Shapely legs in super-mini shorts and skirts in their music videos

LONG, flawless legs are fast becoming a trademark of any K-pop girl group.

From Girls' Generation to After School and T-ara, these girl groups can be seen flaunting their shapely legs in super-mini shorts and skirts in their music videos, TV performances and awards shows.

Girls' Generation arguably kick-started the trend with the catchy dance number from their hit song 'Genie'. Former DJ and now author of the book Seoulful Living, Tan Li Yi, noted that watching that music video was the first time she became impressed by a girl showing off her legs, even though in this case, it was nine of them.

In Japan where Girls' Generation made a successful debut in September, they even earned the nickname 'Beautiful Legs Group'. Their single 'Genie' sold an estimated 45,000 copies in the first week of its release, breaking the record for foreign artists debuting in Japan.

In Thailand, girls who have been copying this fashion trend by wearing skimpy shorts and skirts even got Thai public health authorities concerned due to the threat of dengue fever. They were advised to wear long pants to better protect themselves from mosquito bites.

Entertainment journalist Tan Chew Yen from the Chinese Central Integrated Newsroom reasoned that showing off legs allows these girl groups to maintain a healthier but nonetheless sexy image. It invites less controversy and criticism from concerned citizens as compared to showing cleavage, for example, due to their young fan base.