The Inexplicable World of Korea #10 - Cosmetic Surgery

Cosmetic Surgery in Asia - The Desire to Look "Western"

An interesting observation that one can make when coming to Asia is that the ideals of beauty are the complete opposite from western cultures. In North America, we desire to be thin and dark skinned. That tanned look is "healthier", and maybe even indicates wealth. In poorer countries in Asia if you are fat and white, then you are rich. The fat people have enough food and the lighter your skin means you don't have a job working in the sun, thus you are more well off.

In Korea and China, they have taken it one step further. They actually want to RESEMBLE western/European people. They have taken to rejecting their own racial features (almond eyes, flatter faces, darker skin), in search of having a more "western" face. In Korea, a smaller face, high cheek bones, protruding nose and bridge, the double eyelid, smaller chin and jaw are all considered to be part of a beautiful face. It's astonishing to watch as parents are buying their daughters plastic surgery as a high school graduation gift. The younger you have the surgery is considered beneficial because you still have time to grow into your new features. The subway is full of plastic surgery clinic ads. I'm pretty sure there are more cosmetic surgeons in Korean than regular doctors. Plastic surgery is so prevalent In Korea, that approximately 1 in 3 people have had it, and most aren't ashamed of talking about it.

Here are some videos that both appalled and intrigued me. Plastic surgery is a very foreign craze to me. The host of the show in the Korean video is sporting what is called the "Gangnam face". Plastic surgeons are so prolific in Gangnam, the wealthy upscale neighbourhood in Seoul that was put on the world map by rapper Psy, that you can literally pick out the typical face that women are getting. Even scarier is how all the Miss Korea pageant contestants in 2013 looked identical.

China is one of the biggest consumers of Korean plastic surgery

Korean plastic surgery show

Plastic surgery has become part of the culture here; a very scary, unappealing part. Even foreigners come to Korea in search of cheap surgery. The airport information booth has brochures about surgical clinics, procedures, and medical insurance. In a country with such a high demand for perfection, and an abundance of surgeons, it's no wonder a nose job will cost you a fraction of the price in Korea compared to the USA. You can pay for your flight, the surgery, and in patient care for less than it would be to have it at home.

A simple Google search reveals lots of news articles being written about it. A really disturbing one was about a clinic that was fined for having a monument of chin bones they had removed from patients displayed in their entrance.

Personally, I think Korean women are beautiful and they should stop trying to look like a completely difference race! The ideals of beauty in this country are frustrating, as so many people don't fit into their mold of perfection. I think Korea needs a beauty reality check.

Jennika