'Big faces are scary': Is it okay for dating shows to set appearance standards?

By KTimes

Discussions about ideal types are a staple of dating reality shows. After all, contestants are there to find someone they are genuinely drawn to. However, concerns have been raised over remarks about physical appearance that could be hurtful to others.

Recently, ENA and SBS Plus's “I Am Solo” introduced the stories of its 25th cast. During a pre-show interview, when asked what kind of women he liked, contestant Kwang-soo responded, "As long as her face isn’t bigger than mine." He added, "If her face is bigger than mine, it's kind of scary." Host of the show Song Hae-na appeared taken aback, asking, "A big head is scary?"

On Mnet’s currently airing “Couple Palace 2,” a female contestant stated that she dislikes "thin and stingy-looking lips" as a marriage condition. Another male contestant said, "I don’t find people with prominent snaggle teeth attractive. In my experience, people with severe snaggle teeth tend to have bad personalities." At this moment, an on-screen caption appeared, clarifying, "This is the contestant's personal opinion."

There is no absolute standard for beauty. However, people do have personal preferences when it comes to physical attraction. Many matchmaking services also consider a member’s appearance as a key factor. Since dating reality shows revolve around finding a romantic partner, it is inevitable that physical traits will be mentioned. Contestants also have the freedom to openly share their preferences with the production team.

Still, whether such remarks — especially ones that could hurt others — should be broadcast is debatable. Viewers who happen to have the features being criticized, such as a large face or prominent snaggle teeth, might tune in for romance but instead be left feeling self-conscious. Even if the captions emphasize that these are merely personal opinions, they do not erase the impact of the words. If a statement has the potential to wound someone, careful editing may be necessary.

Of course, contestants themselves can also become targets of criticism. Some who have expressed dislikes regarding physical appearance have faced a wave of backlash. When a male contestant’s clip listing his unwanted traits was uploaded to YouTube, some netizens retaliated with harsh comments, saying things like, "You look like [insult]" and "Look at your own face first."

Today, appearance-based jokes are rarely seen in comedy programs because of the risk of offending viewers. If a comment does not uplift but instead causes distress, perhaps production teams should reconsider whether it belongs in a dating show. While authenticity is a virtue in entertainment, it is best to avoid including elements such as profanity, hate speech, or unnecessarily provocative remarks that could negatively affect others.

This article from the Hankook Ilbo, the sister publication of The Korea Times, is translated by a generative AI system and edited by The Korea Times.