Today’s theme: Plastic Surgery

With the increasing popularity on K-pop across the world, Korea is becoming one of the famous medical tourism destinations, attracting many tourists for medical treatments, including plastic surgeries. And it seems like more and more people are opening up their plastic surgery experiences. We look into the history of plastic surgery here in Korea with experts as well as some of the things you should consider going under the knife.

The Conversationalist

with

Park Ji-young (Jessica Park)

- student at Chung Ang University Graduate School Advanced Interpretation & Translation Program who previously worked at a plastic surgery clinic as a translator for foreign medical tourists

“There are criticisms that the industry has grown in size but not so much quality-wise. Do you think the patients at your hospital were provided with decent quality in terms of service?

Despite all these problems we have discussed, why do you think people still come to Korea for plastic surgery, when there are other options like Thailand?”

&

Professor John P DiMoia

- from Seoul National University, Department of Korean History

“I understand you take a historical approach on this matter, looking into the country’s modernization and nation-building process and how it incorporates bio-medicine technology. Can you tell us more about how biomedicine technology was used in the post-war era?

Your book, Reconstructing Bodies: Biomedicine, Health, and Nation-Building in South Korea Since 1945, explains the concept of ‘Medicine as a Form of “Ordinary Shopping”’. How has receiving medical care become like an ordinary shopping in South Korea, and do you think it’s a positive or negative thing?”

Media Monster

Next week: Free Speech