Gangnam-Style Plastic Surgery: The Science of Westernized Beauty in South Korea. Issue 7 (3rd October 2017)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Leem, So Yeon
• Is Part Of: Medical anthropology. Volume 36:Issue 7(2017)
• Page Start: 657
• Page End: 671
• Publication Date: 2017-10-03
• Subjects: South Korea -- beauty ideals -- Gangnam style -- plastic surgery -- science -- Westernization; Medical anthropology -- Periodicals; 362.1
• DOI: 10.1080/01459740.2017.1345904
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 0145-9740

Abstract

ABSTRACT: New beauty ideals and particular types of plastic surgery beauty have emerged in South Korea from the early twenty-first century. By defining Gangnam-style plastic surgery as a hybrid of old Westernized beauty ideals and a new science of beauty with variations and contradictions, I intend to twist the simplistic understanding of non-Western plastic surgery as an effort to resemble the white westerner's body. I also draw political implications from a case of monstrous Gangnam-style beauty made by excessive plastic surgery.