Plastic surgery is integrated into daily life in South Korea. There are a myriad of advertisements in subway stations, buses, and streets. Parents often “gift” their children some form of surgery after they finish their national college entrance exams or when they become legal adults. Some job applicants go under the knife to improve their chance at finding jobs. TV shows like “Let Miin” (miin — pronounced ‘mee-in’ — means a beautiful woman) capitalize on the pain and angst of everyday patients to showcase the wonders of plastic surgery and how it can transform entire lives.
