Jun 23

An Ugly Reflection: Plastic Surgery In Korea (Guest Blog)

by in Korea

Before I post Andrea‘s great blog, I want to thank her for being my first guest blogger on this page. Guest blogging is a great way to reach new readers, as well as discover new writers. If anyone would like to write a travel, food or style related guest blog here, and in turn would like me to write on their blog, feel free to contact me, hartsallovertheworld@gmail.com

To coincide with her post, I wrote a guest blog on her website titled Medical Tourism in Thailand. Read it here.

 

 

An Ugly Reflection: Plastic Surgery in Korea

In Korea, there are mirrors everywhere. I teach English at an elementary school, and we have a mirror hanging in every classroom, and if the classroom teacher is female, there is usually another smaller mirror on her desk. My prepubescent female students often have small compact mirrors on their desks, and sometimes during class, I catch them staring at themselves. Not touching up their faces or picking something out of their teeth–but literally just staring.

Young women in the subway do the same thing, in front of whoever, wherever, and sometimes if they don’t have a mirror, they’ll take pictures of themselves on their phones in order to touch up their makeup. You’ve never seen a crowd of primping girls until you’ve walked into a Seoul Subway station bathroom.

 

Even on the beach, a woman is touching up her makeup.

 

I know it can’t be healthy to have this many mirrors everywhere, but after nearly nine months in Korea, I’m used to it. I’m also used to the fact that most Korean women appear to have what is known as a “double eye-lid,” even though according to The New York Times article about plastic surgery in Korea only one in five women is actually born with one. There’s no mystery to why this is–South Korea has the highest rate of cosmetic plastic surgery in the world. Plastic surgery has become so commonplace in this image-obsessed society that it’s talked about openly among co-workers, mothers buy their daughters surgeries as gifts, and young women grow up thinking they’ll never find love or career success if they don’t fix their faces.

The “perfect model.”

 

In addition to teaching elementary school students, one time a week I teach a class for the other teachers at my school. Wanting their opinion on the plastic surgery craze, one day I planned a discussion lesson about beauty, societal pressures, and of course, plastic surgery. I was floored when early on in the discussion, four of the six women confessed they had had plastic surgery. One of the others said she wanted surgery, except that she’s deathly afraid of needles, and the last woman said she would never consider surgery, and that she was already perfect the way God made her.

These women ranged in age from 24 to the mid-fifties, and only ONE didn’t want or hadn’t already had surgery. I was shocked, and I’m sure my non-botoxed face showed it. Back in the U.S., plastic surgery is more hush-hush (except maybe in L.A.), and these women were just listing their surgeries like they were telling me their children’s names. As an American, I’m used to hearing the stereotype that Americans are superficial and beauty-obsessed (which is definitely true to an extent), and yet, Korean societies high-standards of beauty and the extremes to which they’ll go to achieve that beauty blow those stereotypes straight out of the water.

A Korean ad for plastic surgery.

 

Many K-pop starlets get leg implants to have “perfect” legs.

 

Recently, one of my friends told me a story of having lunch with her Korean friend who had just had several facial surgeries. The Korean girl was very proud of her new look, and asked my friend what she thought. Not being one to mince words, my friend said “I liked your old face better, and I don’t understand why you felt the need to do this.” (Editor’s note: Ha ha ha ha)

The Korean girl was shocked. She started telling my friend that she needed a better look in order to be able to succeed in business and find a husband. My friend then asked her “So you changed your face for a man you don’t even know yet? You need to find a man that loves you the way you are.” The Korean girl was furious–with my friends honesty, her lack of support, and her refusal to accept that one needs a new face to find love.

 

Male plastic surgery ad in Korea.

 

It’s not just the women either–my husband works with a young, unmarried man who recently got a nose job. He explained to us over dinner that his nose was his “insecurity” and that he felt that he would feel more confident after his surgery. In a sick twist, I heard that after his surgery, some young female teachers at his school were mocking him behind his back for being insecure enough to get a nose-job. When my husband pointed out to them that they had all had eye-jobs, they told him that was different, they were women.

 

Whitening is very popular in Korea as you can see from this ad.

 

Korean plastic surgery ad.

 

In Korea, education is everything. Korean students study for hours each day, and most attend a private school after leaving their regular public school for the day. But this atmosphere makes for an extremely competitive process to enter universities and to find jobs, and this is where many Korean women think that having surgery and beautifying themselves will give them an advantage. But in the end, who can blame them? They have their K-pop stars, friends, media and even their mothers telling them that this is the way they can set themselves apart from the pack.

 

K-pop starts before and after surgery.

 

Weigh in: what are your thoughts on plastic surgery?

 

 

About the Author

Andrea Sherrodd is a writer, filmmaker, digital media enthusiast and world traveler from the United States. She has a degree in Journalism and a Masters of Communication in Digital Media, both from the University of Washington. In July 2011, she finished graduate school, quit her job as a marketing writer, got married, and moved to South Korea with her husband to teach English. She’s currently exploring Korea, traveling Asia, and planning a round-the-world trip. Follow her adventures at World Walk About on Facebook and Twitter @andreasherrod.

 

 

The author, right, and her husband, Matt.

Tags: , , , , , , , , , , ,

  • http://www.thehungryegghead.com/ thehungryegghead

    I am against plastic surgery. If someone marries you for your looks, they will leave you in 20 years for a younger version of you.
    I wrote a post about how I am against plastic surgery as well: http://thehungryegghead.com/2012/02/29/plastic-surgery-airbrushing/

  • Heather

    I had no idea that plastic surgery was such a craze in South Korea. I don’t get it — never had and never will.

  • Charlie

    I think being “against” plastic surgery is a bit short-sighted. Plastic surgery has other uses besides just cosmetic; reconstructive surgery is also included within the umbrella term of plastic surgery. Korea might be taking the trend of purely cosmetic, but in general plastic surgery has helped a lot of people.
    ” If someone marries you for your looks, they will leave you in 20 years for a younger version of you.

  • http://angrygaijin.wordpress.com/ C Ohara

    Hokey smokes! I’ve heard things here and there about plastic surgery in Korea, but zoinks! This is …. well, let me stop myself there. I’m from Canada, where it is also not the norm to talk about such surgeries. I remember in high school, friends moaning and groaning over new articles about girls being gifted breast enhancement surgeries for their birthdays. So that’s my bias. But even so – I don’t see how this can be psychologically, emotionally, or even physically good. :(

    p.s. Leg implants…? o_o

  • Cosmetic surgeries

    thank you about the information. Nice blog

  • iusta

    Excellent write up ! just want to add, ” no disrepect on koreans, i interacted hundreds of young koreans in Vancouver while I went there for school. basically their mentality is very close to chinese in an exception koreans are mostly glossy and “3D” facial than chinese.Very image obsessed and crazily competitive for educations. And that sort of atmosphere also going rampant in china in last 10 years and so now you can see plastic vanity chinese everywhere.
    Everyone said the US is one of the highly plastic countries but I never seen American in general from young to mid age that crazy , some cities yes, but not everywhere. Canada shut the door family union immigration opening her arms to wealthy immigrants from korea & china. Pray Canada still the best place to live in the world ! ( i have n’t returned since 2009 )

  • David

    Korea and Koreans are not the only ones who are obsessed with looking good and hence are opting plastic surgery of various kinds and various types. People all over the world are going crazy about plastic surgery procedures and are ready to go to any length to get their desired procedure done.

  • Pingback: South Korea : Tourists Flock to Get Plastic Surgery · Global Voices

  • Pingback: Korean Gender Reader: Slutwalk Tomorrow! | The Grand Narrative

  • Pingback: Medical Travel and the Cosmetic Surgery Scene in the Philippines | HEALYCARE

  • Dr. Emmanuel Asare

    Thanks for this post. We do see many Asian patients in our practices who are looking for either rhinoplasty, blepharoplasty (double eyelid surgery) or both. I don’t disagree with plastic surgery (as you can tell by my profession as a cosmetic physician), but I do object to a patient deciding to have surgery solely because of wanting to look good for others.It’s never a good motive. If someone truly feels that a small adjustment to their facial features would benefit how confident they are, it will serve to help them in life rather than impede them.

  • Guest

    oh wow! I had no idea to what extend this

  • http://www.tripsthatwork.com/ Irina

    oh wow! I had no idea Koreans were in cosmetic surgeries so much! However, this makes sense to me now. They started the whole BB creme obsession which is slowly making it way to North America. A very interesting insight! Thanks for writing about it!

  • http://www.facebook.com/hansol.yoon.7 Hansol Yoon

    Most of my female relatives in Korea had that double eyelid surgery. : /. Every country has its quirks.

  • camaronciux

    Plastic surgery I think could be helpful if people is looking to enhance or to improve their features but Asians are trying to become white people by bleaching their skin, openning their eyes, bigger breasts. The result might be weird if you place an european small pointy nose in an asian face etc the result is not attractive, the same happens for an european who wants asian eyes, the result might be terrifying. Having surgery for a man you still do not know or to get a job you are sure you will not get unless you change your face is really crazy, insecure, they need psycologysts in korea, not plastic surgeons, the people might have very low self esteem to think their bodies are play dough to change them according to the trend. The leg surgery is just scary, the eyes surgery is crazy. I really hope koreans could stop this obsession fast before they turn into walking freaks and one day their nose fall off their face while they´re in the subway, in western you might find people going to this extreme but they´re called freaks and we are aware of the surgery risks. What is next for Koreans? change the color of their eyes with laser?

    • m

      What an ignorant comment. Asians getting plastic surgery is not to look white. Do you not realize that there are such a variety of different looking Asians (excluding Indian b/c I’m strictly talking about oriental, southeast etc in this case)? There are plenty of Asians with natural double lids or “big eyes”, or a small nose with a bridge, also full blooded ones that are very pale. Did you ever consider that they get plastic surgery to look like other Asians they might admire or look up to? Also Asian ideal pale skin is differs from what Caucasian pale skin looks like (which tends to reddish sometimes depending on the person). Also same idea when it comes to white people wanting to tan, by your logic that must mean they’re trying to be asian or spanish or any tanned race. Of course there are exceptions, and there actually are people who may desire “white” features, but you’re misinformed if you think Asians in general are trying to become white. The typical asian nose with a bridge is very different from the typical white nose with a bridge. The asian nose bridge is not as prominent (ofc there are exceptions) and more dainty, with a tip, however not as pointy. The white bridge tends to stick out more with a pointier tip (again there are exceptions). Korea is just more open and accepting of plastic surgery than any other country, and like any business, it is heavily advertised and promoted. Why? Cus these companies want to make as much money as they can. To maintain it’s prominence, it goes to extremes, to keep the industry growing. The only reason that people outside of Korea think that ALL Koreans are so into and accepting of plastic surgery is because of how the media angles the story. Are they going to focus on the natural people of Korea? The ones who are against or haven’t had surgery? Obviously not. They’re going to focus on what’s controversial and gossip-worthy.
      I find often that just because an Asian is attractive and without stereotypically Asian features, other races or even their own accuse them of cosmetic surgery. Many Korean celebrities for example have been accused of plastic surgery when they are natural (to name a few: Lee Hyori, Honey Lee, members of KARA etc – and I know this because I’ve actually done my research as oppose to just reading a few articles and watching a few videos or listening to the opinions of a few people and believing whatever I absorb).
      Yes, plastic surgery in Korea has become prominent because its so heavily marketed and widely accepted across the country but generalizing a whole race is just ignorant. Not every Korean citizen or celebrity has had surgery. Like any other race there are attractive and unattractive people amongst them. And even given that, beauty is subjective. So just calm yourself before you start flapping your lips about Asians wanting to become white.

      Also, I’m not Korean, in case you were wondering.

      • tamagoxyaki

        Honey lee is NOT natural LOL neither is hyori her recent nose job is obvious..

  • http://www.facebook.com/MARCsaeiLOG Marc Hide Takizawa

    wow, leg implants? i never heard of that…to that extent?…huhh, korean must be so crazy!!

  • namae

    what an obsessed race ….. disgusting..

  • Expose Asian Cosmetic Surgery

    Quote:
    I’m also used to the fact that most Korean women appear to have what is
    known as a “double eye-lid,” even though according to The New York Times
    article about plastic surgery in Korea only one in five women is actually born with one.

    Where did the one in five come from?

    Asian Eyes

    by Christina Valhouli at Salon

    For Soo-Young Chin, an assistant professor of anthropology at the
    University of Southern California, having the eyelid surgery done at
    birth, as some parents choose to do to their children, is no different
    than circumcision or a clitorectomy. “When I was studying in Korea, I
    saw a lot of women with double lids. I asked one woman why, and she said
    it was because her whole generation was born that way. Obviously her
    mother had had it done to her at birth, and never told her. Well, she’ll
    figure it out when she has kids of her own.”

    http://www.salon.com/2000/02/16/asian_eyes/

  • mylooksurgery.com

    This is something really very strange about Korea..Yes women are crazy about their appearance but I did not imagine how much. Plastic surgery is an amazing way for them to enhance their beauty.

  • Adibah Arshad

    I just read in the newspaper, that a husband want to divorce his wife because they get ugly child. This is when he was marrying the wife, she already did plastic surgery and all stuff that she finally looked very pretty, but in the end who can denies the power of genetics.

    • http://www.scenewithahart.com Fidel Hart

      That is crazy. It’s a shame that people become that superficial.

  • John Denver

    They do look good after the surgery… super hot in fact. but why does this entire society need that? its weird like it is very sexualized over here. Miniskirts are a norm and the sexual frustration that builds up as you walk around is horrible.. As a westerner you tend to just block it out. LIke there are so many girls in miniskirts and non of them are overly sexual… It is like opposite of the message they convey with their bodies… It is the product of a male dominated society. It is fucked up for sure. It is sooo tiring seeing these mirrors all around… the taking the pictures of themselves is even worse cause it is everywhere… it even makes you as a westerner feel uncomfortable about yourself… This country is really confused.

  • brittsback

    I am opposed to what i would call cosmetic surgery, but I think that sometimes plastic surgery can be necessary. The obvious examples are cleft pallets and lips. In my case I had a body lift , which I also thought was necessary after loosing over 100 lbs.

  • Gina A.

    I’m from the Philippines and I had worked as an English teacher for a few months.
    My Korean students used to admire most girls with big eyes and small face.
    They would always label them as “beautiful” and would say, “I envy her..”
    And then just recently, my student who already went back to Korea told me she’s so sad and insecure for not having a boyfriend yet (anyway she’s still 19). She told me she badly needed a cosmetic surgery for her to be loved by a guy. I kept telling her she’s already beautiful and that the right man will love her for who she is. Somewhat I’m worried coz she’s really decided to do it but she just have to save money. I kept telling her that there are even girls in our county that are not that pretty yet we are contented with how we really look. I felt pity on them especially for the youngsters coz there security depend so much on the outward beauty.

  • Trimaran

    Good for them its funny when average or better looking people complain about less attractive people wanting to have a shot at what they and their better looking counterparts have. Your facial features to a great extent will determine who you date or marry and how well liked you are. You have one life, make the most out of it, the idea that you will be loved purely for who you are as a person is 95% a Hollywood fantasy. Thank goodness we live in a world where technology allows us to fix the curses nature has put on us.

  • Jen

    It makes me feel sad. It’s not the surgery part that bothers me. It’s the fact that everyone chooses the same nose, chin, eyes, everything. Whenever I look at posters of korean girls grouped together, they look the same. They’re like clones. And what’s even worse, I feel my parents want me to obtain this “look.” I’m not even Korean. I’m Chinese. They never directly say this to me, but they say I need something done. I can feel the pressure. By asian standards, I’m already pretty, but my parents say I still need the double eye lid surgery, I need to have my freckles removed, and just a few “tweaks.” If I were to follow through with all of that, I think I would look too much like everyone else. What depresses me most is that even though I’m considered “pretty,” my parents think I still need “tweaking,” like the way I look isn’t already good enough. I dislike how everyone seems to do the same thing. Like why do we have to memorize the same things? Why does everyone have to play piano or violin? Why does everyone have to look the same? Is there any individualism at all? That’s what scares me and makes me sad at the same time. My family is trying to tweak out the unique and individualism in me. The parts that really make me me. I simply don’t want to change. But the pressure is always there.

    • http://twitter.com/linadurango linadurango

      not change, be yourself, be proud of who you are =) You said, “I am prettyl” and that’s what matters. Parents will always want more for their children and will want you to be what they were not. Your own heart tells you that you’re right.

  • Schultz

    I really don’t understand people like you. Traveling to other countries and exploring the culture to do what? Mock something you are not used to? Yes, maybe it is messed up in Korea. So what? At least be thankful that you do not have to live through that yourself! Be happy you are a white American woman that is welcomed in Korea. Why make fun?

    • Karena A

      In what aspect that you think she made fun of Korean? Don’t be such a narrow-minded person. People who think that beautiful appearance can bring them great job and nice husband are the ones who actually make fun of their lives.

  • Kate

    Your observation is spot on to my experience living in Korea. Korean women and men are insanely obsessed with looks that it is rather uncomfortable and unsettling to westeners. My Korean sister in law once watched me put eye drops in my eyes (I have very big green eyes, my eyes are the most prominent feature on my face) and remarked “My life would be so much better if I had eyes like yours” This just floored me, as she is an already pretty woman who needs nothing done and looks like how she is suppose to, Korean (not white or even half white). Though what really bothered me the most about the Korean women who do get plastic surgery (most 18-40 yr olds) is how vain they came across and how jealous and insecure they were. Some girls I knew were very sweet but many were very competitive, shallow, arrogant, and diva like. These frequent attitudes turned me off from a lot of them. It also irked me how they would get surgery then act as though they are so insanely beautiful. My brother dated a Korean woman who flat out lied about getting her nose and eyes done and acted like she was born that beautiful and every man lusted after her, that every other woman needed to watch out because their boyfriends and husbands only wanted her. The level of vainity and arrogance and self absorption made me nauseated everytime I saw her and honestly, she was pretty but I had no idea what she really looked like without surgery and ten inches of makeup and nether did my brother. The materialism and arrogance and vanity among young korean women is nauseating. They aren’t all like that. But many are princess divas. And the funny thing is that they all look like clones of each other. Walk down Gangnam or Hongdae and the korean girls look like wwalking samsung robots with the same surgeries, clothes, hair, and makeup to the point that you can’t tell them apart at all. I have seen natural korean women and they don’t look anything like the plastic ones and frankly are much more unique and beautiful for it.

  • Pingback: South Korea Wins Title of Cosmetic Surgery Capital of the World- Brazil Left in the Dust. « myinnermostmusingsyounevercaredtoknowabout