30 Percent of South Korean College Students Seeking Cosmetic Surgery

[ashiva.livejournal.com]

Kim Yoo-mi, a 20-year-old student at a local junior college, is busier during her summer break than she was when school was in session. Part-timing at a convenience store in the morning and at a department store in the afternoon, she's working every minute of her vacation toward her very first nose job.

"It's hard sucks to work 12 hours a day, but getting my nose lifted is going to be completely worth it," said Kim, who blames her low nose bridge for low self-esteem.

With 700,000 won in savings, she has less than one month to make 1.5 million won to help pay for the surgical procedure that's expected to total about 2.5 million won.

If money allows, Kim says she even plans to have double eyelid surgery.

The college sophomore's open attitude toward cosmetic surgery isn't uncommon as it reflects the perspective of today's early 20-somethings.

In fact, more than 30 percent of 921 male and female university students said in a survey Tuesday that they plan to seek some kind of plastic surgery during their summer vacation.

More women (40 percent) were up for cosmetic enhancement than men (19 percent), according to the poll done by online job portal Career, but an overwhelming majority of respondents said there was no shame in getting a little nip and tuck for a boost in confidence.

Almost 80 percent of those who were willing to undergo a surgery said they hoped to get rid of their physical inferiority complex, while others named better looks and job hunting as their top reasons for turning to a cosmetic surgeon.

Eyes, nose and teeth, in that order, were the areas that respondents wanted the most work done, with both men and women putting the popular double eyelid surgery as No. 1 on their wish list.

Lee Dong-jin, a plastic surgeon at BSL Clinic, said people's overall perception toward cosmetic surgery has drastically changed in recent years, as more celebrities are openly accepting facial enhancements.

"Such openness is fanning the plastic surgery trend more, so young students should especially give it thorough thought on why they're wanting to undergo the procedure," he said.

According to the poll, more than 41 percent of respondents up for a surgery plan get money from their parents, while the remainder are working part-time jobs to shoulder the costs that typically range anywhere from 1.2 million won to 7 million won.

Source

Comments

[jorge-callas.livejournal.com]

I think 30% is a lot. I don't know anybody who has gone or even has plans to do it.

[iman-tan.livejournal.com]

What's with Korea and plastic surgery? D:

[jaded-skys.livejournal.com]

there's actually a korean myth in which a bear wanted to be human so she could marry a god, and the god told her to only eat mugwort and garlic, and stay in a cave without light for 100 days. so there's a link between "suffering" to become beautiful, through both diet and surgery.

[mylittlebambi.livejournal.com]

so beauty is indeed in the eyes of the beholder....

btw is being a plastic surgeon will make you one of the top richest people in SK?

[shiddex.livejournal.com]

the sad truth...
sob sob.

[treasurewindow.livejournal.com]

^What I imagine as a cosmetic surgeon as he/she operates on the patient.

[czarny.livejournal.com]

Is that a doll to the right? lol

[albeitalways.livejournal.com]

hmm.. interesting. i know cosmetic surgery is quite the norm there, lol even kids as young as 12 undergo the knife, but only 30%?? thought it was a bit higher.

[czarny.livejournal.com]

30% of people who admit to it, of the remaining 70% there will be those who probably wouldn't be so honest.

[tsuyogari.livejournal.com]

parents, don't encourage that shit! D:

[sehcee.livejournal.com]

whats so awesome about double eye lids?

[czarny.livejournal.com]

I really haven't a clue and want to know what all the fuss is about lol.

[czarny.livejournal.com]

My Korean friend mentioned she wanted it too recently =// I mean I want to change things about myself too but I'd rather spend the money on lots of ramyeon.

[shuttist.livejournal.com]

agreed...
and maybe more merchandises on fandoms..:x

[aetheristic.livejournal.com]

Honestly, this is a world issue, not just Korean.

There's this TV show that started recently here: "10 Years Younger in 10 Days". They find these really run-down people who look a lot older than they should and give them a makeover.

Said makeovers ALWAYS include some sort of facial plastic surgery, whether it's botox or something a little more drastic.

We need a Carson show where people can be made to look good and feel good about themselves the way they are, not "oh hey we wanna make you look ten years younger *cuts face off*"

[maisoui.livejournal.com]

We need a Carson show where people can be made to look good and feel good about themselves the way they are, not "oh hey we wanna make you look ten years younger *cuts face off*"

IA.

[breathe-ai.livejournal.com]

Reminds me of an article I read where parents in Korea were giving their kids plastic surgery as graduation presents...I'm also surprised it's just 30%

[maisoui.livejournal.com]

That's just a lot of money that would be better to save and/or put to use later in life on things that matter (marriage, house, kids, or even travel..I can think of a million things!).

[walnuuut.livejournal.com]

OMG THISS

[umbrella-smile.livejournal.com]

Soon, no one will be able to imagine what their kids will look like with their significant other cause no one will have their DNA given parts...

[sehcee.livejournal.com]

THIS.

[baeby-bloo-skys.livejournal.com]

who blames her low nose bridge for low self-esteem
...i don't think it's the nose bridge giving you the low self-esteem honey :/

if people wanna do cosmetic surgery, that's their choice. i just find it sad that so many people are turning to it because they don't feel good about themselves otherwise.

[evil-zucchini.livejournal.com]

I read an article that parents were actually giving their kids cosmetic surgery as graduation presents or bribes to do better in school. Sucks even more when the parents themselves are encouraging this sort of thing.

[bellaprincess9.livejournal.com]

I'm sure that is lots of places.

[deazaskia.livejournal.com]

oh wow. is having a double eyelids will change the entire look of ur face? and that's a lot of money! i would have bought any things with that amount of money. *__*

[thegreencloud.livejournal.com]

I honestly don't think it's that expensive; no wonder everybody's doing it. My braces are costing me 3 times as much D:

[schizofragile.livejournal.com]

who blames her low nose bridge for low self-esteem
I have this too. The nose insecurity. But surgery seems too painful ;A;

Well lol that's humans for you. Always wanting what he does not have.

[chickadork.livejournal.com]

Ummm I think everyone is being a little harsh, I mean as far as I've read even something like getting a job can be determined by your looks in S. Korea. How would you feel if something like your nose and eyes were stopping you from doing your dream?

Here in America it's almost expected that you get braces some time in your life and I don't see much of a difference between that and other cosmetic surgeries. (Braces are mostly cosmetic, we all survived without them before!)

And all those make over shows prove that people's self confidence can be hurt by even one thing you think is "wrong" with your appearance. I felt 10 times better about myself after braces, because before I wouldn't even smile I felt so self conscious about it.

Ahem. Big rant point is that if they want to work that hard to earn money for a surgery that they think will help them and better their lives, then who's to judge?

[patapoufe.livejournal.com]

The ethics of cosmetic surgery aside, I've had braces too. Is it cosmetic? Yes, but so is make-up and getting your hair highlighted. None of it changes the structure of your face. That's a far cry from going under the knife, and I think it's a bit of a stretch to say there's no difference.

[dipropylene]

I don't really see any problems about cosmetic surgeries. It's people and their bodies & money. And what right do other people have to say someone doesn't need it? If a person feels better after a nose job, so be it. I'm still waiting the day I can afford to have my nose fixed.

[aici-rua.livejournal.com]

I have no issue on that but I hate how the number of people who want to do it are so big and it's so encouraged by parents

[aici-rua.livejournal.com]

:/

[hp-groupie.livejournal.com]

I truly wonder if people in Korea would think that people like Alicia Keys or Beyonce fat, because of their shapes, or think people like Usher are fugly, because of his large nose. Or they wouldn't find Helen Mirren an elegant woman because she didn't get plastic surgery to change her nose or tighten her wrinkles.

In America and around the world, they were or are sex symbols. I don't want to generalize, but why so particular Korea?

[luvey.livejournal.com]

i think the 30% is really lowballing it. but it is kinda sad that a country is pretty much changing it's physical features on such a large scale. it's like the future generations will come out and go "WTF, where did my nose come from? " and also go under the knife to fit in.

[v-rosesandwine.livejournal.com]

The new happening plans for summer vacations: Get your nose/eyes/teeth fixed.

[nubby-tail.livejournal.com]

lol with a lot of my college friends, it's to get that tanned summer bod, usually through exercising and going out.
Talk about v. different from Korea...

[jtyy239.livejournal.com]

Honestly I thought it's more than 30%. It's such a norm to get your face fixed in Korea, so I'm not really surprised they get money from parents or work their asses off just to get a nosejob. But the truth really saddens me. As much as I like to have permanent double eyelids (because mine is all funny and almost not visible sometimes), I wouldn't spend so much to get a surgery done.

It's just.... :\

[nubby-tail.livejournal.com]

But are your eyes big to begin with, bb?

My bff has single eyelids but her eyes are HUGE so getting double eyelids wouldn't really change much for her (except perhaps the way she does her makeup or smth)... And srsly all my family members know that if they need to get anything done right, they should go to Korea. =\ Eh, I'm not surprised.