[PHOTOS REMOVED AT REQUEST OF PHOTOGRAPHER]
The materialistic and image-conscious culture of South Korea has been the driving force behind its innovation in the field of plastic surgery, which, in turn, has attracted so-called medical tourists from all over the globe.
One in five women in Seoul between the ages of 19 and 49 has undergone plastic surgery, according to 2009 data cited by the New York Times.
But as supply begins to meet demand, competition among cosmetic surgery clinics is fierce, prompting some to host contests called “Cinderella events” where patients are given free surgery in exchange for appearing in “before and after” advertisements.
Photojournalist Jean Chung documented the activities of five finalists in one such contest hosted by a clinic located in Shinsa-dong, known as Seoul’s “beauty belt.”
Five finalists were picked from among 300 applicants to receive free plastic surgery up to $15,000. The five women, whose ages ranged from 19 to 28, were followed by Chung, who documented all of their experiences.
Many told stories of being teased for their looks their whole lives and feelings of inadequacy. In the end, 21-year-old Han Ji-hye was named the winner of the contest. Han said ever since she was young she had been teased for her lantern jaw. Doctors performed an increasingly common procedure called double-jaw surgery which cuts, reshapes and repositions both the upper and lower jawbones. Recovery is reportedly extremely painful. Chung’s photos below show Han’s progress.
[PHOTOS REMOVED AT REQUEST OF PHOTOGRAPHER]
