South Korea - the country where doctors are turning into business men?

South Korea - addicted to plastic surgery?

Some people might think people living in Latino countries such as Brazil or Colombia are more likely to use plastic surgery considering the fact that Brazilian or Colombian women look like bimbo with perfect bodies. Well, that might be true but it is also interesting to know that one out of three Korean women have had plastic surgery (according to the press article published in Le Figaro on May 2012). According to the International Society of Aesthetic Plastic Surgery (ISASP), South Korea is the most addicted country as far as aesthetic plastic surgery is concerned. I could give more numbers and figures showing how Korean people are addicted to plastic surgery but I think personal experience is much better to continue this debate.

A society phenomenon

My personal experience might not be relevant as a few days in the country is not enough to understand the culture of any country. Yet, it is still enough to notice the most visible aspect of this society which is actually what I would like to share with you. The most striking thing is that promotion concerning plastic surgery is everywhere. Advertisements and commercial videos can be found anywhere, from the subway to your home on TV or the Internet. Parents often give to their children a “gift” when they graduate from school which is actually an aesthetic plastic surgery they’ve been asking for. This phenomenon is particularly developed among the young population and in all social classes. 

 

The young people - target of this growing business

In the entertainment world, all celebrities have had plastic surgery. It is hardly a secret and plastic surgery is presented as the key piece to success. Some clinics even offer special discounts to students that have just graduated from high school to make their eyes look bigger. Pressure from society and the entertainment world is getting more and more intense especially among young women who now think the only solution for them to succeed in their marriage or in their job life is to look as pretty as they can by using plastic surgery. They want their face to look small, their nose sharp like a Westerner and their eyes bigger, nothing like what a typical Asian woman actually looks like …  

You can find more information on all kinds of surgery a clinic such as JW Plastic Surgery Center can offer at http://jwbeauty.net.

If society seems to encourage the development of this growing business, what would become of them? What do you think about using the progress of medicine as a new business sector? The only sure thing is that Korea is becoming more and more addicted to this trend and that no one in the entertainment sector intends to set a good example to the young population. 

Flavy S.