Importance of Plastic Surgery in Korea
Korea is well known for many things such as fashion, music, and food. However, it is also a very popular destination for plastic surgery! In some districts you will be able to see multiple buildings with signs for cosmetic clinics, and there will be ads posted along the walls of subway stations and bus stops. This raises the question as to why plastic surgery is so common, and the influences it has on individuals who live in or travel to Korea.
Accessibility
As mentioned before, cosmetic clinics are widely available. This is especially the case for the Gangnam district. In the perspective of maps, it is at the Centre and an easy stop from subway line 2 which connects to many of the popular districts of Seoul such as Hongdae, Itaewon, and Seongsu-dong. This is one of the many reasons that Gangnam is also known to have high housing prices. Although the following is an assumption, I believe that is also why many cosmetic clinic owners have set up their stores in the area, as it allows them to promote their business simply by the location.
Beauty Standard
From my experience, I have often heard that the beauty standard of Korea is a small face with a v-line, and double eyelids. It’s difficult to say when these standards started to become prevalent, but I believe it is associated with the human tendency to prefer symmetrical and proportional faces. This is something I learnt previously in a Psychology course, and it is said to be relevant to natural selection and liking familiarity.
These standards are reinforced by the people we see online and on television. As a generation that intakes vast amounts of media, the people we see highly influence how we feel we should view ourselves. In addition, Korea’s job market is competitive due to its high population in contrast to the jobs available. As a consequence, some companies will consider the appearance of an individual during their application process. Some may have noticed this when they are told to attach a photo to the resumes.
Common Procedure and Gifting Cosmetic Surgery?
The most common cosmetic procedure is the double eyelid surgery. Within the procedure there are different methods. Some will consist of focusing on the front end of the eye, the back, or both. A good doctor will also consider the shape of your eye pre-procedure for a natural method that also fits what the patient wants.
As it is a procedure that is not as invasive as jaw surgery and can heal a fair amount within 2–3 weeks, many high-school students have been found to ask their parents for the procedure as a graduation gift. With that said, it is still a procedure where one must undergo general anesthesia therefore, it is recommended to do your research on the clinic and the possible risks.
Each culture has their set of beauty standards, and it’s important to remember that we should not deprive our mental health to fit into those standards. However, it’s also important to respect those who decide they would like to undergo cosmetic surgery because each individual is in charge of what they would like to do to their body, and the thoughts of others should not be a deciding factor.
If you’re interested in an in-depth look into university life as a student who underwent surgery, I would recommend the drama “My ID is Gangnam Beauty” starring Cha Eun Woo and Im Soo Hyang as the main leads!
