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Photo Illustration by Thomas Levinson\/The Daily Beast\/Getty<\/p>\n
The plastic surgery boom is straining the South Korean military.<\/p>\n
While taking leave from military duties is often linked to mandatory surgeries and injury-related downtime, a new report claims that elective surgeries are now affecting South Korea\u2019s military readiness.<\/p>\n
The article<\/a>, which examines the burden of Gen-Z soldiers\u2019 cosmetic treatments on \u201cKorea\u2019s military readiness,\u201d was originally published in the Korean-language daily newspaper Hankook Ilbo<\/a> and translated for its English-language sister publication, The Korea Times<\/a>.<\/p>\n A combination of new values, a pay increase, and more flexible schedules is driving soldiers to \u201cflood\u201d plastic surgery offices with requests in South Korea.<\/p>\n A consultation manager at a Gangnam-based plastic surgery clinic told the outlet<\/a> that they have noticed the trend. \u201cTwo to three active-duty soldiers visit weekly for eye or nose consultations,\u201d she shared.<\/p>\n Get a First Look<\/p>\n Sign up to receive news and updates from The Looker<\/p>\n \u201cSouth Korea has long been ahead<\/a> of the U.S. aesthetics curve, especially when it comes to men receiving treatments,\u201d noted Elizabeth Gulino at Allure<\/a>, who picked up the report. Now, however, it looks like being ahead of the curve is putting some soldiers behind their counterparts who forgo cosmetic enhancements.<\/p>\n One such active-duty soldier, Corporal Choi, 22, underwent eyelid surgery after setting aside his paychecks and skipping visits to the base store.<\/p>\n \u201cI saved my 1.2 million won ($815) monthly salary for several months to get eyelid surgery,\u201d he told Hankook Ilbo.<\/p>\n The outlet also reported that the plastic surgery clinics run \u201caggressive\u201d marketing and offer military discounts for cosmetic enhancements.<\/p>\n When a journalist from the Hankook Ilbo claimed to be an active-duty military member at a clinic in Gangnam, he was offered a whopping 40 percent discount.<\/p>\n But the refreshed faces are not the root of the issue.<\/p>\n Commanders are reportedly struggling with the downtime required for recovery after soldiers\u2019 cosmetic tune-ups.<\/p>\n One soldier had to be excused from \u201ccritical cold-weather training\u201d due to his fresh rhinoplasty.<\/p>\n \u201cI was flustered because he underwent a nose job without saying a word right before the training,\u201d his commander, Lieutenant Kim, told the outlet.<\/p>\n Another lieutenant at the Chungcheong region told the outlet that one of his soldiers returned to base with \u201cseverely swollen eyes\u201d from double eyelid surgery.<\/p>\n He then had to be excused from his duty as a night guard.<\/p>\n \u201cI had no choice but to take him out considering safety,\u201d the lieutenant told the outlet.<\/p>\n Adding, \u201cIn the end, we had to readjust duty groups with other personnel.\u201d<\/p>\n These personnel changes were also causing resentment among soldiers who had to pick up others\u2019 workloads.<\/p>\n Men make up a far larger share of the South Korean army than women do.<\/p>\n
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