By Bae Ji-sook

If you think cosmetic surgery is only for women, it’s time to reconsider. According to a report by the Seoul city government, the number of older males reacting favorably to cosmetic surgery has more than doubled in the past two years. This apparently reflects the growing trend of “lookism” or an “aggressive approach to look better in other people’s eyes.”

The administration surveyed 22,600 males in Seoul and found 30.5 percent of those in their 20s and 30s as well as 16.1 percent of those over 50 years old responding that it’s okay for men to undergo plastic surgery for aesthetic purposes. The noticeable change was among the older generation: while the figure rose to about 9.8 percent among the younger males, it marked an over two-fold increase from 2008, when only 8.6 percent approved of it.

Twenty-nine-year-old Chung has gone under the knife three times ㅡ twice for a nose implant and once for double eyelid surgery. He said he doesn’t feel embarrassed at all.

“Before, I always thought I was the unattractive one. When good looking guys confidently flirted with girls, I always couldn’t stop staring at them. But after surgery, I feel equally confident. I could talk to any girl and some of them tell me that I look nice. It helped my business and in other aspects in life,” he said. “I recommend it to other people. Why stress when you can change it?”

“Politicians are receiving Botox or double eyelid treatments as well as actors becoming instantly more attractive and it has influenced ordinary people to consider plastic surgery,” Park Yong-nam, a plastic surgeon, said. “Many people think appearance is one of the crucial factors for competitiveness. It boosts one’s self confidence, which is positive for life overall,” he added.

Meanwhile, the city administration’s report suggested some interesting figures showing the changing trends and patterns of general ideas of males nowadays. While the younger generation prefers buying a car over a house, the older ones were more eager to own a house. Only 0.2 percent of the males in their 20s and 30s and 3.8 percent of those over 50 expected their children to support them during their post-retirement lives.

About 46.4 percent of single men in their 20s and 30s consult with their mothers when dealing with various problems but only 10.3 percent sought their fathers’ help.

The researchers said the number of males in Seoul marked 4,974,000, accounting for 49.5 percent of the total, a 6.6 percent fall from two decades ago.

The ever-accelerating aging population will change the demographics ㅡ in 2030, the largest age group will be those over 60 years old, numbering 1.2 million or 26.8 percent of the total.

Currently, the largest portion is 30-somethings accounting for over 19.1 percent, followed by 40-somethings and 20-somethings, marking 16.4 percent and 16.2 percent, respectively.





서울 20-30대 남성 30% 성형수술 OK


서울에 사는 20-30대 남성 3명 중 1명 정도는 남성도 외모를 가꾸기 위해 성형수술을 할 수 있다고 생각하는 것으로 조사됐다.

서울시가 지난해 만 15세 이상을 대상으로 실시 2일 발표한 '서울서베이'에 따르면 남성의 성형수술에 대해 긍정적인 답변이 50대 이상은 16.1%에 그쳤지만 20-30대에서는 약 두배인 30.5%에 달했다.

2년전 조사 결과와 비교하면 남성의 성형수술에 대한 호의적 시각이 50세 이상은 8.6%에서 약 두 배로 뛰었고 20-30대는 9.8%포인트 상승했다.

20-30대 남성은 집을 마련하기 전이라도 차가 있어야 한다고 답했지만 50세 이상은 집을 먼저 꼽았다.

자녀가 노후생활을 책임질 것이라는 기대는 20-30대가 0.2%, 50대 이상이 3.8%로 큰 차이가 없었다.

20-30대 미혼남성은 고민이 있을 때 46.4%가 어머니와 상담하고 있으며 아버지를 찾는 경우는 10.3%에 그쳤다.