The “plight” of KoreAm idols in the motherland?

(image source: Google images)

Last school semester I took a course entitled “Mobilities and Migrations” in which we talked about transnational identities and the experience of having your feet planted in two or more distinct countries. My roommate who was in the class with me did her final paper on South Korean education overseas, and during her research she came across an article summarizing a case study done on Korean Americans from Los Angeles and the effects of the media on their acculturation and biculturalism. As interesting as it sounded, I unfortunately wasn’t able set aside time to look through it, until today. I finally read it this morning, and towards the end a sudden epiphany hit. KoreAm idols like SNSD’s Jessica and Tiffany, Jay Park, Miss A’s Min*, Brian Joo, and Dalmatian’s Day Day and Daniel all came to mind, and though this article raised issues about Korean immigrants in the United States, I couldn’t help but question out loud what the experiences are of these very same immigrants when they return to the motherland, and not only as normal citizens, but as national celebrities. They obviously do share the same struggles as any KoreAm would in South Korea, but how different are their situations particularly as figures of the media?

(*My mistake: Min may actually not be Korean-American. Just got a tip that she lived in the United States for a short amount of time to train for JYPE, but was born and raised mostly in Korea. Thanks to the anon who let me know!)

We’ve heard stories around about these idols struggling to communicate in Korean and even trying to come into terms with the culture, having been raised in a Western environment all their lives. The article I read revealed that despite having been exposed to equal amounts of American and ethnic Korean media, the first-generation KoreAms they sampled all “tend[ed] to be Americanized instead of bicultural due to the strong [and overriding] effects of the American media”, making their “affinity for Korean cultural identity” quite low (Moon and Park 2010). I’m not so sure which of these idols are first-generation KoreAms and whatnot, but even if a majority of them were second or third-generation, based on the article’s results I’d hypothesize that their Americanized image may in fact be more strong. With that being the case, one can only imagine what they may have struggled through going back to the motherland not only as regular residents, but as mainstream idols. 

How do they cope with common pressures of integrating into their ethnic culture, but also keeping ties with people back in America? Do they experience any forms of discrimination from the homogeneous public for being “Korean, but not really” (keeping in mind the fact that South Korea is very nationalistic and strict about blood ties)? How about the flipside — do they struggle with trying to emphasize their American identity when people attempt to tell them that “no matter what, you are still Korean”? Now, consider all that in the context of them being national idols… How do they cope with the additional pressures of being a celebrity, especially to a target audience that is ethnically and culturally homogenized? What exactly define these pressures?

I wrote this post not to provide answers, but to throw questions out there. But as each of us explore for explanations, let’s be careful not to undermine the complexity of this issue. We have to remember that experiences would obviously differ from individual to individual. We’ve got cases like American resident Yoo Seungjun, who moved back to the States and attained citizenship to supposedly escape the mandatory military service; and on the other hand, 2PM’s Taecyeon who renounced his American residence status and attained a Korean passport to enlist in the military. The differences that lie between the situations of these two we may find go as deep as personal values, backgrounds, beliefs, etc. 

And since we’re on the topic of transnationalism, let’s also look at the cases of idols like f(x)’s Victoria and Amber, 2PM’s Nickhun, and Rania’s Joy — foreign celebrities in South Korea? What struggles do they encounter having identities rooted in two entirely different cultures? How are they viewed by the South Korean audience, and how are they viewed by their homeland’s audiences? In addition, what are the implications of them representing the members of their nationalities who currently reside in South Korea? 

(image source: Google images)

And a final, kinda-out-there question to close: keeping everything said in this post in mind, exactly how “Korean” is kpop now? Is kpop becoming less “Korean”, or are the mass consumers of kpop in countries outside South Korea becoming more “Korean”? 

(article mentioned, just for citation’s sake: “Media Effects on Acculturation and Biculturalism: A Case Study of Korean Immigrants in Los Angeles’ Koreatown,” Seungjun Moon and Cheongyi Park, Inha University)

A heat-of-the-moment post: OK, I’m seriously getting tired of arguments over “sexy stage outfits”

First we had Rania, now this. 

(image source: Allkpop)

Apparently on Allkpop, SNSD’s Taeyeon is getting quite a bit of shit for doning this “revealing” outfit during a performance of their Japan showcase. 

I am boiling with fury here. Some of these comments seriously disgust me. They’re logical, yes, but so incredibly sexist. 

TRIGGER WARNING: Mentions of slut-shaming, rape, and sexual assault. And clear hints of a very pissed-off blogger.

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Under the knife: A post about plastic surgery

So like eons ago, thatdayismine requested a discussion addressing plastic surgery in kpop. Now that school’s out for the summer, I finally found enough time to set aside for this little research project. (thatdayismine, please forgive me again for the long wait T_T) Oh, and yes, I’m back from my hiatus. Sorry, it took longer than I expected. I missed you all :]  

TRIGGER WARNING: Body shaming and explicit surgery scenes (especially in videos that are hyper-linked in the text.)

The issue of plastic surgery has been discussed many times in various kpop portals. Questions have been thrown around pertaining to which idols have gone under the knife and for what reasons, resulting in a very mixed pool of opinions and reactions.

Abstract: To many, South Korea comes off as a very looks-oriented society, affecting both females and males. First of all, where do they get these ideas of conforming to specific standards of beauty? Secondly, what are the implications if you happen to not fit those standards perfectly? Those two questions were what I kept in mind as I was writing this post.

Though I will be arguing that South Korea’s pretty darn intense when it comes to looks and standards of beauty, I am not going to go into how it compares with other countries. I am also not claiming that other countries or that individuals of non-Korean origins do not struggle with the same pressure of meeting beauty standards. This post is focused on the situation in South Korea, and it should not be taken as a way of justifying that it does not take place in other contexts. Discussion that relates to those aspects is up to you guys to bring up, if you wish.

Also, this post is a discussion about standards in beauty solely in the context of plastic surgery. I may make a post about dieting and obsession with fashion at a later date. 

+ Also, for the sake of specificity (and political/geographical/whatever-it-may-be correctness), anytime I say “Asia” in this post, I am referring specifically to East or Southeast (Pacific) Asia. 

The most obvious reason most stars undergo surgery: simply for aesthetic appeal. Beauty is no doubt a huge part of an idol’s image. They use it to sell themselves, and will without hesitation go an extra mile to ‘improve’ their looks (of course, with the support of their management). Some notable examples include BoA,  Lee Hyori, Park Minyoung, ZE:A’s Kwanghee, Kara’s Goo Hara, Shinhwa’s Kim Dongwan, Solbi, one or more members of T-Ara, LPG, UEE and Min Hyorin. However, I can’t as confidently state any other examples, because a lot I came across are said to be rumors (ie. SNSD, Secret’s Han Sunhwa, 2NE1’s Park Bom, Lee Dahae)*.

*Many fans argue that it is indeed obvious these stars have had surgery, regardless of constant denials or the lack of an official announcement. And based on pictures, imo, for some it’s severely evident. I’m talking about you, Miss Bom.

———- THE STATS ———-

Instead of discussing plastic surgery purely in the context of k-pop, we need to look at it in the context of South Korea as a whole. Up until now, what I’ve been getting from literature around the web is that plastic surgery (in South Korea, at least) is perceived as somewhat of a casual trend; in fact, as something relatively attainable (in terms of finances* and accessibility*) that it is shockingly common. Mothers are giving their daughters eye jobs as high school graduation presents, for goodness sakes. Cosmetic surgery in the country truly is a booming industry, and with its dramatically cheap rates (due to the decline of the Won’s currency) has even attracted a multitude of foreign customers, who have flocked from places like Japan and China looking for a quick but quality* nip and tuck.

*Eyelid surgery (also known as ‘blepharoplasty’) is the most popular form of surgery (extensively discussed shortly), and on average costs only around $800. I mean, seriously, high school kids as young as 14 can afford that shit. And parents are approving.

*Seoul has about 627 registered clinics and 1,200 registered surgeons (noticed I said ‘registered’… yup, that statistic doesn’t include your gazillion back-alley services many unfortunately succumb to), half of which the lively district of Apgujeong (Gangnam) boasts (FYI, the ultimate location for kpop celeb stalking. Not that I promote it though… I’m just saying.) 

*SK’s surgeons are also known to be the best among the best, and combine that with financial affordability, you’ve got the center of cosmetic surgery tourism in Asia. 

———- (OTHER) REASONS FOR GETTING SURGERY? ———-

Kso, now we’ve got the facts, let’s move on to reasons behind its popularity. Why is it that “by conservative estimates, a [shocking] 50% of South Korean women in their 20s have had some form of plastic surgery?” thatdayismine gave me the link to a very interesting video Arirang TV did on the issue, in which they raised the specific question of why exactly “Koreans are so into their looks”. Many individuals expressed this similar opinion: that society demands people to be ‘beautiful’. According to the video:

• Many claim that first impressions are so important because, first of all, it gives you a higher chance of scoring points at job interviews. As one of Asia’s largest economies, South Korea’s job market is becoming ever more competitive. Because how you physically look like is what basically makes up that first impression of you, being ‘aesthetically appealing’ definitely gives you that “cutting edge over your rivals,” whether it be natural or artificial beauty. In addition, to look youthful is considered an “asset”, more than it is to look “mature”. 
• First impressions also play a huge role in social networks, and eventually, scoring the ‘perfect’ mate. As disappointing as it is, many believe that the more you spend on enhancing your look, the higher chance “you will end up with a better and richer husband…” “Women of marriageable age are under intense pressure to look their best at all times and one of the consequences has been an explosion in plastic surgery.” Three letters: IDE.
• The influence of the media, and, well, surprise surprise, k-entertainment, plays a huge role in reinforcing these views. People see their celebrity idols as absolutely flawless, and what they seem to be getting out of it is that in order to be acknowledged, you need to look good. And it doesn’t help that women’s magazines are encouraging their readers to spend 30% of their income in the enhancement of their looks. 

———- THE DEAL WITH DOUBLE EYELIDS ———-

As mentioned earlier, blepharoplasty is cited as the most popular form of surgery among South Koreans. It is a medical procedure that widens the eyes by inserting an incision on the eyelids to achieve a fold, and thus the ‘double eyelid’ effect, a facial feature many East Asians in particular seemingly lack. 

There is a misconception going around that for Asians, there lies a desire to obtain bigger eyes to ‘look more Caucasian’. Even CNN argues so. According to them, particularly for South Korean females, this sentiment first appeared during the years following the Korean War, when “women wanted to look more Caucasian to impress American GIs.”

Now, I can’t help but raise my eyebrows at this whole thing about double eyelids being a Caucasian feature. I mean, there are Asians (including myself) who were born with double eyelids, so this shouldn’t be associated exclusively with Caucasians. However, I cannot say that I disagree with the idea that the Caucasian image is how some, if not many, Asians idealize beauty. I’ve seen and heard many examples myself of Asians back in Asia placing foreigners on a very high pedestal… extra points especially if you are Caucasian. So it doesn’t come off as a surprise that there might be some Asians who unfortunately fall into the trap of believing that ‘Caucasian’ is the only definition of ‘beautiful’, and perceive bigger eyes as hallmarks (among others, like white skin) of a Caucasian (or generally, Western) look. But like I said, this association of traits is a misconception, half the fault of which should be attributed to Western media for perpetuating it (like that CNN video I hyperlinked above). 

So, I hope you all understand that it should not be assumed that every single person who gets blerapharoplasty are doing it for the sake of looking ‘Caucasian’. I’ve been told a couple of times that the desire for double eyelids is ‘something I would not necessarily understand’, and an explanation I get quite often pertains to the application of makeup. For girls, it’s hard to extract the desired effects from eye makeup with relatively small eyes. Having bigger and more defined eyes definitely is a beauty standard, but not a feature that should be simply surmised as Caucasian. 

To get a bigger idea of how some Asians are disillusioned with the idea that big eyes is a Western/Caucasian thing, I suggest you watch the NFB documentary ‘Western Eyes’. It’s only about 40 minutes — you can watch it over lunch or something :] 

Also, I want to give you guys a link to a survey someone conducted in the popular kpop portal Soompi about attitudes in the media about double eyelid surgery. You can read through different responses and gain insight on a more individual and case-by-case level. 

———- IMPLICATIONS AND POSSIBLE SOLUTIONS? ———-

Without a doubt there are many out there who are actually approving of plastic surgery and its effects, like this Allkpop article, in which gratitude towards surgery is implied for yielding “a lot of good-looking K-Pop superstars.” Of course, I’d be lying myself if I said good looks aren’t important, because they are, especially in showbiz. But think about it — ‘good looks’? What is ‘good-looking’? Is there a universal standard for it? I think not. We all have our personal preferences. Going beyond that, what is ‘beauty’? Is it just ‘good looks?’ In my eyes, no. It’s everything that makes a person that person.

The problem is, so much emphasis is being placed on first impressions, especially in South Korea, that the focus becomes narrowed down to that of external aspects, that unfortunately define first impressions. The thing is, the more we enforce this mindset, the longer it will continue. And with the media constantly fat-shaming and body-policing our idols, that harder it will be to change that mindset. It’s basically like, “I wish I didn’t care, but everyone around me seems to.” Saying to yourself, “fuck it” is way harder done than said. Social pressure is overwhelmingly powerful. I mean, you’ve got celebs bashing 4Minute for being un-plastic. Who wouldn’t find it hard to keep yourself from contemplating getting surgery after receiving comments like that? I feel so sorry for these girls, and every one else in the business being criticized for maintaining natural looks. This is the point you realize that plastic surgery and the standardization thereof is problematic. 

In my opinion, what is needed is somewhat of a paradigm shift. Make people start believing the relative unimportance of first impressions by starting on a systemic level, rather than on an individual one. An example of this is changing employment policies — employers need to learn to get past the ‘first-impression’ thing. Another example is images in the media — let’s have more celebrities endorsing natural looks and diversity in body types, and have them communicate to their audiences that looks have no relation to your ability to succeed or entertain. People need to see that change is happening around them to be convinced. But of course, this is so much easier in theory. Making it a reality is the hardest part. 

But there seems to be some improvement. I mean, there’s new girl group Chi Chi and the ‘no plastic surgery’ clause in their contract, and ZE:A’s company Star Empire condemning it, as seen with what happened to Kwanghee*.

*However, we should make sure we don’t start getting too revolutionary in opposition to plastic surgery. I’ve read somewhere that Kwanghee wanted to get a nose job because it was ‘making weird noises’… not sure whether or not this is a health problem, or is even true. Anyways, I want to mention that there are other reasons besides beauty enhancement for getting surgery, such as health impediments (like getting rid of fat that is clinically defined as ‘excess’, or getting nose jobs to fix breathing problems (happened with a friend of mine)) or for reconstruction, either to fix a birth defect or deformity (like a cleft palate) or when one gets into an accident and severs an integral feature of her/his body. In these contexts, plastic surgery can, and should be seen as an option. 

———- SOME FINAL (AND PERSONAL) WORDS ———- 

The decision to get plastic surgery is a personal one. But it shouldn’t be something that is pressured onto someone, implicitly or explicitly. And I personally think nothing beats natural beauty. From experience, I’ve learned that looks are no longer relevant once you get to know a person. Keep in mind these cliche (but oh-so-true) quotes: “Beauty shines from within.” “Never judge a book by its cover.” First impressions don’t mean shit once you get more involved with a person, and that’s when you truly see who they are. I can name a bunch of insanely physically attractive people off the top of my head who I couldn’t care less for because of the monsters they are inside. On the other hand, a person may seem at first like someone you wouldn’t give the time of day if you passed them on the streets, but they may turn out to be a damn awesome person. And whom you may or may not have crushed on at one point just a teensy bit. GPOY to the max. Hands up if this has also happened with you ;] (Heck, this happens with me and my kpop guys! LOLOLOL. When I first saw BEAST I was seriously like “whaaat… thefuck”… a year plus several B2ST Almighty episodes later I’m watching concert fancams and tearing my ovaries out.) 

It’s the diversity of looks that’s beautiful, not the standardization of a single image. Whether or not you believe you’re beautiful is up to you, not society.

You reading this, you may be short or tall. You may be thick or thin. You may have double or single eyelids; be from any given part of this world, and be of any shade or tint of the visible color spectrum. Whatever you are, you are beautiful. Angrykpopfan believes you are, so you should believe it yourself too.