Cosmetic Surgery: Usuk’s not the Only One

[mikey]

A little off-topic, perhaps, but here’s an article (from “Digital Chosunilbo”) about the popularity of cosmetic surgery in Korea.

I was thinking that Usuk was a little out-there, but perhaps she’s actually just a pretty typical teenaged Korean girl??

english.chosun.com/w21data/html/news/200702/200702220030.html

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Half of Korean Women Have Had Cosmetic Surgery

Eight out of 10 Korean women over the age of 18 feel they need cosmetic surgery, and one out of two has undergone cosmetic surgery at least once, a survey has found.

According to a doctoral dissertation published Tuesday by Um Hyun-shin of Kyung Hee University's Clothing and Textiles department, a survey of 810 women aged 18 and over living in Seoul and Gyeonggi revealed that 69.9 percent, or 566 of the respondents, said that they suffered stress because of their appearance.

In particular, 81.5 percent of women between 25 and 29 felt the need for cosmetic surgery and 61.5 percent of that group said they have already had it, suggesting that cosmetic surgery has become commonplace for 20-something Korean women.

As to whether cosmetic surgery is necessary, 72.6 percent of respondents said it should be done if needed, while only 20.4% said it should be avoided if possible. [emphasis mine - mikey] Asked to identify which areas of their appearance they were most dissatisfied with, 17.1 percent said their lower body, followed by the abdomen (14.6 percent), body weight (12.5 percent), height (11.6 percent), skin (11.1 percent), face (9.6 percent), and upper body (9.5 percent).

The most important factor in determining beauty was cited as the face (25.8 percent) and body shape (18.6 percent), which placed above personality (13.5 percent) and attitude (10 percent). As confirmation of Korean society's emphasis on appearance, 55 percent agreed that ‘external factors, rather than internal factors, are more important in defining a person’s beauty.”

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I find it kind of distressing . . .

[Knov1]

Yeah, it's a common thing in Korea. It used to be something that was well known but not talked about. It seems they're more open about it now. There's been quite a few female celebrities that have openly talked about what they've had done. I don't know if you watch the Heroine 6/6 Girls segment of the Happy Sunday show. Plastic surgery is something they openly talk and joke about on there. When Jeon Hye Bin joined Heroine 6 she said she had gotten some work done after getting into an accident. Jung Sun Hee jokingly replied that getting something done was one of the requirements to join Heroine 6. It's a well known fact that Hyun Young has had several things done. They joke about it on the show all the time.

[BAE]

So, in PIH when Mrs. Park wanted to get botox or something like that done to look good for her interview, she wasn't just exaggerating, but it's really something that Korean women are struggling with? That's so sad. Mr. Park laughed at his wife when she wanted to get MORE work done, but this is no joking matter if the general consensus of a country is that surgery will make them more beautiful or youthful.

[Lucy]

Speaking of Usuk and plastic surgery, want to bet that when she finally meets Shinhyeong's brother, they are going to fall in love? That boy is cute for a reason.

[gpaul]

Shinhyeong's brother is very cute, but doesn't he look too young to be a doctor and have done his two years of military service. He looks to be about 21 at the most.

[zorro]

In real life it surprises me, but on these shows, not so much because they all seem to place so much emphasis on going to hospitals, even for a cold. It would follow that they would consider cosmetic surgery as just another medical remedy and not abnormal.

Contrast that to Dae Joyoung where many of he characters are shot with arrows or cut with swords, and insist that they're fine, and then usually prove it by healing good as new a few episodes later.

[Lucy]

gpaul said:

Shinhyeong's brother is very cute, but doesn't he look too young to be a doctor and have done his two years of military service. He looks to be about 21 at the most.

I was planning to post about this today, too. It's ridiculous. I believe that plastic surgery is one of the specialties with the longest training. It's ridiculous to me that this kid, who is not even old enough to be out of medical school, is supposed to be a qualified plastic surgeon.

OTOH, I've read that in Korea a lot of doctors are getting into the act, and that technically you don't have to be a specialist to do plastic surgery as long as you're honest about your credentials (or something like that). So, with these casual attitudes toward what is dangerous surgery, it doesn't really surprise me that some dude who hasn't even been practicing for 18 months in ANY capacity, let alone plastic surgery, is doing phone consultations. I like that conversation, "I have a friend who wants cosmetic surgery. Please give her a big discount." "What does she want done?" As if he's taking an order for Chinese food. Correct me if I'm wrong, but I believe that conversation is more properly to be had with the patient. (sarcasm)

[ginnycat5]

I'm going to try to pay attention to what he calls Sinhyeong, or isn't unni used brother to sister? Because it's for Older sister. She is 28, like Yunhu? Or is he 30?

Okay, checked Koreanwiz' site for PIH board. Brother is 28 and Yunhu, Ugyeong, and Shinhyeong are 29. Kang Gun-hyung is the brother's name.

Who are these?:
Park Il-woo (33): ___
Na Pal-la (38): ___ pushy fan?
Kim Sun-hwa (45)___ insurance lady?


Mr. Go (Mr. Hong's assistant, 45): Lee Han Wi : I thought I saw him on a variety/talk show, and the subtitle in Korean said (60), like that's his age. He's 45 in this show, so maybe I'm wrong. Many actors in this country try to keep their ages secret.

[ovaridedis24]

ginnycat5 said:

I'm going to try to pay attention to what he calls Sinhyeong, or isn't unni used brother to sister? Because it's for Older sister.

I thought I remember that they mentioned that he was younger than Sinhyeong. He'd have to call her nuna/noona....I know he's older than Yunjeong (whose 23 according to Korean Wiz) for sure because she called him 'oppa'.

[zorro]

Mr. Go was on Old vs New? last night.

OVD where you been??

LOL at Lucy…

[Soju]

Na Pal-ja is indeed Pung-gu's #1 fan.

Kim Sun-hwa is Park Dong-guk's former assistant, "Miss Lee".


"Miss Lee"

[ovaridedis24]

zorro said:

OVD where you been??

I've been here, I just haven't been watching as much K-drama as I normally do. Sort of felt like taking a little break from them. I still watch Pure In Heart, even though I wonder why sometimes. ...Thanks for asking. ;D

[BAE]

Wait, I've been noticing this since they introduced the character of Sujeong (sp.?) on the show. But, doesn't she look like she's had some work done on her lips? I mean, she barely seems to be able to open them... They don't look natural. Maybe I'm just being paranoid because of all this cosmetic surgery talk?

[justin]

And as long as we're on the topic--does anyone else think either one or possibly both of Sujeong and Gukhwa are post-blepharoplasty? I know having large eyes isn't unheard of for Korean people, but still, knowing how common the procedure is makes me suspicious.

Mrs P looks like she's had more than a few facelifts.

[Lucy]

Sujeong definitely looks like she's had a lot of work done. That nose, for one thing. I didn't notice her eyes, but the lips and nose look plastified.