Lee Han Song Kim Youna Kim

Young-ae Ga-in Hye-kyo Sa-rang Tae-hee



‘Foreign fans of Korean films or TV dramas visit Seoul to knock on the doors of cosmetic clinics and get them transformed like their beloved stars.'

By Park Si-soo

It's no longer a surprise to see foreigners exchanging awkward smiles with each other at a local plastic surgery clinic.

Last year alone, nearly 150,000 inbound travelers went under the knife here to sharpen their edge in looks. This figure is remarkable considering that it was a near two-fold increase in just two years.

Yet various researches claim that there is still room to make a double-digit growth annually over the next years, prompting speculation that medical tourism will become the next big thing of Korea Inc.

Behind the escalation is "hallyu" or the Korean wave, said industry observers. They said those impressed with Korean films or TV dramas jump onto flights bound for Seoul and end up knocking on the doors of cosmetic clinics to get their faces or figures transformed like their beloved stars.

More than 60 percent of them are Chinese nationals, while there is a steep rise in the number of patients coming from rich countries such as the United States, Japan, Singapore and Europe, according to the Korea Tourism Organization.

Regardless of the states of origin, their visits to clinics are for one reason — to get prettier. But it's varied when it comes to a preferred shape of face or body they want to have as their own through medical means.

Plastic surgeons said actress Song Hye-kyo is touted by Russian, Indonesian and American patients for having what they describe as the "ideal" combination of eyes, nose, mouth and facial impression.

Song Hye-kyo with universal beauty

The 31-year-old earned massive fame after appearing in KBS TV's romantic drama "Autumn in My Heart" in 2000 and "Full House" in 2004, which were exported to Japan and Southeast Asian countries.

It's known that each country has a different concept of facial beauty. Nonetheless they said Song is equally recognized by people from China, Vietnam and other Southeast Asian countries, indicating that her face is generally perceived as attractive across Asia.

"Various studies suggest that every country has its own preferred concept of beauty, which normally doesn't work in other countries. But it's not the case with her. So it's very interesting," said Yoo Sang-wook, president of Grand Plastic Surgery in Sinsa-dong, Gangnam. "Perhaps this is a result of the wide distribution of dramas she appeared in."

Citing the hospital's own statistics, Yoo said actress Han Ga-in has the most wanted face among Chinese patients, followed by that of Song and singer Sulli of the five-member girl band f(x).

The dominant view of Vietnamese patients is that of actress Kim Tae-hee, believed to have the most attractive face, followed by Song and Han, he said.

Unlike Chinese and Southeast Asian people who prefer a face with somewhat "strong and energetic" impressions, Yoo explained that Japanese people normally feel attracted to a face with "soft and mild" impressions such as that of singer Yoona of top-tier girl band Girls' Generation.

Reflecting this, he said Yoona is considered to have the most adored face among Japanese visitors to his hospital, followed by signer Goo Hara of idol girl band KARA and actress Choi Ji-woo.

The surgeon said Mongolian patients pay far more attention to body shapes than faces, taking Miss Korea-turned-actress Kim Sa-rang as a celebrity with the ideal body shape.

Actress Lee Young-ae seems to have managed her popularity well in the Middle East, which was prompted by epic TV series "Jewel in the Palace" she appeared in 2003 and broadcasted there in 2007. Lee's face is one of the most preferred among patients from oil-rich nations in the region, Yoo said.

Careful patients

Cosmetic surgeons said patients are becoming more careful in seeking makeovers.

"Initially, it was very easy to find foreigners who brought me photos of their most beloved Korean celebrity and asked to change everything to become his/her look-alike," said Park Won-jin, head of Wonjin Aesthetic Surgery Clinic.

"Nowadays a growing number of people want to change a specific part of face or body, instead of total makeovers. Furthermore, there are more patients who are worried about the possibility that he or she will end up looking unnatural due to the doctored parts."

But such worries still fall short of completely halting their navigation toward better looks. Park said celebrities with the most preferred shape of eyes among Chinese visitors are Song Hye-kyo, actress Lee Da-hey and Park Min-young, while Han Ga-in is well recognized for her high-bridged nose.

Meanwhile, the Gangnam Ward Office opened an information center specializing in medical tourism early this month to help foreign visitors seeking cosmetic surgery and other medical treatment here. Nearly 90 percent of the country's plastic surgery clinics are located in the district.

Gangnam is one of the most affluent areas in southern Seoul, which found its profile promoted globally early this year thanks to Psy's global hit song "Gangnam Style."