ten years old was 151.1 centimeters on average. The recorded heights for female students was consistently slightly taller than that of male students, whose average height that year amounted to 150.5 centimeters.

In 2023, middle school boys had an average height of ***** centimeters, while middle school girls were ***** centimeters on average. While the height of middle school students in Korea has been steadily increasing, in recent years this growth has slowed. Compared to 2000, boys' average height has increased by eight centimeters, while girls' increased by three centimeters. South Korean school systemThe South Korean school system is divided into elementary school, middle school, high school, and university. Six years of elementary school and three years of middle school education are compulsory. When students enter middle school, the level of happiness decreases sharply due to the full-fledged university entrance examination process. In general, students will wear uniforms starting from middle school, with restricted clothing and hair style. The total number of schools at all levels in South Korea, from kindergarten to graduate school, was over ****** in 2023. In recent years, the number of students per class in schools across all levels has significantly decreased due to continued lower birth rates. For example, the number of students per class in middle schools fell from ** in 2000 to **** in 2023. The South Korean school year consists of two semesters; the Spring semester from March to June and the Fall semester from September to December, with graduation in February. Private education in South KoreaIn 2023, around **** percent of Korea's primary and secondary students participated in private education. Despite the government's efforts to strengthen the public education system, the participation rate in private education remains high. The participation rate of private education by school level was highest for elementary school students and lowest for high school students in terms of increasing after-school hours. Mathematics was the school subject with the highest participation rate in private education, closely followed by English. Korean students spent *** hours a week in private tutoring, with the most common method being to attend a private academy after school. Participation in private tutoring was not dependent on students’ academic performance, but is rather based on preparing for university entrance exams. The average monthly tutoring cost per student increased to ******* won in 2023.

In 2023, the average male middle school student in South Korea weighed **** kilograms, while the average female student weight **** kilograms. The weight of middle school students in Korea has changed dramatically in recent years. The average height also increased, but the increase in body weight was noticeably greater than in the height. Education fever and healthSouth Korea is known as a country with “education fever”. To study in a good high school, a good university, and eventually work in a good company, students are working hard to get the best possible score in their respective positions. However, most students are suffering from lack of sleep and unbalanced eating habits due to prolonged study times combined with their regular schedule at school and private education. The obesity rate of South Korean students has also increased over the years, alongside the average weight. Obesity in South KoreaThe obesity rate refers to the population rate with a body mass index (BMI) of over **. As of 2022, more than one third of the population were considered obese, showing a steady increase since 2008. The age group with the largest rate of obesity was the population in their forties, however, the obesity rate of the young population aged 19 to 29 years old has experienced rapid growth over the years.