Cosmetic surgery in South Korea
Holliday and Elfving-Hwang suggest that the pressure of success in work and marriage is deeply rooted in one's ability to manage their body which is influenced by beauty.
[2] As companies helping with matchmaking for marriage and even job applications require a photo of the individual, Korean population inevitably feels pressure to undergo plastic surgery to achieve the "natural beauty".
[4] According to ISAPS data as of 2021, South Korea has estimated the highest number of plastic surgery cases per capita in the world.
[5] The modern Korean interest in appearance dates back to the 7th century, finding its roots in physiognomy (gwansang).
[6] Due to the 1997 Asian financial crisis, South Korea deregulated the labor market;[7] Korean citizens tried all they could to get an edge over competitors for a job position, including cosmetic surgery.
[6] This still happens in the current day, as companies require a photo, height, and sometimes the family background of applicants as a part of the hiring process.
According to a Statista survey in 2020 which interviewed a total of 1,500 people, plastic surgery is prevalent among young women in South Korea.
They are commonly found among young Korean pop stars and can give the face an elf- or childlike appeal.
[12][21] A maxillofacial surgeon and former professor at Columbia University said the V-Line surgery is complex and carries risks of permanent numbness and death.
[12][22] Examples of Korean celebrities that have undergone a "nose job" include Kim Hee-chul, Jessi, and Soyou.
Some negative effects from the procedure are as following: low blood pressure, rash all over the body, and problems with the digestive system such as nausea or vomiting.
With the rise of popularity of K-drama and K-pop around the world, numerous people opted South Korea to undergo cosmetic surgeries.
"South Korea's plastic surgery business is gaining popularity because of the country's quick, affordable, efficient, safe, and high-quality healthcare system.
[33] Public backlash to ghost surgery has led to the mandating of security cameras in operating rooms in South Korea.
[37] Another study made by Young A. Kim, Duckhee Chae and Hyunlye Kim about "Factors Affecting Acceptance of Cosmetic Surgery Among Undergraduate Students" affirms that the rise of the beauty standards conveyed by television, internet, actors and stars of K-pop affect people's mental health by decreasing their self-esteem and increasing their anxiety.
[40] A 2021 study found correlation between negative body image or evaluation and acceptance of plastic surgery among South Korean college students.
Due to a lot of competition in the job market, appearance is considered an important factor when hiring, which pressures people into undergoing surgery to get an edge over their competitors.
