Sara Gill in Seoul, South Korea
January 2, 2026Advertisement
In South Korea's booming cosmetic surgery industry, appearance is more than aesthetics: It is tied to social and economic opportunity.
From Gangnam's dense cluster of plastic surgery clinics to Seoul's specialized CV photo studios, young professionals are turning to facial enhancements and digital retouching to gain an edge in job interviews. At Aive Clinic, Dr. Jun Hyung Park says patients often seek brighter skin or sharper jawlines. WOOA Clinic's CEO Dr Kim Woo-jung highlights how procedures such as rhinoplasty are marketed as tools for career success.
Yet, amid this culture of beauty competitiveness, a growing feminist movement questions whether these standards empower job seekers or entrench inequality.