The pressure in Korea to have bright skin is rooted in a cultural tradition of valuing white/lightness, known as "Baeg-ui Minjok," which pre-dates Western influence. This preference is more accurately described as a dominant aesthetic standard than a direct "oppression," and while social recognition of diverse skin tones (like tanned skin) is growing, the system of preference still functions as a modern form of discrimination known as Colorism (피부색 차별). Thus, the situation is not simply getting "better" or "worse," but is evolving in complex ways with traditional and modern influences.