Cosmetic Surgeries Rise in South Korea During Pandemic
2021-01-11
LRC
TXT
大字
小字
滚动
全页
1South Korean demand for cosmetic surgery operations sharply increased in 2020.
2Last year, the industry in South Korea was worth about $10.7 billion dollars.
3That was an increase of around nine percent from 2019.
4South Koreans are expected to spend around $11.8 billion this year,
5says Gangnam Unni, the country's largest online cosmetic surgery website.
6Ryu Han-na is a 20-year-old university student.
7She got an operation on her nose in December.
8Ryu took her classes online throughout 2020.
9She said the abilities to rest at home and to wear a face covering in public were important for her.
10"I always wanted to get a nose job...I thought it would be the best to get it now before people start taking off masks when vaccines become available in 2021," she said as she prepared for the operation, which cost around $4,000.
11"There will be bruises and swelling from the surgery but since we'll all be wearing masks I think that should help," she added.
12That thinking is leading to an increased demand for such operations in South Korea.
13Gangnam Unni data showed its users grew to about 2.6 million last year, an increase of 63 percent from a year earlier.
14However, the pandemic made it nearly impossible to sell cosmetic services to foreign patients.
15As a result, the industry has tried to promote its services more to people in the country and nearby.
16Promote means to make something more popular or well-known.
17Cosmetic surgeons say patients are interested in operations on all parts of the face.
18Some want operations on parts of the face that are easily hidden under coverings, such as the nose and lips.
19But others want operations in places that face coverings do not hide.
20Park Cheol-woo is a surgeon at WooAhIn Plastic Surgery Clinic.
21Park was responsible for Ryu's operation.
22"Both surgical and non-surgical inquiries about eyes, eyebrows, nose bridge and foreheads - the only visible parts - certainly increased," Park said.
23Surgeon Shin Sang-ho runs Krismas Plastic Surgery Clinic.
24Shin said many people have spent their emergency payment from the government at hospitals and surgical centers.
25"I felt like it's sort of a revenge spending. I've sensed that customers were expressing their pent-up emotions (from the coronavirus) by getting cosmetic procedures," Shin said.
26Pent-up emotions are feelings that have been held back or not expressed.
27Government data shows that of about $13 billion in government payments, 10.6 percent was used in hospitals and drug stores.
28That was the third-largest area of spending behind supermarkets and restaurants.
29However, details of spending at hospitals were not provided.
30A third wave of coronavirus remains a concern in South Korea as the country reports more daily cases.
31"We've seen growing numbers of cancellations...recently as people refrain more from going outside..." Park said.
32I'm John Russell.
1South Korean demand for cosmetic surgery operations sharply increased in 2020. 2Last year, the industry in South Korea was worth about $10.7 billion dollars. That was an increase of around nine percent from 2019. South Koreans are expected to spend around $11.8 billion this year, says Gangnam Unni, the country's largest online cosmetic surgery website. 3Ryu Han-na is a 20-year-old university student. She got an operation on her nose in December. 4Ryu took her classes online throughout 2020. She said the abilities to rest at home and to wear a face covering in public were important for her. 5"I always wanted to get a nose job...I thought it would be the best to get it now before people start taking off masks when vaccines become available in 2021," she said as she prepared for the operation, which cost around $4,000. 6"There will be bruises and swelling from the surgery but since we'll all be wearing masks I think that should help," she added. 7That thinking is leading to an increased demand for such operations in South Korea. Gangnam Unni data showed its users grew to about 2.6 million last year, an increase of 63 percent from a year earlier. 8However, the pandemic made it nearly impossible to sell cosmetic services to foreign patients. As a result, the industry has tried to promote its services more to people in the country and nearby. 9Promote means to make something more popular or well-known. 10Cosmetic surgeons say patients are interested in operations on all parts of the face. Some want operations on parts of the face that are easily hidden under coverings, such as the nose and lips. But others want operations in places that face coverings do not hide. 11Park Cheol-woo is a surgeon at WooAhIn Plastic Surgery Clinic. Park was responsible for Ryu's operation. 12"Both surgical and non-surgical inquiries about eyes, eyebrows, nose bridge and foreheads - the only visible parts - certainly increased," Park said. 13Surgeon Shin Sang-ho runs Krismas Plastic Surgery Clinic. Shin said many people have spent their emergency payment from the government at hospitals and surgical centers. 14"I felt like it's sort of a revenge spending. I've sensed that customers were expressing their pent-up emotions (from the coronavirus) by getting cosmetic procedures," Shin said. 15Pent-up emotions are feelings that have been held back or not expressed. 16Government data shows that of about $13 billion in government payments, 10.6 percent was used in hospitals and drug stores. That was the third-largest area of spending behind supermarkets and restaurants. However, details of spending at hospitals were not provided. 17A third wave of coronavirus remains a concern in South Korea as the country reports more daily cases. "We've seen growing numbers of cancellations...recently as people refrain more from going outside..." Park said. 18I'm John Russell. 19Joori Roh reported on this story for Reuters. John Russell adapted it for Learning English. Mario Ritter, Jr. was the editor. _____________________________________________________________ 20Words in This Story 21cosmetic - adj. used or done in order to improve a person's appearance 22surgery - n. medical treatment in which a doctor cuts into someone's body in order to repair or remove something 23bruise - n. a dark and painful area on your skin that is caused by an injury 24swelling -- n. an area on someone's body that is larger than normal because of an illness or injury 25mask - n. a covering for your face or for part of your face: 26inquiry - n. a request for information 27forehead - n. the part of the face above the eyes 28refrain - v. to stop yourself from doing something that you want to do 29revenge - n. the act of getting back at someone or something that has wronged you 30customer - n. a person who buys goods or services from a business 31procedure - n. a medical treatment or operation