More men are getting plastic surgery in South Korea, is it influenced by KPOP?

Samantha Ho on Monday, October 15, 2012 11:00PM

Increasingly more South Korean men are willing to go under the knife; opting for plastic surgery to improve their facial features. In South Korea, the market for men-only plastic surgery clinics is expanding. Previously, men were hesitant to obtain plastic surgery, and those who did it wanted it to look as natural as possible. Now Korean men are bolder with their decisions, frequently asking for highly noticeable nose implants, wanting to achieve higher nose bridges similar to those found in Caucasians.

Some Korean men feel that it’s not a shameful decision, others believe that looks can help them acquire jobs, and 73% of women find that there’s nothing wrong with men going under the knife. Another factor worth considering is the entertainment industry.

To begin, I personally feel that one person does not have the right to judge another if they decide to get plastic surgery. It is an extremely personal decision, and does not affect other people in any negative way. Let’s face it, everyone wants to be attractive. (Look at the picture above, honestly, he looks great.)

South Korea is known as a country with a thriving plastic surgery industry, and I find it interesting, but not surprising, that more men are getting it. In Asia, I feel that the standards are climbing as to what is considered attractive, fashionable, and simply presentable, for men. Especially in Korea, many beauty companies and cosmetic stores are choosing male celebrities to represent them. Perhaps this installs an idea in male consumers that they should strive to look attractive as well. (I also find this marketing tactic brilliant, women will be attracted to stores having their favorite idols’ posters, and the market for men can be expanded as well.)

I also find it so intriguing that some believe that looks will help them acquire jobs. To some degree, it’s true. My school’s business club is preparing us for a national business competition, and from the club leader, “Look good. You get free points for looking good.” First impression is important for job interviews, and how good looking you feel can play such a big role in your confidence. Perhaps Korean men feel that being charming is a life long advantage. (Some Koreans offer their children plastic surgery as graduation gifts.) In South Korea, plastic surgery is just so accessible, men can easily achieve this goal. It’s also a very successful country, and people can easily afford it nowadays.

Finally, close to our hearts, the KPOP world. Idols are figures that people look up to, and in Korea, they all look amazing. Some even share openly that they’ve got work done. When idols get into scandals, intense criticism arrives at how they are setting poor examples for the people that look up to them. This shows how much idols can influence their fans. If idols in your culture are beautiful, they’ve got the love of their fans, and they are accepted for getting plastic surgery, wouldn’t you find plastic surgery a good thing too?

So, what do you think on the KPOP industry and its effects on Koreans getting plastic surgery? If you were in Korea, would your thoughts on plastic surgery be different than it is now?

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