Korean celebrities are giving toe socks a revival, but the hype may be overstated
Toe socks have resurfaced as a wellness accessory in South Korea after singer and JYP Entertainment founder J.Y. Park touted their health benefits on a television variety show.
During his appearance on MBC's "Reveal My Star's Life: The Manager" in July, Park shared his daily routine, including wearing toe socks, and recommended them to fellow panelists.
"When the five toes move independently, they help maintain the body's balance," Park said on the show. "You live the same life but feel less tired."
Park is known for maintaining strict daily routines and a fitness regimen, often drawing public attention for his youthful physique despite being in his 50s. His fashion-forward toe socks have rekindled interest in the once-overlooked accessory.
According to fashion and beauty platform Musinsa on Monday, searches for toe socks from Sept. 1 to Sept. 27 increased 101 percent compared with the same period in July, around the time Park mentioned them on the show.
Fashion platform 29CM also reported a 94 percent increase in searches for toe socks over the same period. The search volume was 10.9 times bigger than during the same period last year, the platform said.
In Korea, the socks have long been viewed as unfashionable, often associated with older men or people who wear them to manage sweaty feet and prevent athlete's foot.
The medical evidence supporting potential health benefits remains limited.
Jang Dong-min, a Korean medicine doctor, says there is little research demonstrating that toe socks help with balance or have a direct health benefit.
"Considering how feet are connected to our organs, it has a theoretical basis," Jang said. "However, there is no academic evidence to prove clinical efficacy."
The renewed interest in toe socks comes amid a broader wellness trend, as more people turn to small daily habits and routines to maintain their health. And celebrities have joined the trend.
BTS' RM posted photos of himself wearing a pair of toe socks on Instagram in August, calling himself an "ambassador of toe socks," to which fellow BTS bandmate Jungkook commented, " I was first."
Actors Ryu Hey-young and Go Yoon-jung, as well as singer Kang Min-kyung of Davichi, have also shared photos of themselves wearing toe socks as part of their wellness routines.
mjcha@heraldcorp.com
