Often I read about the increasingly high number of women undergoing plastic surgery in South Korea. For me I can never fully understand why so many women go to such lengths to change their appearance because personally I think Koreans have the most beautiful features with amazing bone structure and jaw lines.
I touched upon this subject many times with my friends so I just wanted to share a few things about what I have learnt in trying to understand why Korean women want to change their facial appearance. My friends often reply in the same way when I ask them this question and say....
"In Korea, beauty means looking Western! Korean women want white skin and bigger eyes!!"
My best friend often tells me she envy's me because she wants my big eyes and high nose and always states my skin is so beautifully white while referring to herself as being yellow?!?! Its so weird but even my male Korean friends say they are more attracted to women who have big eyes and white skin because it makes a woman look much more beautiful almost to the extent where a woman looks like a doll.
Alot of Korean women undergo the "Double Eyelid" surgery in South Korea to make their eyes look rounder or bigger seeking a more western look. Some women spend endless amounts of money on skin whitening products and there is even a special eye glue you can buy to give yourself a double eyelid if you can't afford to go under the knife.
Recently I have also learnt of a new cosmetic procedure known as v-line surgery. It involves breaking and shaving the jawline to create a v-shaped face.
Standards in Korea are Extremely high when it comes to the way you look and there are even strict rules about how you should look in the workplace, it is said to be far harsher than western countries. I read that Job applicants are commonly required to submit head shots with their resume and employers scrutinise the looks of the applicants in search of their physical attractiveness in addition to their personal qualifications.
I know that beauty if prized almost everywhere in the world but South Korea is a very competitive society and the pressure to conform to this western ideal beauty is becoming obsessive and common in people of all ages.
A Korean magazine I read last year advised their readers to spend 30% of their income on looking good stating the reason....
"You will end up with a better and richer husband"
.....apparently this is seen as a sensible investment!
Women of a marriageable age are also said to be under intense pressure to look their best at all times in order to find a good husband and highly consider plastic surgery.
Male cosmetic surgery is also on the rise and with this I can see equality both sexes are placed under similar beauty pressures. It goes to show that an increasing number of men are also prepared to take the risk and undergo cosmetic surgery in order to look their upmost best.
As Koreans embrace this possibility of transformation I guess it can also be seen as a natural progression for those raised in a culture with enormous pressure on citizens.
