Group to rally against plastic surgery
By Jon Dunbar
Korea Times file
Korea is well-known for its omnipresent plastic surgery industry. Plastic surgery clinics especially crowd the affluent district of Gangnam, southern Seoul. Ads crowd public places suggesting people compare themselves, tweak their looks and pursue self-betterment through medical procedures. Many citizens reject that plastic lifestyle.
“Here rivers of blood flow beneath the surface through the sewers from the numerous plastic surgery clinics where women go to be butchered, not because they enjoy being cut apart, but because advertising, TV shows and other images make them feel they must do so,” said Emanuel Pastreich, head of the Asia Institute. “Plastic surgery is a taboo topic, like abortion or suicide. We want to make it visible because the signs and advertising make it so visible.”
Pastreich's institute is co-hosting a public gathering next Monday morning casting a critical eye on plastic surgery culture.
“Misuse and abuse of plastic surgery techniques, which were supposed to be used for the good of humanity, is a threat to social stability,” said Lakhvinder Singh, head of the Korean Peace Movement which is also co-hosting.
The event is titled “Peace march against cultural violence towards women.”
“The most basic violence against women in our society is cultural, and not physical. Much of the physical violence women encounter is largely a product of the cultural violence perpetrated against them. Plastic surgery and the cult of the woman as object for consumption is at the center of this cultural violence against women, and it has formed a particularly lethal strain in Korea, especially in Gangnam,” Pastreich said. “Consumerism is the key here, but consumerism is itself the result of a deeper spiritual malaise.”
Participants will view plastic surgery ads in Apgujeong Station, then talk on how modern culture turns women into objects for consumption. Also, poets Lee Eun-shim and Maija Rhee Devine will give poetry readings.
“The anti-consumerism content interested me,” said Rhee, who wrote a poem for the event. “I have also been interested in and upset with society's overwhelming favoritism toward women _ and men _ of good looks. This type of consumerism, overemphasis on appearances and upholding of superficial values disheartens me, as the message it sends out is external, physical appearances matter more than internal, intellectual qualities.”
This problem must be fought at the individual and societal level, according to Singh.
“We need to teach that inner strength and self confidence is the real deal,” he said. “At the societal level we also need to mend the way we look at the role of women in society. Social pressure on women to look beautiful and charming must cease. Let her be her own.”
“I passed on my values against vanity of all types and degrees to our five children,” Rhee said. “I am happy to see in them no-nonsense attitudes about values that embrace superficiality and narcissistic and mindless consumerism.”
The event starts at exit 5 of Apgujeong Station at 10 a.m. Monday morning.
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