South Korea is facing criticism from some of its citizens that cosmetic surgery, particularly the local version where customers seek to look like their heroes, is a form of cultural violence against women.
A key reason medical tourists go to South Korea is for cosmetic surgery. There are 5,000 such clinics in Seoul. South Korea is however facing criticism from within the country on the grounds that cosmetic surgery, particularly the local version where customers seek to look like their film and music heroes, is a form of cultural violence against women.
A peace march was recently held in the country’s cosmetic surgery hub, the Gangnam district of Seoul. It was organised by the Asia Institute and the Korea Peace Movement.
Emanuel Pastreich of the Asia Institute says “Advertising, TV shows and other images make women want to get cut apart in clinics. Cosmetic surgery is a taboo topic. We want to make it visible because the signs and advertising make it so visible. Korean society has become completely distorted by this rush to undergo surgery.”
The public call to march said “The time has come to say no to the demeaning culture of consumption and appearances that does so much violence to women in a spiritual and psychological sense. Adverts in the Apgujeong Station degrade and commercialise women and makes women into objects for consumption. Women have been turned into commodities in modern culture and the cosmetic surgery industry that promotes such thinking drives the economy of this region of Seoul.”
Lakhvinder Singh of the Korean Peace Movement adds “Misuse and abuse of cosmetic surgery techniques, supposed to be used for the good of humanity, is a threat to social stability.”
Local medical tourism and cosmetic surgery organisations have so far failed to respond, thinking perhaps that a tiny minority will have no impact, however the march organisers are already working with other groups to expand the campaign.
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