ahmd The Pursuit of Beauty at Any Cost Within the last few decades, South Korean media & pop culture have taken the world by storm. Known as hallyu, the giant media wave of popularity has established South Korea into a media powerhouse capable of captivating the world’s screens with music, television and cinema. Popular Korean television soap operas (Heirs, Running Man, My Love From Another Star) currently boast millions of views from people all over the world. Korean music popularity has also skyrocketed in popularity in recent years, which can be attributed to the ever-increasing presence of the Internet & the music videos associated with Korean pop groups. Perhaps a link can be established between the growing popularity of Korean music and sexually suggestive & risqué music videos that depict group members who appear beautiful without any imperfections. Interestingly, the fixation of beauty & physical perfection that Korean pop stars seem to have permeates beyond the musicians & directly influences their viewers & listeners alike. Widespread power and influence of Korean media companies bombard Korean society and the internet with unattainable images of beauty results in a viewership fixated on achieving a standard of beauty unavailable to most people. As a result, the prevalence of plastic surgery in South Korea has blossomed into an exorbitantly profitable business. In 2014, South Korea alone dominated the global plastic surgery market by 24%. The country’s market share equates to nearly 5 trillion dollars (USD) (Korean Intellectual Property Office). Despite the enormous financial & economic success that South Korea experiences, I argue the success of pop star groups, tied with the flourishing plastic surgery industry results in more harm than benefit for Korean society. Moreover, I argue that plastic surgery & beautification in South Korea function as more of a status symbol than for one’s own happiness or desires. Understanding Korean history and culture before the widespread popularity of Hallyu becomes pertinent in examining the circumstances in which Korean pop star groups were able to skyrocket to worldwide recognition. As Epstein & Turnbull note, “Although more traditional consumption of Korean pop music exists… Korean popular music is driven by the visual, not only via live performance on television but in music videos” (Epstein & Turnbull 316). As this quotation reveals, Korean media companies have created a unique niche in which many pop star members now not only reach their listeners through music, but also attract a wider audience through their music videos. In these videos, the girls are presented as beautiful women with very few physical imperfections. It is no coincidence, then, to recognize the simultaneous cultural phenomenon of widespread plastic surgery within South Korea. According to a recent survey conducted by the Seoul city government, the survey “found that 31.5% of residents 15 or older were willing to und.

1. ahmd
The Pursuit of Beauty at Any Cost
Within the last few decades, South Korean media & pop culture
have taken the world by storm. Known as hallyu, the giant
media wave of popularity has established South Korea into a
media powerhouse capable of captivating the world’s screens
with music, television and cinema. Popular Korean television
soap operas (Heirs, Running Man, My Love From Another Star)
currently boast millions of views from people all over the
world. Korean music popularity has also skyrocketed in
popularity in recent years, which can be attributed to the ever-
increasing presence of the Internet & the music videos
associated with Korean pop groups. Perhaps a link can be
established between the growing popularity of Korean music
and sexually suggestive & risqué music videos that depict group
members who appear beautiful without any imperfections.
Interestingly, the fixation of beauty & physical perfection that
Korean pop stars seem to have permeates beyond the musicians
& directly influences their viewers & listeners alike.
Widespread power and influence of Korean media companies
bombard Korean society and the internet with unattainable
images of beauty results in a viewership fixated on achieving a
standard of beauty unavailable to most people. As a result, the
prevalence of plastic surgery in South Korea has blossomed into
an exorbitantly profitable business. In 2014, South Korea alone
dominated the global plastic surgery market by 24%. The
country’s market share equates to nearly 5 trillion dollars
(USD) (Korean Intellectual Property Office). Despite the
enormous financial & economic success that South Korea

2. experiences, I argue the success of pop star groups, tied with
the flourishing plastic surgery industry results in more harm
than benefit for Korean society. Moreover, I argue that plastic
surgery & beautification in South Korea function as more of a
status symbol than for one’s own happiness or desires.
Understanding Korean history and culture before the
widespread popularity of Hallyu becomes pertinent in
examining the circumstances in which Korean pop star groups
were able to skyrocket to worldwide recognition. As Epstein &
Turnbull note, “Although more traditional consumption of
Korean pop music exists… Korean popular music is driven by
the visual, not only via live performance on television but in
music videos” (Epstein & Turnbull 316). As this quotation
reveals, Korean media companies have created a unique niche in
which many pop star members now not only reach their listeners
through music, but also attract a wider audience through their
music videos. In these videos, the girls are presented as
beautiful women with very few physical imperfections. It is no
coincidence, then, to recognize the simultaneous cultural
phenomenon of widespread plastic surgery within South Korea.
According to a recent survey conducted by the Seoul city
government, the survey “found that 31.5% of residents 15 or
older were willing to undergo surgery to improve their looks. In
2007 the percentage was 21.5%” (Choe). These shocking
numbers reinforce the countless anecdotes of young people who
envision that life will be better after going under the knife. In
examining the economic climate & historical causes behind the
recent plastic surgery craze, Wang notes:
“With heavy layoff rates and fewer job openings, the
employment market began to also include appearance as one of
the selective conditions for hiring a candidate. This practice,
which is still in existence today in the country, requires the
applied job candidates to attach professional headshot photos at
the top corner of the job application form” (Wang).
While most can agree that job searching & job applications can
be a difficult and arduous process, the fact that South Korean

3. people are evaluated for potential employment based on
physical appearance seems superficial. Employers should be
objective in their selection of prospective employees &
selecting applicants based on their appearance undermines their
success and achievements. I believe that in requiring applicants
to send a headshot with their application, employers send a
chilling message to the people in South Korea: what one looks
like matters significantly more than who one is.
South Korea’s plastic surgery & entertainment industries
are heavily intertwined and both industries profit from their
respective economic growths. This can be directly seen in a
typical new patient questionnaire that is given to prospective
patients when they begin shopping for surgical procedures.
Questions such as “which entertainer do you want to most
resemble?” and “do you have other friends considering plastic
surgery? If so, how many?” indicate the grappling hold that
media companies & the dominant plastic surgery market have
on South Korean society. This can be seen in Holliday &
Elfving-Hwang’s text, where they found that: “public attitudes
to aesthetic surgery in Korea have become increasingly positive.
In general, cosmetic surgery is perceived as a worthwhile &
understandable investment in the body, rather than a sign of
vanity” (Holliday & Elving-Hwang 2012). The cultural
acceptance of plastic surgery can be further illustrated by the
fact that many young girls are promised cosmetic surgery as a
reward for completing a task, such as passing a college entrance
exam or receiving a degree from university. Parents often pay
for their children to undergo these procedures in hopes of
increasing their child’s potential chance of meeting the best
potential spouse for marriage. Additionally, a music video
recently produced by the popular K-Pop star group Six Bomb
where the members consult a plastic surgeon and each undergo
plastic surgery.

4. Interestingly, these music videos depict plastic surgery in such
a nonchalant manner that it provides the impression that
permanently altering one’s physical appearance is not only
common, but also blatantly encouraged. Moreover, the
hypersexualization of prominent media figures sends a direct
narrative to South Korean society, particularly the women. The
messages directed towards women are received loud & clear:
men choose their potential marriage partners through physical
beauty & little else.
The surge of popularity plastic surgery receives in South Korea
even extends to foreigners visiting South Korea. As Oh notes,
“the local Korean context is already globalized & hybridized as
the local/global boundaries become more fluid” (Oh 62). As this
quotation reveals, Korea’s global media presence provides
various South Korean entertainers to reach audience members
all around the world. As a result of South Korea’s expansive
reach, medical tourism has exploded within the last few years,
as many people now equate South Korea as a destination for
affordable & effective plastic surgery. Foreigners gain exposure
to South Korea through re-watching old soap operas or watching
Korean game shows on the Internet. As people all over the
world now recognize, Korean media performers & plastic
surgery go hand in hand. The narrative of not good enough
echoes through every music video, sexualized lyric &
advertisement people must see each & every day. The pertinent
question to be answered for individuals who become hypnotized
by South Korean beauty standards becomes not “Should I get
plastic surgery, but “when?” The recent influx of interest
surrounding South Korean plastic surgery further illustrates the
pervasive influence of Hallyu, as many Chinese foreigners filled
plastic surgery clinics to satisfy their “infatuation to look just
like Korean celebrities” (Kim). Business officials in Korea have
proposed catering entire floors to these Chinese tourists, as they
bring big business & an influx of constantly new customers
eager to undergo the knife. South Korea has truly taken on its
new role as plastic surgery capital of the world in stride. South

5. Korea recently passed The Tourism Protection Act, proposing
construction of an “all-in-one, one-stop surgery complex” fully
equipped with “transportation services, medical-care operating
rooms, lodging/hotels, aftercare facilities, as well as food &
drinks, shopping, sports & recreational facilities” (Wang). As
this quotation reveals, the potential financial gain from a
flourishing medical industry has not gone overlooked by South
Korean government. While the country itself may benefit from
the economic boost, the enormous pressure placed on South
Korean society results in deep-rooted, systemic societal issues
that manifest as health consequences. These seemingly
harmless, normal procedures can have catastrophic
complications that outweigh any potential desire to fix any
perceived physical imperfections. The success of the plastic
surgery industry tied with the popularity of Korean pop star
groups results in a society that constantly reminded to be
unhappy with their physical appearance through commercials
and advertised plastered all over public transit.
The persistent reminder of physical inadequacy can be
catastrophic in an individual prone to self-esteem issues & body
image problems. Perhaps the most tragic case can be evidenced
in former Korean model Hang Mioku. Mioku worked as a model
in her early 20s & received her plastic surgery procedure at the
age of 28. Obsessed with the pursuit of softer skin, Mioku
eventually resorted to injecting herself with black market
silicon as well as cooking oil. The substances resulted in
massive inflammation that resulted in permanent disfiguration
of Mioku’s face. Her appearance was so drastic that she was
unrecognizable to her parents.

6. Mioku’s story is a tragic one but there are countless other young
people who are bombarded with advertisements that indicate
that they should not be happy with their appearance & that
plastic surgery can solve any insecurity regarding physical
appearance. The immense fixation on physical appearance
inevitably believes one to question whether South Korean
society cares more about what someone looks like rather than
who that individual is. According to Holliday & Elving-Hwang:
“The most popular cosmetic surgeries in South Korea are eyelid
surgeries (blepharoplasties) and ‘nose jobs’ (rhinoplasties),
although jaw reshaping – performed using oscillating saws to
reduce the angular prominence of the mandible” (Holliday &
Elving Hwang 60).
These elective surgeries are certainly not risk-free. In jaw
reshaping surgery, the surgeon reduces the physical contours of
the chin but often times must dislocate the jaw to reset the jaw
to a more angled appearance. From an anatomical standpoint,
the jaw is filled with a rich neurovascular supply that can
become compromised if mishandled. Permanent consequences
include hemorrhage, shock, & paralysis of the muscles of
mastication. These injuries can severely affect quality of life in
young patients. Additionally, patients can lose permanent
sensation in the orbital area when patients elect to have
blepharoplasties completed. The fact that such dangerous
procedures rank among the most popular elective procedures in
South Korea reinforces the notion the pervasive influence of
Korean media & the plastic surgery industry. Moreover, the
psychological trauma & immense societal pressure that drives
individuals to elect to have these procedures done illustrates a
burning desire for people to fit in & seemingly appear to have
been blessed with everything that matters in life.
South Korea remains one of the most interesting countries
in the world in terms of its culture, history & people. Examining

7. why the Korean medical & music industry have experienced
rampant success in the last few years has been particularly
interesting since my only point of comparison is my experience
living in the United States. Specifically, Los Angeles is known
as a materialistic & superficial place but living in the city I
have never experienced the blatant advertisements for plastic
surgery everywhere I go. South Korea’s globalization efforts
inevitably result in financial benefit for it’s economy. It is
important to be cognizant of the advantages of globalization, as
seen through medical tourism, plastic surgery & the increasing
popularity of pop star groups & their music. However, the
health consequences outweigh the benefits experienced.
Through my study of South Korean pop culture & the
phenomenon of beautification through plastic surgery, I have
gained an immense appreciation & respect for the importance of
cultural values and differences. I believe embracing ones
physical imperfections allows an individual the chance to gain
additional happiness and live a more fulfilled life.
Works Cited:
BBC Newsbeat. "K-Pop band Six Bomb 'celebrate' plastic
surgery with before and after videos." BBC Music, March 16,
2017. Accessed March 20, 2017.
In a BBC Newsbeat article, BBC discusses the popular Korean

8. pop star group ‘Six Bomb’ and their recent decision for all their
members to undergo plastic surgery. The controversial decision
cost nearly 88,000 USD and all members had almost every
procedure done from blepharoplasties to breast augmentation
procedures. I would like to use this non-scholarly source as a
platform to discuss the immense pressure that these women
must feel in order to stay relevant in the public eye. The fact
that all four of the girls received almost every plastic surgery
procedure imaginable In order to rid themselves of their
physical imperfections illustrates the profound point that these
artists are not viewed as humans but instead are utilized as
advertising campaigns to further solidify the agendas of big
Korean media companies.
Choe, S. (2011). In South Korea, Plastic Surgery Comes Out of
the Closet. The New York Times. Retrieved March 17, 2017.
Choe’s article was important for my paper because it provided
me with real life examples of women who were searching for
plastic surgery. It allowed me to understand that the prevalence
of plastic surgery is a multi-factorial issue but it is a systemic
issue that becomes perpetuated by various forms of media
(specifically in television & music videos).
Epstein, Stephen, and James Turnbull. "Girls Generation."
In Korean Pop Culture Reader, 314-39. Durham, NC: Duke
University Press, 2014.
In Epstein & Turnbull’s study, they studied the various ways in
which Korean media pervades every aspect of South Korean
society. They specifically looked at the prevalence of Korean
music videos and the importance of these music videos for
advertising for various Korean media companies. By portraying
all of their artists within the media’s image of beauty, these
media companies can set out to set their own standards of

9. physical attractiveness and beauty which then reaches the
general public and profoundly affects the self-esteem and worth
of women all over the world. I plan to utilize Epstein &
Turnbull’s text to delve into how Korean media companies
utilize musical groups to project an unattainable image of
beauty and prosperity that many will reach for and never
achieve. Specifically, examining the factors related to music
video production and various advertisements throughout Seoul
will help me gain a better understanding of the influence of
Korean media on beauty standards within the culture.
Holliday, Ruth, and Joanna Elving-Hwang. "Gender,
Globalization and Aesthetic Surgery in South Korea." Body &
Society 18, no. 2 (2012): 58-81.
In Holliday & Elving-Hwang’s text, they analyze the various
plastic surgeries that are popular within South Korea.
Specifically, they examined the various popular surgeries
known as blepharoplasties, rhinoplasties and jaw reshaping. In
their text, the two authors delineate the various risk factors and
benefits of each procedure. Learning about the specific
procedures that are done in Korean plastic surgery and the
prevalence of complications allows a more holistic view of what
types of procedures are popular and why. I would like to utilize
Holliday and Elving-Hwang’s journal article to examine the
industry of plastic surgery within South Korea and analyze
various factors related to healthcare. Specifically, I would like
to analyze various ways in which many women pay for surgery
and how it affects them post-surgery in terms of health and self-
esteem.
Kim, Chul-joong. "Beauty Industry Could Create Next Korean
Wave." The Chosun Ilbo, October 15, 2009. Accessed March 5,
2017.
This article helped me understand the cultural values that

10. Koreans share & the importance of being accepted within the
society. It provided me with a different lens to view the subjects
of medical tourism & body dysmorphism.
Oh, Chuyun. "The Politics of the Dancing Body." In Korean
Wave, 53-81. Palgrave Macmillan, 2014.
In Oh’s text, she analyzes the various ways in which Hallyu, or
the “Korean Wave” has skyrocketed in popularity. She
specifically examines the various ways in which fans interact
with these music groups and how many people utilize the
internet to access music and music videos that allow the
pervasive influence of Korean pop star groups and Korean
culture. Additionally, Oh argues that the way in which these
Korean media companies present music is primarily through
music videos. Specifically, these music videos often have young
girls who are beautiful without any physical deformities due to
their extensive plastic surgery. I will utilize Oh’s text in
conjunction with Epstein & Turnbull’s paper to examine the
connection between the popularity of Korean pop star groups
and the prevalence of plastic surgery among the general
population.
Wang, Yuqing. "Behind South Korean Cosmetic Surgery: Its
Historical Causes & Its Intertwined Relationship with Korean
Pop Culture." Master's thesis, University of Delaware, 2015.
Accessed March 11, 2017. Proquest.
In Wang’s text, she reveals “nearly 15 million cosmetic surgery
procedures were done in 2011 in South Korea.” Specifically,
Wang’s paper attempts to establish various connections between
the booming industry of plastic surgery in Korea with the
prevalence of Korean pop star groups and their pervasive
influence on the general public. Additionally, Wang contends
that the popularity of plastic surgery within Korean culture is
not due to the popular belief that many Koreans are trying to

11. assimilate into Western culture. Rather, Wang argues that
historical and cultural factors are the reasons for the popularity
of plastic surgery within South Korea. I plan to utilize Wang’s
journal article in my paper to examine the popularity of plastic
surgery within South Korea as well as examining the historical
and cultural factors that shaped the current climate of plastic
surgery and pop star groups.
Plastic Surgery in Korean Pop Culture.
Project Website:
*** related to my topic ! (read my research paper which I
uploaded and relate my content in a website check below what
is required from you in the website
This is linked to my research paper : Korea Plastic surgery in
pop Korean pop culture.
Project Website:
*** related to my topic ! (read my research paper which I
upload and relate my content in a website check below what is
required from you in the website:
- Please attach a document with a link to your final web-based
project website.
This website should transmit the research ideas from your final
paper to a wider audience.
Websites can take the form of a blog, informational website,
Tumblr feed, or other web-based multimedia site.
WORD PRESS IS A GREAT EXAMPLE TO USE TO CREATE
MY WEBSITE!

12. Be aware that my professor will host the webpages on a central
site for our class. Make sure you are comfortable sharing any
content you post and that you receive consent from anyone
outside the class who you choose to interview or feature
prominently on your website.
Websites must contain:
• Images (from the web or original, can be original artwork)
• Original video or audio content (and optional linked video
content) o E.g. simple animation, narration, recorded
interviews, music video, creative film, etc.
• Other links to web content
• Annotated bibliography of resources for further research on
your topic (you can find my annotated bibliography at the end
of my research paper.)
WEB-BASED PROJECT GRADING SCHEME (make sure it has
all those as that’s how I will be graded)
Researched Information & Content 20%
Visual Imagery/Design 20%
Original Audio or Video Content 20%
Bibliography 10%
Web Links 10%
Overall Creativity 10%
Clear Communication of Project Ideas 10%