I think nearly all idols have had work done.

Quote from OldJeans

Plastic surgery is a weird thing in kpop. On one hand, you have people saying "there is nothing wrong with PS" but when you point out their bias has a nose job they will get defensive. I think PS is extremely common in kpop, if not PS then other beauty procedures. Not just in kpop but in all entertainment industries.

Kpops beauty standard is unachievable, so even idols who are stunning have probably done some subtle work. And that's fine, there is nothing wrong with PS.

What I do have a problem with is how celebrities (not just Kpop) sell us products foolling us into thinking "if I buy this I will look like them", when in reality they have had PS done. And then you have kids looking up to these celebrities and feeling bad they don't look like them.

Again not just kpop, I remember when Eternals came out Kumail Nanjiani got ripped, he had abs and everything but he kept pretending he got it through "working out". There is no way on this earth he got that body because he "worked out". But people believe it, then they feel bad cuz they don't look the same.

Even I have moments where I feel like my waist is too big etc. But I try really hard not to compare myself with idols/celebs, cuz everything we see is the result of work, if not PS then other beauty treatments, private trainers, diet coaches, etc.

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Yes. Plastic surgery is actually a gift option some parents offer their graduating children (usually daughters), if I remember correctly. So it's quite common in South Korea and I don't think it's as frowned upon there.

that’s not a opinion or thought, it’s a fact.

I think we underestimate how prevalent it is in the industry and think that only dramatic changes/pre-debut stuff is PS. The world of PS is bewildering and huge and alot of the changes that can be made are alot more subtle than alot of people realise. Unless your in the industry/used to looking at the subtle changes it can be near impossible to tell the difference.

I once dated a guy who used to live in SK for work, he told me just before a CB or big event he would see idols (and anyone famous really) getting some kind of work done. Pretty much everyone would get fillers, or something subtle to not show ageing or coverup issues due the lifestyle like dieting or not sleeping. Some would be semi permanent or to help show off changes for the CB e.g. if they get a haircut or new colour something done to the jaw to emphasise the new colour or hairstyle, some of which they can put off as a makeup style used for that era or a change to makeup styles. SK really specialises in really subtle PS work so alot of times we can't even tell the difference between changes due to loosing or gaining weight, ageing and actual PS.

We're talking about a culture where if you have monolids you pretty much have to get eyelid surgery before applying for big jobs in order to have good chances. PS culture is massive there and I think it's unlikely to change anytime soon

Isn't it old news?

Quote from Ves

While I am sure more people get it done than they let on, saying "everyone" gets it also seems just as untrue. For example you say you basically can't have monolids in order to have a good chance at a job. So what about the idols with monolids? What happened there?

There are also koreans that are naturally born with double eyelids - it's not like it's impossible so even just having double eyelids isn't an indicator of surgery. I say this as someone who has been long time friendships with some Korean-Americans who have close ties with Korea. Some of them have gone under the knife, some haven't. It's definitely more acceptable to have PS in their culture, but i feel it's an exaggeration to just say everyone has had it.

Yeah I definitely think nearly all is an exaggeration but it still seems like at least 80-90% get some things done if we include fillers.

And I wasn't trying to say that double eyelids were an indicator at all just that the lengths people go to from the lookism lead to PS being common everywhere, including in kpop

Quote from OldJeans

Plastic surgery is a weird thing in kpop. On one hand, you have people saying "there is nothing wrong with PS" but when you point out their bias has a nose job they will get defensive. I think PS is extremely common in kpop, if not PS then other beauty procedures. Not just in kpop but in all entertainment industries.

Kpops beauty standard is unachievable, so even idols who are stunning have probably done some subtle work. And that's fine, there is nothing wrong with PS.

What I do have a problem with is how celebrities (not just Kpop) sell us products foolling us into thinking "if I buy this I will look like them", when in reality they have had PS done. And then you have kids looking up to these celebrities and feeling bad they don't look like them.

Again not just kpop, I remember when Eternals came out Kumail Nanjiani got ripped, he had abs and everything but he kept pretending he got it through "working out". There is no way on this earth he got that body because he "worked out". But people believe it, then they feel bad cuz they don't look the same.

Even I have moments where I feel like my waist is too big etc. But I try really hard not to compare myself with idols/celebs, cuz everything we see is the result of work, if not PS then other beauty treatments, private trainers, diet coaches, etc.

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Kpop's beauty standard isn't "unachievable." There are natural idols. There are also plenty of people just as beautiful as idols who aren't idols themselves. It's trying to find people who are both naturally beautiful & talented that narrows down their options, and even then, the more toxic aspects of Korean culture have reached a point where plastic surgery is encouraged even for people who don't need any. The high degree of "lookism" makes people self-conscious when they'd otherwise have no reason to be.

It's also important to understand that a lot of the prettiest idols have gotten minor work done at most. They were already pretty to begin with, and any procedures they may have gotten done were merely meant to "refine" them. In many cases, you wouldn't even notice a palpable difference. Trying to change your entire face through artificial means rarely leads to desirable results, no matter how good the surgeon, and it's always easy to spot who's attempted such a thing.

Quote from onwards

I think we underestimate how prevalent it is in the industry and think that only dramatic changes/pre-debut stuff is PS. The world of PS is bewildering and huge and alot of the changes that can be made are alot more subtle than alot of people realise. Unless your in the industry/used to looking at the subtle changes it can be near impossible to tell the difference.

I once dated a guy who used to live in SK for work, he told me just before a CB or big event he would see idols (and anyone famous really) getting some kind of work done. Pretty much everyone would get fillers, or something subtle to not show ageing or coverup issues due the lifestyle like dieting or not sleeping. Some would be semi permanent or to help show off changes for the CB e.g. if they get a haircut or new colour something done to the jaw to emphasise the new colour or hairstyle, some of which they can put off as a makeup style used for that era or a change to makeup styles. SK really specialises in really subtle PS work so alot of times we can't even tell the difference between changes due to loosing or gaining weight, ageing and actual PS.

Plastic surgery isn't a magic bullet for everything. It's not going to prevent aging (and can in fact speed up the process visually.) It's not going to hide the fact that you're on a severe diet or sleep-deprived. I very much doubt anyone is getting surgery to compliment their new hairstyle. Frankly that sounds ridiculous. If anything they'll change their hair or something else to try to hide any work they've gotten done recently, but I don't think they approach the subject quite so flippantly as to make permanent changes that happen to look good with a temporary one.

Quote from OldJeans

From what I see in China/Korea people turn to PS because they believe it will make their life better, they will get better jobs, etc. And it is true, it's a society that bases a lot of worth on looks.

pretty privilege has always been a thing throughout the world

the more beautiful one is the more opportunities one gets...

I mean, yeah? Kinda obvious

Quote from jt3000

Kpop's beauty standard isn't "unachievable." There are natural idols. There are also plenty of people just as beautiful as idols who aren't idols themselves. It's trying to find people who are both naturally beautiful & talented that narrows down their options, and even then, the more toxic aspects of Korean culture have reached a point where plastic surgery is encouraged even for people who don't need any. The high degree of "lookism" makes people self-conscious when they'd otherwise have no reason to be.

It's also important to understand that a lot of the prettiest idols have gotten minor work done at most. They were already pretty to begin with, and any procedures they may have gotten done were merely meant to "refine" them. In many cases, you wouldn't even notice a palpable difference. Trying to change your entire face through artificial means rarely leads to desirable results, no matter how good the surgeon, and it's always easy to spot who's attempted such a thing.

Plastic surgery isn't a magic bullet for everything. It's not going to prevent aging (and can in fact speed up the process visually.) It's not going to hide the fact that you're on a severe diet or sleep-deprived. I very much doubt anyone is getting surgery to compliment their new hairstyle. Frankly that sounds ridiculous. If anything they'll change their hair or something else to try to hide any work they've gotten done recently, but I don't think they approach the subject quite so flippantly as to make permanent changes that happen to look good with a temporary one.

This is where I mean we misunderstand what PS is. Your thinking if they don't literally go under the knife its not PS. Things like dermal fillers are PS and there are fillers that last between 6 months to a year. Fillers do help to hide signs of ageing and plump up certain areas which can hide the effects of dramatic weight loss from the face (e.g. hide sunken cheeks). The thing about the industry is we never seem to believe what we hear from witnesses who have lived there because no way would anyone feel pressured enough to go that far, until we see it for ourselves or see some newstory about it. Do I believe someone goes for a jaw shave to make a new haircut look good? No and thats not what I initially stated I was told. Do I believe someone will get filler before a CB to look more distinct with that new hair? Yes.

i just want to say all over the world celebrities get plastic surgery. So its weird to say its only in korea