Anthropological characteristics of modern Koreans in head form

Generally, head size is defined with length, width and height. Length and width characterize head size on a horizontal plane, and height defines head size on a vertical plane. And the indices consisting of length, width and height indicate the shape of the head.

Here, we show the features that appear in the shape of the Korean head through an indices consisting of length and width of the head. Generally, the head indices, which consists of length and width, are recognized as one of the relatively variable signatures depending on various factors.

There are different views regarding the factors that govern the differences in head indices. One such view is that people's occupations regulate the shape of their heads. People believe that when the lateral head is compressed laterally, both professionally and in custom, the head becomes dolichocephalic. In contrast, when the head is pulled on both sides, length is shortened and width is widened to become brachycephalic.

These are mechanistic comments and lack scientific validity. There is also a view that the living environment has a direct effect on the head shape.

Korean people have the shortest head length, but the width is wide. Short and broad head is a peculiar feature of Koreans. The head indices define the shape of the head. Koreans belong to a typical brachycephalic.

As seen above, Korean people are a unique population group of brachycephalic heads, which have anthropological characteristics distinguishing them from those of neighboring regions in their head form.