[xYinniex]

the thing is, you're all taking it as a racist attitude, but actually it is far from that.

Historically, it was down to class differences, but now it's just people knowing that they look better with paler skin.

Koreans and japanese have very pale skin because of the climate and geographically where it is. It's a physical adaptation- genetics and environment affecting gene phenotypes- survival of the fittest.
Those who don't have pale skin strive to be because asian people's colour has a tinge of yellow in, Chinese/korean and Japanese who are less pale, the colour is more noticeable and in that way, sometimes it may look sallow and uneven because it is tanned and it's yellowy.

I wouldn't say they want whiter skin, but a fairer complexion because it generally looks better.
because pale has more chance of being rosy
not pale means more chance of being yellower.

It's absolutely nothing to with race.

FYI. asian's try to gain a fairer skin complexion by using rice water [when you've washed the rice, the murky water] and milk.