Is Beauty Worth It: The Reality of Plastic Surgery in Korea January 9, 2011
“Every single woman wishes to become more beautiful,” claimed Tracy, a woman in her 20s, who admitted to having surgically enhanced her facial features.
Her simple generalization of the nature of women can explain the obsession with beauty in South Korea. It can account for the tall and skinny girls ubiquitous in South Korea, clad in the latest fashion of jump-suits worn over a white shirt and gladiator-inspired heels; it can also explain the steady rise in sales of cosmetics even when the Korean economy has yet to recover from a downturn.
Fashionable clothing and expensive make up can raise one’s features to a more aesthetically pleasing level. However, while this may satiate some, it is not the case for a significant number of women. They are looking for something more permanent, such as cosmetic surgery.
South Korea belongs in a category of nations in which nose jobs and breast implants are not longer uncommon, but are regular fixtures in society. In fact, according to statistics provided by ARA Consulting, over 30 percent of twenty to fifty-year-old women in South Korea have had some kind of cosmetic procedure last year. While the numbers have declined as a result of the economy recently, the percentage of those willing to undergo surgery is still very high.
This phenomenon is even prominent among students. “Well, this is a bit embarrassing but I want to have my breasts enlarged,” replied Emilly, a high school student, when asked if she would be interested in plastic surgery in the future. “If I get surgery, I would be able to have more confidence in my body.”
Others are more ambiguous in their opinions to plastic surgery. In answer to a question where he was asked if he would mind if his girlfriend decided to receive plastic surgery, a seventeen-year-old boy replied, “I would not like altering my body with a knife, but that is my problem. I mean, if someone is willing to do that and can get prettier along the way, then that is okay.”
Despite all the debate of whether cosmetic surgery is a good thing or not, a number of people will still undergo plastic surgery. in the midst of confusion and opposition over the issue of paying for prettier faces, millions of Koreans, like Tracy, are determined enough to accept whatever consequences there may be. “Of course I had regrets. I used to look at myself in the mirror and say to myself ‘Why did I do this?’ But I eventually let go of my regrets and decided to just live with it.”
4Minute Hits Ur Heart June 2, 2010
Emotions: Also Shockingly Amazed
I recently wrote a post about MBLAQ’s new single, “Y,” and how shocked I was at how much I liked their new single. I’ve just found another song that was also very good, which I never knew I would like. 4Minute has recently “hit my heart” (I know, super cheesy.) They released a new single titled “H.U.H. (Hits Ur Heart).” This song is a slow beat but very exciting song.
This is 4Minute’s forth single, and it has, I would say, been their best one. Even though it is not the most exciting one, nor the most popular one, it has gained the most interest from me. They debuted with their hit single, “Hot Issue” and continued to roar with success with the release of their second single titled, “Muzik,” along with the release of their first mini-album. They released a second single from their album titled “What a Girl Wants.” Then, after appearing in the Japanese entertainment for a while, they came back to Korea with their forth single, “H.U.H. (Hit Ur Heart).”
This song was one the most anticipated songs of 2010, and on the day it was released, I wasn’t that impressed. That was because I never took the time to listen to the full song, but when I took a look at the music video, it was simply amazing. Even though they are using the “dark sexy” concept that Girls’ Generation, Kara, and many other artists’ used, I think they did a good job in pulling it off.
Also, one interesting fact about one of their members, HyunAh, is that she used to be a Wonder Girls member, but withdrew from the group after promoting “Irony.” I think it was both better for 4Minute and the Wonder Girls to have HyunAh in 4Minute, instead of Wonder Girls.
So, take a listen/watch for yourself:
“What a Girl Wants”:
“Muzik”:
“Hot Issue”:
😀
Credits: YouTube
Congratulations Wonder Girls!!! May 28, 2010
Emotions: Overjoyed 😀
I think you readers can all understand why I am so overjoyed, just by looking at the title. The Wonder Girls have already reached #1 on “M! Countdown!” They had only come last week, and what…already?! They’ve managed to receive an award for being first place in just a week!
I had been a bit worried about how much practice and rest they were getting. Especially Yeeun, she had been late with her lines, and she had been off with her pitch. However, she proved me wrong when she put on a flawless and spectacular performance on M! Countdown last night; even though she is not perfect yet, she is trying very hard to improve. I was so proud of them! I hope they do well in America for the next three months 😦 😀
Wonder Girl’s Performance:
Wonder Girls Winning 1st Place:
Credits: YouTube
😀
Y…MBLAQ May 27, 2010
Emotions: Shockingly Amazed
Everybody knows the success that Rain had with his career. However, along his release of his single, “Song that Will Hold You (널 붙잡을 노래),” he had planned for the five-membered male group MBLAQ to make a comeback with their second single. I’m sure a lot of you have heard about this group when they debuted with their hit single “Oh Yeah.”
When they first released their single, I didn’t really like them and thought they were kind of old and just mini-“Bi/Rains.” However, I was VERY wrong. Right now, they are one the boy groups that I like the best. I only started liking them after they had stopped their promotions for “Oh Yeah.” But! Their second single has been released, titled “Y.” This concept is a very fashiony, white-and-black, and having glow-in-the-dark straps on their pants. Their new song is not so loud or crazy, but rather calm and cathcy at the same time.
So, to talk a bit more about MBLAQ themselves; firstly, MBLAQ contains five members. The five members are Seungho (the leader) (승호), Lee Joon (이준), G.O. (지오), Thunder/Chun Doong (천둥), and Mir (미르). Taking on different positions in the group, they show a very strong skill in singing and rapping.
One interesting fact about their new single, “Y,” is that it was supposed to be one of Bi/Rain/비’s singles; however he gave it up for MBLAQ. I think that was rather a good choice, looking at how much popularity they are gaining. Well, you can be the one to judge, so have a listen:
Credits: YouTube
2 Different Tears Music Videos!!! May 16, 2010
Emotions: Don’t Ask.
Now the official music videos have been released. Why did I make it plural? Because they’ve released an ENGLISH, KOREAN, AND CHINESE version of it!!!!!!!
English Version:
Korean Version:
Chinese Version:
Credits: YouTube, AllKpop, JYP Entertainment
😀 😀 😀 😀 😀 😀
2 Different Tears…:'( ♡♡♡ May 15, 2010
Emotions: WAHHHHHHHHHHHHHH!!!!! ♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥
- Wonder Girls’s New Concept
They’re FINALLY back!!! After 1 year and 8 months of abeyance in America, the Wonder Girls are finally back! They have returned with their brand new mini-album with their new hit single titled “2 Different Tears.”
I will admit, I start writing this post at May 14th, 2:56am because I was so excited about it and I wanted to post it as soon as it came out, but I only got to listen to the song now because I was at an MUN conference.
WHOO!! Whoa!! This is a surprise, starting out with Yeeun’s strong vocals with a soft piano in the background. “So I hate you~ So I love you~”
They’ve released an English, a Korean AND a Chinese version of this song, including English versions of “So Hot,” “Tell Me,” and “Nobody”!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! I’m going to be the FIRST person to buy this album!!!!!!!!!!
This song is pretty different from all the other songs in Korea, which are all auto-tuned with a “sexy” or “dark” concept, however their new track and concept is no auto-tuned that much, and their concept is rather a “funny” and “retro” concept. I won’t say much more, but I’ll just say it’s an incredibly catchy song and you can’t get rid of those two lines from your head, “So I hate you~ So I love you~”
So without further ado, take a listen for yourself!!!!!!!!!!! :
😀 😀 😀 😀 😀 😀 😀 😀 😀 😀 😀 😀 :D:D 😀 😀 😀 😀 😀 😀 😀 😀 😀 😀 😀 😀 😀 😀 😀 😀 😀 😀 😀 😀 😀 😀 😀 😀 😀 😀 😀 😀 😀
Credits: YouTube, AllKpop
2PM’s “Gonna Be Okay~” May 13, 2010
Emotion: Relieved & Impressed
About two months ago, I recently wrote a blog post about 2PM’s ex-leader Jaebum, and that 2PM had made a comeback without Jaebum, with their hit single, “Heartbeat.” Recently, 2PM has made another comeback with a brand new single titled “Without U.” Their concept this time, not so different from their “zombie” concept, is a “fresh and moving on.” Even though one may think that this concept should be a rather bright and happy concept, it’s quite scary and “dirty.” In their music video, they wear sleeveless shirts and dance in the rain and mud, but not in a dirty manner. If you listen to the lyrics, it’s about how it’s better for them to be without the “girl” they’re singing about, also their main chorus line, “Gonna Be Okay~,” shows that meaning also.
L.-r. TaecYeon, Nickhun, WooYoung, Junho, Junsu, ChanSung. Their New Album Cover for "Don't Stop Can't Stop"
This album was the one where Jaebum was to finally accept the chance that was given to him, and make a comeback in Korea as a fellow 2PM member and leader. However, in a phone interview, he had stated that he had done something worse than his MySpace comment, during 2PM’s “Again & Again” days, that he cannot come back. This made fans furious, but after seeing his mother get involved, fans started to calm down. When the word of this comeback had been spread, fans were not as crazed as they were for “Heartbeat,” nor were they excited when the teaser for “Without U” had been released. For the third time, fans had stated that they will start to boycott all the albums, and people were starting to believe them when there was no craze among fans after the teaser had been released, but this became ephemeral when 2PM’s single had reached #1 on the hour it was released, and when the album had been released, it had also reached the #1 spot in no time, some boycott fans are having.
Even though I think it’s rather stupid for fans to say that they are going to boycott the album, and going to buy it the day it comes out, I’m kind of relieved to hear that fans are not going all crazy. If I say that I was not worried when fans were silent, it would be a lie. I really look up to 2PM as an impressive idol group, who I think we can safely say, has gone through a LOT.
Take a look for yourself at their new single:
😀
Credits: YouTube, AllKpop
f(x) = NU ABO
Emotions: Confused.
SM Entertainment’s group, f(x), has just released their new single titled, “NU ABO (NU 예삐오).” This is their 3rd single, with complex dance moves, an addicting sound, and great vocals. The group f(x) contains five members–Krystal, Luna, Sulli, Victoria, and Amber–who each have their own personalities and uniqueness. Krystal, who is the younger sister of Jessica, a Girls’ Generation (소녀시대) member, has one of the stronger vocals within the group and I would say she is the “face” of the group. Luna, the main vocal for the group has a beautiful voice but she doesn’t really stand out, because she’s just known for her skills more than her personality. Sulli, one of the more popular members in the group, has a “4-Dimensional” personality, just like what I said I had, and is known for uploading many pictures of self of what goes on “behind-the-scene.” Victoria, the leader of the group, is known for her epitome of a tumble. She’s also Chinese, but can speak fluent English, Chinese and Korean. Amber, I would say, is the most interesting one, who is known for being a “guy inside a girl.” She’s known for looking nothing like a girl, and always following the concept of “a guy.” Amber also is a Chinese member, who’s grown up in China, but can also speak English and Korean fluently.
L.-r. Sulli, Amber, Krystal, Victoria, Luna Posing for Their New Concept
This group started out with a single titled “La Cha Ta (라차타),” which didn’t do as well on the music charts as expected. However, they came back with a second single title “Chu~♡,” which gained a lot of attention, winning multiple firsts on several music charts. These girls have now made their comeback with their single “NU ABO (NU 예삐오)” and it has been gaining a massive amount of attention. Starting from their hairstyles to their dance moves, fans have been impressed.
As you saw on my “Emotions” bar, I wrote that I was confused. This isn’t a negative thing, per se, but I was just confused on what the concept was, and why they suddenly decided to do something so queer, like their hairstyles. If you listen to the song, you’ll notice that there is a cheer sound in the background. Now what was the purpose of that? I think it does add an effect to the song, but could it have a different meaning? That’s for each and every one of you to think about as you listen. So, without further ado, take a listen for yourself:
“NU ABO”:
“Chu~♡”:
“La Cha Ta”:
Enjoy 😀
Credits: Youtube, AllKpop
What Changes You...? 