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What features are associated with the Baekje smile in Buddhist art?

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Map of the Korean Peninsula highlighted in orange, showing North Korea in the north and South Korea in the south. The peninsula is bordered by China and Russia to the north, the Yellow Sea to the west, the East Sea (Sea of Japan) to the east, and Japan across the sea to the southeast. A small inset globe at the top left shows the peninsula's location in East Asia. — Korea Map of the Korean Peninsula, indicating northern and southern regions.

The "Baekje smile" is a distinctive and expressive feature found in the Buddhist art of the Baekje kingdom, one of the three ancient kingdoms of Korea.1

This stylistic hallmark is characterized by the following qualities:

Warm Human Expression: The smile is noted for reflecting warm, human qualities that distinguish Baekje sculpture from other regional styles.1
Soft Modeling: The Buddha statues associated with this feature are typically crafted with soft, delicate modeling.1
Relaxed Posture: These figures are often depicted in relaxed, naturalistic poses, which complement the gentle and expressive nature of the facial features.1

These artistic traits are often attributed to the influence of southern Chinese art from the Six Dynasties period, reflecting the kingdom's openness to foreign cultural exchanges.12