The Korea Times close
National
  • Politics
  • Diplomacy
  • Defense
  • Labor & Environment
  • Law & Crime
  • Health & Welfare
  • Embassy
  • Seoul & Provinces
  • Education
  • Foreign Communities
  • Obituaries
Biz & Tech
  • Auto
  • IT
  • Game
  • Manufacturing
  • Retail & Food
  • Energy
  • Construction
  • Airlines
Finance
  • Policies
  • Economy
  • Markets
  • Banks
  • Non-banks
Opinion
  • Editorial
  • Columns
  • Thoughts of the Times
  • Cartoon
  • Today in History
  • Blogs
  • Tribune Service
  • Blondie & Garfield
  • Letter to the Editor
Lifestyle
  • Arts
  • Books
  • Travel & Cuisine
  • Trend
  • Fashion
  • Around Town
  • Fortune Telling
Entertainment
  • K-pop
  • K-dramas & Shows
  • Movies
  • Music
  • Performances
  • Asia Model Festival
Sports
  • Football
  • Golf
  • Baseball
  • Other Sports
World
  • Asia Pacific
  • Americas
  • Europe & Africa
  • SCMP
Video
  • On the Spot
  • Feature
  • News
Photos
  • Photo News
  • Darkroom
Community
  • The Korea Times
  • search
  • Site Map
  • E-paper
  • Subscribe
  • Register
  • LogIn
search close
  • The Korea Times
  • search
  • Site Map
  • E-paper
  • Subscribe
  • Register
  • LogIn
search close
National
  • Politics
  • Diplomacy
  • Defense
  • Labor & Environment
  • Law & Crime
  • Health & Welfare
  • Embassy
  • Seoul & Provinces
  • Education
  • Foreign Communities
  • Obituaries
Thu, March 4, 2021 | 18:47
Labor & Environment
News anchor ignites debate on going braless
Posted : 2020-02-17 16:00
Updated : 2020-02-18 09:46
Mail
Print Preview
Font Size Up
Font Size Down
By Bahk Eun-ji

MBC's news anchor Lim Hyun-ju has ignited a debate about women going braless in public places that started after she appeared on live TV without a bra and spoke openly about it.

In the MBC program titled "Series M," which was aired on Thursday, Lim was shown preparing for a live television show without wearing a bra as a part of her participation in a "No Bra Day" challenge for the program.

Lim Hyun-ju, news presenter of local broadcaster MBC, appears wearing glasses on a news program in this April. 12, 2018 file photo. Her decision to wear glasses sparked debate online. Korea Times file
Lim Hyun-ju, news presenter of local broadcaster MBC, appears wearing glasses on a news program in this April. 12, 2018 file photo. Her decision to wear glasses sparked debate online. Korea Times file
Whether or not it is acceptable to go braless is one of the most contentious issues here in Korea. Some people claim wearing a bra is unhealthy for women as it puts undue pressure on the chest while others say it is simply inappropriate for a woman to go braless in public.

"I needed a bit of courage to participate in the challenge, because I felt strange without a bra at first. But I got used to it once I began shooting," Lim said.

She then said a lot of women want to go braless but are reluctant to do so because of social expectations.

"I feel sorry that there are still many people who don't feel comfortable when they see a woman who is not wearing a bra" Lim said.

When she shared the video clip of the show and her personal thoughts via her Instagram page after the challenge, many people left negative comments.

"Nobody really cares if you wear a bra or not. Why are you acting like such a child who only wants attention from others?" an online user commented on Lim's Instagram post. Another user also said "Did you necessarily have to host a live show without wearing a bra? I don't think it is an appropriate attitude for broadcasting a show."

However, there were also many people who cheered her on for her participation in the challenge.

"You should realize that your post encourages many women to enjoy being braless. I hope the social atmosphere will change soon so we can talk about this issue more comfortably," another person posted.

In a more recent post, Lim said she checked all the negative comments about her post.

"Sharing my thoughts and experiences through the challenge was pretty meaningful for me, considering the character of my job as a news presenter. I didn't jump to a conclusion as to whether going braless is good or bad, but it was a part of an experiment examining whether we, women should wear bras or not. Don't you think this has been a taboo that people don't want to discuss?" she said.

This is not the first time Lim has brought up issues related to women's right to choose what they wear by appearing on air with glasses in 2018. It was the first time in Korea that a female presenter had appeared on air wearing glasses despite male broadcasters frequently wearing them.


Emailejb@koreatimes.co.kr Article ListMore articles by this reporter









 
 
  • Transgender ex-soldier forced to discharge found dead at home
  • 2 people die after getting COVID-19 vaccine
  • 2 Korean nursing home residents die after getting AstraZeneca vaccine
  • Management of foreigners' ID to be strengthened
  • 'Chinese virus, get out!': Chinese lecturer assaulted in UK amid fears of anti-Asian racism
  • [INTERVIEW] 'We fight the gov't for our rights and future'
  • Hate crimes against Asian American on rise in US amid pandemic
  • Gov't to push for 'quarantine-free corridors' to support ailing aviation industry
  • Coupang Eats' new delivery fee policy hits riders
  • New virus cases bounce back to over 400
  • BLACKPINK's Rose to drop solo album next week BLACKPINK's Rose to drop solo album next week
  • Lee Seung-gi says new TV thriller series 'Mouse' is his 'most unique' piece Lee Seung-gi says new TV thriller series 'Mouse' is his 'most unique' piece
  • Gong Yoo, Park Bo-gum's 'Seobok' to hit theaters, streaming service in April Gong Yoo, Park Bo-gum's 'Seobok' to hit theaters, streaming service in April
  • Ha Eun-byeol, 'The Penthouse: War in Life,' actress denies bullying accusation Ha Eun-byeol, 'The Penthouse: War in Life,' actress denies bullying accusation
  • BTS again tops Billboard's Artist 100 chart, sets record as group act BTS again tops Billboard's Artist 100 chart, sets record as group act
DARKROOM
  • Bloody Sunday in Myanmar

    Bloody Sunday in Myanmar

  • Earth is suffering

    Earth is suffering

  • NASA's Perseverance rover is landing on Mars

    NASA's Perseverance rover is landing on Mars

  • Fun in the snow, sledding for everyone

    Fun in the snow, sledding for everyone

  • Our children deserve better: Part 3

    Our children deserve better: Part 3

  • About Korea Times
  • CEO Message
  • Times History
  • Content Sales
  • Media Kit
  • Contact Us
  • Location
  • Privacy Statement
  • Terms of Service
  • Mobile Service
  • RSS Service
  • 고충처리인
  • hankookilbo
  • Dongwha Group
  • Code of Ethics
Copyright