Plastic Surgery in K-Pop
In class, it was discussed that for Koreans, plastic surgery is done for one to fit in, not to stand out (as it is suggested is the intention in the West). How has the content and themes in K-pop and other popular media supported or refuted this statement about plastic surgery? How has coverage of K-celebrity surgeries changed to reflect changing ideas of plastic surgery in Korea? What is the implication of the acceptance of surgery on youth populations?
My name is Shannon and I will be leading this week’s discussion on how plastic surgery and procedures are treated in South Korea, and the effects that news of K-celebrities undergoing surgeries have on the consumers of their entertainment.
When South Koreans get plastic surgery (whether it is invasive or non-invasive), it is known the intent is to fix something that their society decided is a flaw. Appearance is very valued in Korean culture, so it is one of the biggest expectations consumers have that celebrities need to fulfill. The concept of using plastic surgery to fit in can be seen in “many female K-pop groups… with at least one ‘visual’, as they are known, who ends up completely overshadowing the other members” (Turnbull 2017: 132). The visual’s members still need to maintain an appearance the consumers deem acceptable, so they turn to plastic surgery to fit the fantasy they are advertised to be. K-celebrities have their own standards to fit into, so it does in a way support the idea that Koreans primarily use plastic surgery to fit in with everybody else. Celebrities have their own standards of visuals they must meet; they are required to fit in with the fantasy narrative or they are deemed unattractive by the majority.
Plastic surgery has become so normalized in South Korea that most of the procedures done for Koreans are just done in a “matter of social etiquette” (Elfing-Hwang 2013: 3). Procedures like eyelid surgeries and nose jobs are so popular in South Korea, almost all K-celebrities are assumed to have undergone them unless specifically proven for each case. There are many cases where celebrities keep their procedures secret to themselves until a scandal about it arises, while others have revealed what procedures they had performed on their faces and will “even endorse the services of a particular clinic that provided them with good service” (Elfing-Hwang 2013: 3). The latter implicates a gradual acceptance in this practice in South Korean youths. Many in this generation are becoming open about the procedures they have undergone, and a new wave are planning their first time going under the knife.
Popular media promotes a standard of beauty that South Korean citizens are pushed to follow, while the people working in the popular media have their own tier of beauty to meet. They have different standards to work towards, but these guidelines to beauty change as trends come and go, and going to plastic surgery for a quick adjustment is the fastest way to do so.
Bibliography:
– Elfving-Hwang, Joanna. ” Cosmetic Surgery and Embodying the Moral Self in
South Korean Popular Makeover Culture” The Asia Pacific Journal 11, no. 2 (2013): 1-16. japanfocus.org/-Joanna-Elfving_Hwang/3956?rand=1371484060&type=print&print=1?rand=1371494556&type=print&print=1
– Turnbull, James. “Just beautiful people holding a bottle: the driving forces behind South Korea’s love of celebrity endorsement.” Celebrity Studies 8, no. 1 (2017): 128-135. 10.1080/19392397.2016.1272860
COMMENTS
Francis: Plastic surgery is probably one of the first few things people come to mind with when they think about South Korea and Kpop. While it’s undeniable that the plastic surgery industry has grown exponentially among recent years, South Korea poses an interesting contrast to other countries. Being raised in America, one doesn’t simply see others easily going around telling others to get plastic surgery; it always has been associated with serious medical conditions that patients can afford or something celebrities do to appeal as “the perfect human-being” which ties back to previous topics we’ve discussed regarding the roles idols play in not being an celebrity but also a role model in many different areas.
I agree with the points Shannon brings up regarding the extent of plastic surgery being normalized as “social etiquette.” As much as I can relate to making sure you are presentable to get a job or going outside, I can’t imagine a day where I’d have to go get plastic surgery to be even considered for a job position. With plastic surgery being promoted as the new beauty standard through our favorite idols and celebrities, it really brings up the question of how influential popular and social media have really become. If the negative effects of this being that youth automatically thinking they’ll get further in life with no failure just with this kind of cosmetic enhancement, I think it’s important to take a step back to see what other effects this kind of “normalized” behavior will do to the entertainment industry and our personal lives.
Zoe: I think in nowadays Korea it is definitely such a common thing for people to adjust their outer appearance just to fit the “standard definition of beauty of Koreans”. But I would like to talk more about the “stand out, fit in” part and compare it with the western world. Just like Dr. Saeji brought up during class, the whole idea of plastic surgery in the Korean society is for people to fit in instead of to stand out with a unique personal identity. Double eye-lid, small face, pale skin is benchmark of being beautiful and “correct” identity of a pretty person. But when we think about the Western world, one of the examples that is on the top of my head is the Kardashians. They are also famous for going through plastic surgery to change their outer appearance. However, their intention of wanting to physically stand out from the crowd is what make them want to change up their appearance. With thicker lips and bigger butts, unlike Korean standards, they stood out with a unique characteristic instead of trying to blend in along the rest of the society standards.
Diego – Plastic surgery has definitely become the norm in contemporary Korean society, like my friends have said before me, plastic surgery is definitely used as a social tool to “fit in” rather than to “stand-out.” Plastic surgery clinics are the Korean version of Starbucks in the United States, as they are so common you can find one at almost every other major street in Seoul. Shannon brings up a great point about plastic surgery being a “social etiquette,” and Francis’ response about how plastic surgery is almost a necessity to even be considered in the work place environment go hand-in-hand at how ridiculous the beauty standards are.
These surgeries aren’t cheap either. According to the website Seoul Touch Up, eyelid surgeries could go from $2000 – $4000, nose surgeries are from $4000 – $6000, and facelifts can go from $7000 – $12,000 US dollars (Korean Plastic Surgery Cost). Plastic surgery is seen as an object of status as well – being able to afford these surgeries I the first place is a “flex” and is definitely a way to flaunt one’s wealth. The negative part of undergoing surgery is that if it looks unnatural, or too obvious (even though a majority gets some done anyway), teasing, name-calling, and other forms of social defamation may occur.
Korean idols, especially girl-groups have been creating songs of self-love and to counter the very high beauty standards. CLC’s No, Sunmi’s Noir, and Glam’s In Front Of The Mirror come to mind when it comes to songs that promote self-love and swim against the current beauty standards. As Koreans are heavily influenced by trends, if the trend of self-love and the importance of one’s own individual appearance become much more apparent in mainstream contemporary culture, there will be a shift in beauty standards. Until then, the decline of these ridiculous standardized beauty standards will only be a small slope.
“Korean Plastic Surgery Cost.” Seoul Touch Up. https://www.seoultouchup.com/korean-plastic-surgery-cost/ (accessed March 15, 2019).
Rachel: First, thank you, Shannon, for leading this week’s discussion. I agree with the idea of doing plastic surgery for many Koreans is to fit in society, but more often, I think many people decide to do it to make oneself feel better about her, or himself. For instance, there is a common phrase that Korean celebrities who have already revealed about their plastic surgery in the past say, “자기만족 때문에 하는 거죠” (we do it for our self-satisfaction). Not only Koreans but Western celebrities like Kylie Jenner has undergone lips injections a few times said she did it to make herself feel better. Before she went through the surgery, Kylie often mentioned about having her small lips make herself feel insecure all the time. Also, if one does plastic surgery and becomes prettier, obviously others around that person will receive an additional impetus even more.
Another example is when people get influences from idols, celebrities, or talents and decide to go through the surgery to follow their admiring role models’ image by fixing their outer looks. Seeing many pretty faces, or perfect looking men in the TV every day gives new motivations for the audience to think that having that ideal looking face means success.
Block B 