Results of Poll on Koreans’ Consciousness about Discrimination; Separate Poll Finds Sensitivity to Discrimination Based on Physical Appearance is Low
The National Human Rights Commission (NHRC) carried out opinion polls of Koreans’ consciousness about discrimination. One survey examined (1) the kinds of discrimination that Koreans take seriously, (2) Koreans’ direct and indirect experiences with discrimination, and (3) directions toward improving equality in Korea, while another—carried out simultaneously—examined in depth, the issue of discrimination on the basis of appearance.
Ordinary Koreans feel that discrimination against disabled persons is most serious (20.9%), followed by discrimination on the basis of which school one graduated from (18.5%), then discrimination based on previous work experience (8.7%). In contrast, professions ranked the most severe form of discrimination as that based on educational attainment or which school one graduated from (26.7%), then discrimination against disabled persons (15.3%), followed by discrimination based on race, skin color, national origin, and ethnic origin (11.9%), then gender discrimination (11.4%).
The results of the in-depth survey on discrimination based on personal appearance show that ordinary Koreans feel physical-appearance-related discrimination is most severe in the following order: discrimination based on one’s face (71.3%), discrimination based on weight (54.5%), then discrimination based on height (34.2%). The survey also revealed that women are more strongly impacted by discrimination based on physical appearance (63.5%) than men (42.8%).
On the other hand, 44.4% responded that the criteria they used for assessing their physical appearance was strongly influenced by the mass media, thereby indicating the large role the media plays in influencing discrimination based on personal appearance. Besides the media, other sources shaping criteria for assessing physical appearance were: peers in the military, the company or other social settings (30.3%); family, relatives, friends and other people around you (17.4%); and formal school education (5.3%).
