What's the Deal with Face Masks?

from the drama City Hunter

EXO member at the airport

Aside from the obvious, 

that celebrities wear them in airports, 

& theives and vigilantes wear them on 

the dramas,

what's the actual deal with face masks

in Asian cultures--like Korea?

Wearing a face mask is a normal sight here in Korea. People of all ages wear them, and they have no negative connotations. A few of the main reasons for wearing them are--

• You're sick, and you don't want to spread your germs while in public, as a courtesy to others.
• There's a bug going around, or it's a season where people often get sick, and you don't want to be breathing everybody else's air (especially on the subway).
• Air pollution.
• It's cold, and man, those things help keep your face warm.
• Some young people may wear them as part of a fashion trend, or even in some cases if they have acne or aren't wearing makeup? This is alleged on my part, I just read that online.
• Sometimes they look like kitty faces =^.^=

<3 강다은 Da Eun