Soeun Yoon/ Chapter5 final draft/ Tuesdays 34

Plastic Surgery Boom in Korea   Roaming around the streets of Gangnam, I am constantly surprised by the rapidly increasing number of cosmetic surgery clinics in South Korea. Every five minutes on the streets, I can spot at least one woman wearing a mask to cover up her face that needs recovery from plastic surgery. According to the figures provided by the International Society of Aesthetic Plastic Surgery, Korea has the highest proportion of population undergoing cosmetic surgery, with one in every 77 Koreans turning to the knife or the needle. Some doctors claim that the number may even be considerably higher since the surgical procedures often take place at private clinics and only a fraction of them are recorded.    Regarded by many as one of the highest paying jobs in Korea, many medical students aspire to become plastic surgeons once they graduate from medical schools. My uncle, Hoon, was not an exception. Although he had initially wanted to become a neurologist who treats patients with conditions such as Alzheimer's disease and Parkinson's disease, he had to go for a more lucrative option to support his aged parents and five siblings. Back then, he was the sole breadwinner of his big family and following his interest instead of money was not an option for him. In our interview, he enlightens us about some of the major factors contributing to the rising number of Koreans having plastic surgery. Describing the current boom in plastic surgery where at least one in five Korean women between the ages of 19 and 49 undergo cosmetic surgery, he suggests three significant elements causing such an explosive trend. While Hoon provides interesting insights into the history of plastic surgery and its recent boom in Korea, I question cosmetic surgery's ability to grant people better lives.   Hoon begins our interview by explaining the history of plastic surgery which people have been engaging in for centuries and across cultures. "In pre-industrial China, women bound their feet to have smaller toes which were then viewed as beautiful. The Mayans practiced body piercing and tattooing was prevalent in ancient Egypt. Indeed, altering one's appearance to achieve a particular look is not a new phenomenon." However, while humans have engaged in body-altering practices for centuries and across various cultures, deliberately altering one's appearance was not a common practice in Korea until recently. According to Hoon, this owes much to Confucianism, which formerly played a major role in the life of Koreans. Since Confucianism strongly urged against altering one's body, considering it a gift from one's parents, not many people were willing to take the chance. However, as modern Koreans have gradually grown apart from Confucianism, their attitudes towards cosmetic surgery have also seen considerable changes. Now more than ever, Koreans are open to having plastic surgery to achieve more attractive looks.   Hoon goes on to explain the three major factors causing such cosmetic surgery boom in Korea. One explanation he provides is that attractive appearances are often associated with positive social benefits in Korea; hence, many regard having surgeries as a worthwhile investment. "Think about matchmaking agencies in Korea. They almost always rate facial attractiveness as the most important factor ahead of any other qualities like education or family background when seeking a favorable marriage match. This makes people all the more open to plastic surgery." Hoon then reports numerous studies which show that at the workplace, overweight and unattractive people are frequently met with prejudices in hiring, advancement and salary. "In a recent survey, almost 70 percent of over 200 job recruiters in Korea admitted that the appearance of applicants affects their decision in hiring. We can't blame these Korean women for trying to live up to the society's standards."   Hoon believes that celebrity influence is another key factor causing this increasing rate of plastic surgeries in Korea. A lot of famous celebrities have drastically altered their appearances by undergoing surgery, and according to Hoon, their successful transformations have provided motivations for the general public. "You won't believe how many patients visit my clinic with photos of celebrities. They ask me to make them look exactly like those stars. It's unbelievable!"    The last factor Hoon points out is Koreans' desire to achieve more "Westernized" looks. This is reflected in the popularity of a procedure commonly known as the double eyelid surgery, which reduces excess skin in the upper eyelid to make the eyes look bigger and more like those of Westerners. Another common procedure is jaw reconfiguration, which was originally developed to correct orthodontic problems but has now become an increasingly popular means to achieve a smaller and more sharply-defined face. Hoon finished his interview by urging that we must carefully think about the consequences of plastic surgery before blindly jumping on the bandwagon.   After my interview with Hoon, I spent some time thinking about whether plastic surgery is really capable of bringing people the happiness, recognition, and success that so many people believe attractive looks will naturally bring along. Plastic surgery is undeniably something that thousands of people have laid their thoughts on, especially women who are always pressured to look beautiful. Every woman wishes to look younger and more beautiful since they are highly judged upon their looks. It is true that better looking people get different treatments in the society whether in their workplace or in relationships with others. So I asked a question to myself. Would I choose to have plastic surgery if I could look ten years younger and more beautiful by the time I reach the age of forty?   I have to say my answer to this question is no. I believe people should admit to the passage of time. Youthful energy is a gift only given to us in our twenties, whereas the maturity and feelings of security can only be obtained when we reach the age of forty and above. How can one mature into a better person if he or she persists in the beauty far away? True, some memories from the past continue to reside in us and constantly remind us of how good things were back in the days. We instinctively strive to forget about the harsh presence and live in the beautiful past. However, we must realize that there are gifts in life which can only be achieved when time allows them. Though being pretty may be every woman's wish, there are more important gifts in life which cannot be bought through plastic surgery. I believe that beauty may be important, but going against the nature to realize beauty is unwise.   Hoon believes the increasing number of Korean women turning to plastic surgery is concerned with their aims of moving up a step in social ranks, resembling celebrities they admire, and achieving a more westernized look. Though I agree with his argument that attractive appearances can bring positive social benefits, plastic surgery is certainly not a panacea which can solve everyone's problems. I believe reversing the passage of time through plastic surgery will only take away valuable gifts that life can offer.