Posted on 01/02/2009 6:21:40 AM PST by TigerLikesRooster
Economy Blunts Korea’s Appetite for Plastic Surgery
By MARTIN FACKLER
SEOUL — A grim frugality has settled over this export powerhouse that once burst with optimism — and silicone.
Cosmetic surgery took off here after South Korea’s spectacular recovery from its currency crisis a decade ago. Rising living standards allowed ever-growing numbers of men and women to get the wider eyes, whiter skin and higher nose bridges that define beauty for many here. Improved looks were even seen as providing an edge in this high-pressure society’s intense competition for jobs, education and marriage partners.
But turmoil coursing through the financial world and then into the global economy has hit South Korea hard, as it has many middle-income countries. The downturn drove down the stock market and the currency by a third or more last year, and the resulting anxiety forced many South Koreans to change their habits.
A particular chill has seeped into the plastic surgery industry, emptying waiting rooms and driving clinics out of business.
“In hard times, people always cut back on luxuries like eating out, jewelry and plastic surgery,” said one plastic surgeon, Park Hyun, who has seen the number of his patients drop sharply. “If this is a normal recession, then these desires will eventually get reignited, and our patients will come back.”
After a pause, Dr. Park added: “If this downturn is like the Great Depression, then we are all going to get killed off.”
(Excerpt) Read more at nytimes.com ...
Women like her gather once or twice a year for a school reunion or two. It is important that they look young and fresh at the gathering. There is intense peer pressure at work. The first psychological impact of economic hardship on these women is the realization that they may not have money to pay for plastic surgery to keep up their appearance. No money means that you can no longer do maintenance plastic surgery, leaving the natural aging process take its course. What that means is that they will look suddenly 10 years older.
It is like a bubble propped up by loose credit. No more credit, the market tanks. No more money, you suddenly turn into an ugly hag. That causes severe anxiety among these women to the point that they develop morbid fear of the reunion day approaching. They picture themselves going to the reunion and finding out that they look like grandma while their friend look like in their youth. For them, it is a terrifying thought.
Ping!
Ping!
In other words, Koreans were using plastic surgery to try to look more like white people. There's nothing wrong with Koreans looking like Koreans.
I agree that there’s nothing wrong with Koreans looking like Koreans, but I won’t waste my time trying to convince any of ‘em of that fact.
Part of Dear Leader’s plan to reunify - he need lots of plastic surgery to get rid of his chia pet look.
Don’t knock it til you’ve tried it!
I lived in South Korea for 2 years teaching. Its definitely a different world. They do like their plastic surgery. And even the skinny people think they’re fat. They all want the “Sex and the City” lifestyle, but of course very few of them ever acheive it - And Seoul is no New York City either, thats for sure.
Funny thing is that they do not want to go full Caucasian. They like to look half Caucasian, a kind of figure you can typically see in Japanese Manga.
By the way, Apgujeong is basically "Android Central." Surgically enhanced look-alikes are said to fill the street there.:-)
I say it’s great. If they can afford it, go for it. I don’t think teens and some in their 20’s should do it because they don’t need it. But,I’ve seen wonders in some of my ‘older’ friends. They have had the eylids and jowls lifted and they look wonderful. A man I know fixed just the bags under his eyes and he looks 10 years younger!!
Asian kids want to look white.
White kids want to be gangsta rap stars.
Black kids want to be kung-fu masters.
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