Most people want to look beautiful or handsome. But, Koreans seem to have an unhealthy fascination with face and body "perfection." Too many of them are dying ― not just figuratively, but literally ― to look better.
It seems that not a week goes by without at least one report of someone dying during cosmetic surgery these days, the season for plastic surgery for those about to enter new schools or workplaces.
In Korea, it seems, people regard their looks as a major source of ''competitiveness" in finding mates and even jobs. The frequent deaths related to plastic surgery are rather inevitable.
According to International Society of Aesthetic Plastic Surgery (ISAPS), Korea tops the list in the number of cosmetic operations ― 13 per every 1,000 in population. The domestic plastic surgery market accounts for about 5 trillion won, about one-fourth of the 21-trillion won global market, which is similar in scale to the home-shopping market here.
That means Koreans change their noses, eyelids, jaws and bellies at about the same clip as they chose items to buy on TV.
Perilously lacking is appropriate medical equipment to deal with emergencies that can occur during plastic surgery. Only 1.2 percent of clinics in Seoul's Gangnam area have emergency equipment, such as ventilators and defibrillators. Nor do they hire resident anesthetists, who hop from clinic to clinic.
Some plastic surgeons conduct up to 15 operations a day according to preset timers ― one hour for doubling eyelids, two hours for lifting noses and four hours for rounding rectangular jaws.
It is long past time for the health and welfare ministry to come up with far tougher regulations on emergency equipment and anesthesiologists. Unless the government applies some shock therapy, by shutting down poorly equipped clinics, deaths during surgery will continue in significant numbers.
No less problematic are the omnipresent advertisements on newspapers, TV screens and subways, which combine "lookism" with Korean's time-honored exhibitionism, to bring generate money for the industry, mass media and the government bent on promoting medical tourism.
At the Apgujeong subway station alone, in the heart of Gangnam ― the plastic surgery capital of Asia ― there are 110 ads full of "before" and "after" images. Seoul needs to ponder why some advanced countries, including France, ban such plastic surgery ads.
It is hard to blame people for wanting to look good. Nor should one criticize the cookie-cutter Gangnam-style girls and boys as long as they want that. Advice that a strong personality and noble mind are more important than uniform looks and appearance would probably get nowhere in today's Korea, where many hope to become like idol stars and cool guys.
Nevertheless, it is the responsibility of the government, and society in general, to reduce or eliminate these unnecessary deaths.
It seems that not a week goes by without at least one report of someone dying during cosmetic surgery these days, the season for plastic surgery for those about to enter new schools or workplaces.
In Korea, it seems, people regard their looks as a major source of ''competitiveness" in finding mates and even jobs. The frequent deaths related to plastic surgery are rather inevitable.
According to International Society of Aesthetic Plastic Surgery (ISAPS), Korea tops the list in the number of cosmetic operations ― 13 per every 1,000 in population. The domestic plastic surgery market accounts for about 5 trillion won, about one-fourth of the 21-trillion won global market, which is similar in scale to the home-shopping market here.
That means Koreans change their noses, eyelids, jaws and bellies at about the same clip as they chose items to buy on TV.
Perilously lacking is appropriate medical equipment to deal with emergencies that can occur during plastic surgery. Only 1.2 percent of clinics in Seoul's Gangnam area have emergency equipment, such as ventilators and defibrillators. Nor do they hire resident anesthetists, who hop from clinic to clinic.
Some plastic surgeons conduct up to 15 operations a day according to preset timers ― one hour for doubling eyelids, two hours for lifting noses and four hours for rounding rectangular jaws.
It is long past time for the health and welfare ministry to come up with far tougher regulations on emergency equipment and anesthesiologists. Unless the government applies some shock therapy, by shutting down poorly equipped clinics, deaths during surgery will continue in significant numbers.
No less problematic are the omnipresent advertisements on newspapers, TV screens and subways, which combine "lookism" with Korean's time-honored exhibitionism, to bring generate money for the industry, mass media and the government bent on promoting medical tourism.
At the Apgujeong subway station alone, in the heart of Gangnam ― the plastic surgery capital of Asia ― there are 110 ads full of "before" and "after" images. Seoul needs to ponder why some advanced countries, including France, ban such plastic surgery ads.
It is hard to blame people for wanting to look good. Nor should one criticize the cookie-cutter Gangnam-style girls and boys as long as they want that. Advice that a strong personality and noble mind are more important than uniform looks and appearance would probably get nowhere in today's Korea, where many hope to become like idol stars and cool guys.
Nevertheless, it is the responsibility of the government, and society in general, to reduce or eliminate these unnecessary deaths.
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