Jo Hyun Jae

The following is translated from a recent article on the Chosun Daily (carried on http://ent.qq.com).  It doesn’t actually tell us anything we don’t know already, but still it is quite shocking to see how widespread the practice of cosmetic surgery is in the Korean entertainment industry.  And it makes us appreciate all the more the natural good looks of our Jo Hyun-Jae.  All the proof that you need is here — the child JHJ is a miniature version of the man.

According to the latest report on the Chosun Daily, they have interviewed 10 cosmetic surgeons and come to the conclusion that “90% of those famous artists on TV and studio trainees have undergone cosmetic surgery.”  Many young people in Korea dream about becoming stars, and most of these will resort to cosmetic surgery.  But quite a lot of people choose to go under the knife not because they are not satisfied with their looks, but because some entertainment companies demand that they have cosmetic surgery as “this will increase their chances of becoming stars.”

Let’s take the example of Ms Park (age 20) who has set her heart on becoming a star.  She started training at an entertainment company two years ago.  Even though she felt good about her own appearance, her management company told her: “If you want to make a name for yourself, you have to do something about your nose and cheek bones.”  Ms Park found it hard to accept this.  She said: “I want to be a singer, but I don’t want to have surgery on my face……Am I weird?”

Ms Kim (age 18) who has been in training for three years has already had five operations but is still unhappy about her face.  She thinks that “to be an artist one must have cosmetic surgery.  Isn’t this the most basic thing?  If it is possible, I’d really like to make my eyes bigger at once.”

Who?  Me?  What you see is what you get.

The Director of Migo Cosmetic Surgery Centre said: “Cosmetic surgery has become the mandatory thing for those young people who dream of becoming stars.  If they want to enhance their commercial value, of course they have to have the operations.”

The most popular procedures for young people are the face and liposuction.  The Director of JK Cosmetic Surgery Centre said: “The major operations on the face are concentrated on the eyes, nose, and the shape of the face, also paring of bones.  As for the body, it is mostly liposuction of fat from the lower abdomen, arms, buttocks, and thighs.”

The Director of another cosmetic surgery centre said: “Many trainees of entertainment companies want to have the operations before they are ready for action.  Many want to look like characters in Japanese cartoons — with a V-shaped chin, a cute button nose, and a lovely face.”

An executive of an entertainment company revealed: “Before they are ready, trainees will have spent 20-30m KRW on cosmetic surgery.  In some cases, management companies foot the bill, but many trainees have to pay for themselves.”  Even male trainees are the same.  18-year-old Mr. Park said: “The most basic cosmetic surgery for guys is the nose.  I don’t really want to do it, but my management company insists, so I may have to change my mind eventually.”  An expert pointed out that trainee-artists have already contributed 10,000m KRW to the cosmetic surgery industry.

25-year-old Ms Chun said: “When I went for my screen test, I was told: ‘Your nose is too pointy which will give too severe an impression.  Make it smaller.”  After three years as a trainee, she has already undergone a total of 10-20 big and small operations.

What do you want to change about my face?

There are cosmetic surgery hospitals which maintain long-term relationships with entertainment companies, and these will give discounts to trainees.  But the director of one cosmetic surgery centre revealed: “Because people from entertainment companies are frequent customers, someone actually asked an expert on double-eyelids to augment her breasts — with disastrous results, of course.”

Because of this, many trainees are addicted to cosmetic surgery.  A 25-year-old trainee Ms Lee revealed: “Because trends change, many people have one operation after another.”  Everyone knows young people who are still growing should not have cosmetic surgery.  On this issue Professor On of a cosmetic surgery hospital in Seoul said: “Those young trainees who have cosmetic surgery may experience adverse side-effects later, and this is very worrying.”

(Credit: http://ent.qq.com; www.johyunjae.hk; names on photos.  Thanks!)