Actress Han Chae-ah has revealed that her current fitness journey is being guided by a specific aesthetic role model: BLACKPINK’s Jennie. In a recent video uploaded to her YouTube channel, Han shared her dedicated workout regimen, which includes late-night flying yoga and outdoor running despite the winter chill.
During a personal training session, Han opened up about her goal of achieving "right-angled shoulders"—a straight, well-defined shoulder line that has become a major beauty trend. "These days, I practice opening my shoulders every time I look in the mirror," she shared. "I feel like my right-angled shoulders will be complete by this summer. I really want to have beautiful shoulders like Jennie."
Understanding the "Right-Angled" Silhouette
A "right-angled" shoulder is characterized by symmetrical shoulder blades and a straight horizontal line from the neck to the arm. While genetics play a role, this shape is heavily influenced by daily habits. When shoulders "roll" forward, the pectoral muscles—which connect the ribs to the shoulders—contract and tighten. If this posture becomes chronic, the muscles shorten, leading to the permanent slouch known as "rounded shoulders."
To maintain a straight frame, posture correction is the first priority. When using smartphones or computers, devices should be kept at eye level to prevent the neck from leaning forward. Experts also warn against looking down at phones while lying down, as this creates intense tension in the neck, trapezius, and arms, further exacerbating shoulder rounding.
Strengthening the Upper Body: Shoulder Presses and Lat Pulldowns
Following Han Chae-ah’s example, specific resistance training can help reshape the upper body. The shoulder press is a foundational exercise for this goal. To perform it correctly, sit at the edge of a bench with a dumbbell in each hand, elbows bent at a 90-degree angle. With the dumbbells aligned with your ears, extend your arms upward while keeping the shoulders stable and avoiding a "shrugging" motion. For best results, aim for three to five sets of 15 repetitions.
Developing the latissimus dorsi (the "lats") is equally vital. This large back muscle extends from the spine to the arms and helps pull the shoulders into a neutral position. The lat pulldown—performed by sitting at a machine and pulling the bar toward the chest—strengthens the back, helps straighten the shoulder line, and can even alleviate chronic neck and back pain.
Relaxing the Trapezius Through Targeted Stretching
While building muscle is important, it is essential to relax the trapezius muscle, which spans the back of the neck and shoulders. When the body is hunched, the trapezius becomes overactive and tense, causing the shoulders to appear "raised" or "bunched," which ruins the desired straight silhouette.
A simple at-home stretch can counteract this tension:
Sit upright with a straight back and gently lift one shoulder.
Tilt your neck toward the opposite side.
Use the hand on the tilted side to apply very light pressure to the head.
Exhale while reaching the opposite arm toward the floor, consciously pulling the raised shoulder down.
Hold for 15 seconds and repeat on the other side.
