Representation of Women's Beauty in the Korean Drama "True Beauty" : A Peircean Semiotics Analysis

Shafira Nandya   Setiawan; Rohanda; Gia Ramadhan

doi:10.55909/jpbs.v4i5.892

Authors

Shafira Nandya Setiawan Prodi Bahasa dan Sastra Arab, Universitas Islam Negeri Sunan Gunung Djati Bandung, Jawa Barat, Indonesi
Rohanda Prodi Bahasa dan Sastra Arab, Universitas Islam Negeri Sunan Gunung Djati Bandung, Jawa Barat, Indonesi
Gia Ramadhan Prodi Bahasa dan Sastra Arab, UIN Sunan Gunung Djati Bandung, Jawa Barat, Indonesia

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.55909/jpbs.v4i5.892

Keywords:

women’s beauty, Korean drama, True Beauty, Peirce’s semiotics, beauty representation

Abstract

This study thoroughly examines the representation of female beauty in the Korean drama True Beauty using Charles Sanders Peirce's semiotic approach. The widespread phenomenon of the Korean Wave (Hallyu) in Indonesia has significantly impacted the construction of beauty standards, often creating social pressure, especially for teenagers and young women. True Beauty, which tells the story of Lim Ju Kyung's struggle to meet appearance expectations, serves as an interesting object for analysis. Utilizing Peirce's triadic framework (representamen, object, and interpretant), this study identifies how visual and verbal signs within the drama construct meaning. The analysis reveals that representamens, such as Ju Kyung's with her bare face, the act of self-makeup, the rejection of her bare face, and social acceptance, collectively refer to the object patriarchal Korean beauty standards demanding fair skin, a high nose bridge, and a slender physique. The resulting interpretants vary on one hand, viewers may perceive beauty as a condition for social acceptance and a source of anxiety, but on the other hand, the drama also presents alternative interpretants highlighting the importance of self- acceptance and resistance to narrow beauty standards. This study concludes that True Beauty not only reproduces dominant beauty norms but also creates space for critique and encourages critical media literacy regarding more inclusive representations of gender and body.

References

Abdullah, N. A., Kasim, N. D. A., & Mijan, R. (2020). Obsesi Kepada Kecantikan Dari Perspektif Teori Kebergantungan Media: Obsession To Beauty From The Perspective Of Media Dependence Theory. Asian People Journal (APJ), 3(SI1), 65-71. https://doi.org/10.37231/apj.2020.3.SI1.239

Aqillah, R. M., Rohanda, R., & Ainusyamsi, F. Y. (2025). Perjuangan Perempuan Dan Nilai Moral Dalam Novel Hikayat Zahra Karya Hanan Al-Shayky. BASA Journal of Language & Literature, 5(1), 1-11. https://doi.org/10.33474/basa.v5i1.23483

Berger, A. (2010). The Objects of Affection: Semiotics and Consumer Culture. New York : Palgrave Macmillan.

Choirunisa, W., Aqillah, R. M., Rifaron, N., & Rohanda, R. (2025). Character Education Values Of Boarding School In The Short Film Inthiq Rasmiyyatan. Seloka: Jurnal Pendidikan Bahasa dan Sastra Indonesia, 67-78. https://journal.unnes.ac.id/journals/seloka/article/view/24191

Choirunisa, W. & Rohanda. (2024). The Meaning Of One-Way Communication In Mudabbir Film By Director Arfeddin Hamas: Semiotic of Roman Jakobson. Philosophica: Jurnal Bahasa, Sastra, Dan Budaya, 7(2), 102–113. https://doi.org/10.35473/pho.v7i2.3540

Dika, P. (2024). Analisis semiotika Riffatere pada Syi’ir ßÈÍÃ Çá æÃ ßÈÍÃ karya Mahmoud Darwish. A’Jamiy: Jurnal Bahasa dan Sastra Arab, 13(2), 482-500. http://dx.doi.org/10.31314/ajamiy.13.2.482-500.2024

Faruk, H. T. (2012). Metode Penelitian Sastra: Sebuah Penjelajahan Awal. Yogyakarta: Pustaka Pelajar

Hidayat, R., Ainusyamsi, F. Y., Rohanda, R., & Fauziah, I. (2024). Nilai-nilai Pendidikan Islam dalam Puisi Qum li al-Mu ‘allimi Waffihi al-Tabjîlâ Karya Ahmed Shawky: Kajian Semiotika Charles Sanders Peirce. Al-Musannif, 6(2), 71–82. https://doi.org/10.56324/al-musannif.v6i2.188

Hoed, B. H. (2014). Semiotik & Dinamika Sosial Budaya. Cetakan kedua. Yogyakarta: Komunitas Bambu.

Jessia, S., & Pribadi, M. A. (2023). Representasi Kecantikan dalam Drama Korea True Beauty (Analisis Semiotika Roland Barthes. Koneksi, 7(1), 1–12. https://doi.org/10.24912/kn.v7i1.15896

Kaya, G. M. (2023). Pengaruh Kekuatan Girlgroup Blackpink Dalam Diplomasi Budaya Korea Selatan di Indonesia Melalui Konser Born Pink di Jakarta 2023. Universitas Fajar.

Manchia, V. (2022). Beyond Immediacy and Transparency. A Semiotic Approach to Discursive and Rhetorical Strategies in Media Visualization and Data visualization. Punctum. International Journal of Semiotics, 8, 85-113. 10.18680/hss.2022.0006

Manzil, P. N. D. (2025). Menelisik ‘Cantik Sejati’ : Kajian Psikologi Perempuan dalam Film ‘The Most Beautiful Girl In The World’. Diksatrasia: Jurnal Ilmiah Pendidikan Bahasa dan Sastra Indonesia, 9(2), 514-535. http://dx.doi.org/10.25157/diksatrasia.v9i2.18846

Nurhasanah, A., Rohanda, R., & Dayudin, D. (2025). Fakta Kemanusiaan dan Subjek Kolektif dalam Film The Journey: Cerminan Struktur Sosial dalam Anime. Jurnal Al-Azhar Indonesia Seri Humaniora, 10(1), 19. https://doi.org/10.36722/sh.v10i1.3958

Oliver, K. (2017). The Male Gaze is more Relevant, and more Dangerous, than Ever. New review of film and television studies, 15(4), 451-455. https://doi.org/10.1080/17400309.2017.1377937

Pratiwi, H. (2023). Analisis Tindak Tutur Pada Hasil Terjemahan Tribunnews Terhadap Pidato Menlu Ri Retno Lp Marsudi Di Forum Pbb 2021. Jurnal Ilmiah Bahasa Dan Sastra, 10(1). https://doi.org/10.21067/jibs.v10i1.8828

Pratiwi, H. A. (2015). Citra perempuan dalam Iklan Televisi (Analisis Semiotika Iklan Pond’s Flawless White 7 Days to Love-versi 10 menit). Deiksis, 7(02), 91-106. http://dx.doi.org/10.30998/deiksis.v7i02.541

Pratiwi, R. Z. B. (2018). Perempuan dan Kontes Kecantikan. An-Nida: Jurnal Komunikasi Islam, 10(2). https://doi.org/10.34001/an.v10i2.785

Putri, A. H., Nurjaman, D. S., & Rohanda, R. (2025). Nilai-Nilai Moral Pada Film Theeb Karya Naji Abu Nowar Kajian Semiotika Charles Sanders Pierce. PENTAS: Jurnal Ilmiah Pendidikan Bahasa dan Sastra Indonesia, 11(1), 21–33. https://doi.org/10.52166/pentas.v11i1.9231

Putri, M. P., & Kurniawati, J. (2025). Analisis Perlakuan Diskriminatif terhadap Tokoh Utama dalam Serial Drama Korea” True Beauty” yang Berbasis Kecantikan. RISOMA: Jurnal Riset Sosial Humaniora dan Pendidikan, 3(5), 179-188. https://doi.org/10.62383/risoma.v3i5.1133

Rais, M. H., & Rohanda, R. (2025). The Social Criticism in the Film Capernaum by Nadine Labaki Through Charles Sanders Peirce’s Semiotic Framework. Gunung Djati Conference Series 55, 256-267.

Ramadhan, G., Rohanda, R., & Dayudin, D. (2024). Nilai Religiusitas dan Solidaritas dalam Film Farha Karya Darin J. Sallam (Analisis Semiotika Charles Sanders Peirce). Jurnal Al-Azhar Indonesia Seri Humaniora, 9(3), 213. https://doi.org/10.36722/sh.v9i3.3596

Rohanda, R. (2016). Metode Penelitian Sastra: Teori, Metode, Pendekatan, dan Praktik. Bandung: LP2M UIN Sunan Gunung Djati Bandung.

Salma, I., Nurlinah, N., & Rohanda, R. (2025). Stratifikasi Konflik Sosial dalam Film Inch’Allah Karya Anaïs Barbeau-Lavallete. SULUK: Jurnal Bahasa, Sastra, dan Budaya, 7(1), 22–42. https://doi.org/10.15642/suluk.2025.7.1.22-42

Setyorini, D., Fathurohman, I., & Roysa, M. (2022). Tindak tutur Ekspresif dalam Dialog Film Rentang Kisah Karya Danial Rifki. Buletin Ilmiah Pendidikan, 1(1), 25-33. https://doi.org/10.56916/bip.v1i1.215

Taufiq, W. (2016). Semiotika untuk Kajian Sastra dan al-Qur’an. Bandung: Yrama Widya.

Yasmin, A., Rohanda, R., & Fauziah, I. (2024). Representasi Interaksi Sosial pada Film Series Alrawabi School for Girls Season 2 Karya Tima Shomali. Jurnal KIBASP (Kajian Bahasa, Sastra dan Pengajaran, 8(1), 215–227. https://doi.org/10.31539/kibasp.v8i1.13611

Yudhistira, B. F., & Yuwono, A. P. (2024). Analisis Semiotika Pesan Moral dalam Drama Korea Today’s Webtoon (Analisis Semiotika Roland Barthes). JIKA (Jurnal Ilmu Komunikasi Andalan), 7(1), 1-15. https://doi.org/10.31949/jika.v7i1.8168

Yunasa, H. A. Y., & Rohanda, R. (2025, July). The Meaning of the Lyrics of the Song” Qolbi Fil Madinah” Through Charles Sanders Peirce’s Semiotic Framework. In Gunung Djati Conference Series (Vol. 55, 64-476).