Tue. Apr 23rd, 2024

A slightly different style routine from South Korean bodybuilder Mi-Hee Yu incorporating feathered fans in 2008. I’m not keen on the boots, but the fans are a nice touch.


A little about Mi-Hee from the asianfitnessblog:

Ms Yu began as an aerobics instructor at the age of 20, but after giving birth to two children, she wanted to lose some weight. Currently weighing 51 kg at 157 cm tall, Ms Yu told the Weekly Chosun that she decided she has to change when she weighed 80 kg after the birth of her daughter 12 years ago.

Choosing to be a female bodybuilder in Korea is not an easy path. For example, the Korean public still sees the bodybuilder’s physique as undesirable. Ms Yu mentioned in the JoongAng Daily article: “It’s fine if they have their opinions about my body but the comments are often so ignorant and vulgar.” Additionally, financial support is also an issue. Female bodybuilders are not yet members of the Korean National Athletic Meet, meaning awards given during national and regional competitions are not compensated. Male bodybuilders, on the other hand, are National Meet members. In the Weekly Chosun, Ms Yu explains that Male bodybuilders can even qualify for unemployment benefits, but not the females.

Seems the anti-female bias in female bodybuilding is actually worse in Korea then in the USA, with males being allowed to be meet members and qualify for benefits but not females – that more smacks of outright discrimination to me personally.