▲ Song You Jin (youjin.song@gmail.com) Junior Reporter, The Granite Tower (GT)

What one deems beautiful may be deemed exactly the opposite by another—indeed, “beauty is in the eye of the beholder.” Yet, that is nowhere close to where beauty is in Korea's society today. People no longer appreciate individuality and uniqueness in one's looks; they instead all want the same face—the big, round eyes with double eyelids, a small, high-bridged nose, and a narrow chin.

Statistics from research agency Trend Monitor show that plastic surgery is common amongst Koreans, and some surgeries are even considered a “basic” for Korean women. As a matter of fact, there is no longer any stigma attached to plastic surgery. Many Koreans see cosmetic surgery as a tool for increasing self-esteem and enhancing one's quality of life. This comes as no surprise—in a society where lookism is rampant, a better look is considered almost a prerequisite to a higher-paying job, a better-looking husband, and in general, a more satisfying life.

Meanwhile, it seems that the foreign media are rather engrossed by Korea's cosmetic surgery culture. Ironically, so are Koreans themselves, who are equally concerned about the similarity, and in some cases uniformity, that is so apparent in the looks of the women who have received plastic surgery. Many indeed have facial features and structures that are very alike. Several terms even have been newly coined as a response, such as “Gangnam woman (or sister)” and “medically-created twins.” Those who look overly artificial are even called “monsters.”

The harshness of these slurs is rather astonishing. At the same time, however, so is the likeness amongst those who have gone under the knife. Indeed, cosmetic surgeries are no longer condemned because they are viewed as a means to achieve better lives. No, cosmetic surgeries stimulate controversy in Korea’s society because they render these patients so alike, as if they are born from the same parents. Then why is it that they resemble each other so much? What has compelled these Koreans to opt for an almost identical face in these recent years?

It may be that there has always existed a vague idea of what a beautiful, good-looking face consists of. However, it is the culture of plastic surgery itself where the reason for the similarity of these faces lies. Nowadays, it is easy to get a physical trait we desire, much like “ordering” them, through plastic surgeries. The convenience of getting plastic surgery allures us into putting ourselves onto the operation table for that eye of a celebrity or the nose of a movie star. Thus, the cosmetic surgery culture itself enforces these beauty standards.

Beauty is not detrimental to society, but a single, absolute standard of beauty is. A society that does not value one’s uniqueness is almost no different from one that denies itself and its people, whether the individuality be in one’s looks or in one’s personality. Our individuality is our identity. Without it, we are no more than a mob of robots craving for another’s face and body.

Korea is said to have the highest rate of cosmetic surgery for its population. The truth is, no one can judge one’s reasons for getting plastic surgery—no one but the patients themselves can speak for themselves. If there is one thing we should be cautious of, though, it is our passive attitude when it comes to conforming to a single beauty standard. After all, beauty should be in the eye of the beholder.