Going up, up, up

IMPO - Last week when I told several GenZs that I was going to South Korea, it elicited oohs and aahs from them and they asked, not entirely in jest, if I could bring them along.

- ANA MARIE PAMINTUAN

I doubt if a trip to the US, once the top favorite travel destination of many Pinoys, would have elicited the same excited reaction. More likely, I would’ve been warned to steer clear of US Immigration and Customs Enforcement agents.

Some older ladies, meanwhile, upon learning of my upcoming visit to Korea, said, “ooh, oppa!” Literally, an older brother, but Pinoy fans of K-drama associate the word with the handsome male stars of Hallyu, the Korean Wave.

Korean culture has not only conquered the world and Filipino hearts, it has also altered concepts of physical beauty. These days there is emphasis on East Asian features so slim, clean-cut and delicate both men and women look like aliens from a planet in the future where wrinkles and eyebags have been permanently eradicated.

You can see this concept of beauty, no longer Caucasian-centric, from the way our younger generations are styling themselves, and from the models used in local advertising. Many of the youths are channeling the superstars of K-pop: BTS, Blackpink, and now animated stars HUNTR/X and the Saja Boys of “KPop Demon Hunters” fame.

This year, “Golden,” from the monster hit animation movie, has been nominated for Grammy Song of the Year. If the song wins, it will top the Grammy nomination bagged for the first time by a Korean pop group, BTS, for Best Pop Duo/Group for “Dynamite” in 2021 (followed by “Butter” in 2022).

“KPop Demon Hunters” the movie, meanwhile, has been nominated at the upcoming Oscars for best animation film.