Increasing number of Elementary school students are receiving skin care, plastic surgery, and makeup lessons in Korea

[singermelodie1]

Korean parents who are famous for investing heavily in their children's education are now starting to do the same for improving their child's outer appearance. 

 

On December 16, Chosun Ilbo reported about the recent trend that is sending kids as young as in the fifth grade to skin care spas. One mother, age 37, who was interviewed said, "I purchased a 3-month skin care package for my fifth-grade daughter... Before she starts a new school year, I want her to get rid of acne skin and scars; she will have clear skin...They say nowadays, your appearance is a competitive edge, so if she is pretty, she will be more well-liked by her peers." This mom shared that she also plans to buy skin brightening procedure as well as aqua peeling treatment down the road. 

As Korean schools are about to begin their winter break, which lasts for about a month, many pre-teens' parents are exploring options to improve their children's looks. They are flocking to not only shopping malls to buy better outfits, but the newer trend is to use the winter break to work on dental work, skin care, and even plastic surgery. 

 

During winter time, these medical offices are crowded with elementary and middle school students who come with their mothers. Mrs. Jang, 40-years-old, said, "My son who is in fifth grade complained to me that his friends make fun of his protruding mouth, so we got him braces." 

 

Some of the plastic surgery offices are extending 40% off student discounts to middle school students. One staff member at a plastic surgery hospital said, "We do not encourage young students to get any work done since they're still growing, but there are many moms who bring their elementary school age kids and begs us to do an eye surgery on them; we have to convince them and say no." Winter special weight loss classes and courses to grow height are also very popular during this time of the year. 

Younger and younger girls are starting to wear makeup. So some parents are helping their kids choose better quality skincare and makeup products themselves. Mrs. Park who is a mom to a first-grade girl, said, "I decided to buy sunblock and lip products as a new school year present. The kids in her classroom just wear whatever other kids use, so it's better for me to buy good-quality products so she doesn't get skin trouble." 

 

Experts are attributing these trends to Korean teens' high interest in celebrities. Good-looking and well-dressed celebrities are highly admired, and the kids aspire to be like them. One education organization conducted a survey in May of this year with over 3,000 elementary school students, and 38% of them said that they wanted to become a celebrity when they grow up. In 1970s and 1980s, the number 1 answer among kids was President of Korea.  In 1990s, it was a physician. 

Other experts argue that it is actually the parents' desire for their children's success that is making these trends worse. Professor Im Woong stated, "Investing in children's beauty is another way to make your kids superior, other than education. It is not a good idea to implant an idea of 'no matter what, the only thing that matters is winning in a competition' to children who do not yet have a set of values for themselves," expressing his concerns for Koreans obsession over good looks.  

 

 

 

source: http://www.allkpop.com/buzz/2016/12/increasing-number-of-elementary-school-students-receiving-skin-care-plastic-surgery-and-makeup-lessons-in-korea

[Annalee]

You know what's funny ? My parents didn't allow me to wear make up until i was 16 and i had absolutely no problem with it....i feel like i don't live in the same world...

[�SHERRY�]

this is sad.... it's ok to started skincare routine around 12yo but all these??? so unnecessary.

[blank_stare]

this is sad.... it's ok to started skincare routine around 12yo but all these??? so unnecessary.

They shouldn't tbh. It'll mess up with their hormones and skin. Best to start around 16-22. Your skin would have calmed down by then.

[sakurahanabira]

I purchased a 3-month skin care package for my fifth-grade daughter... Before she starts a new school year, I want her to get rid of acne skin and scars; she will have clear skin...

since when the fuck do 11-12 year old kids get acne skin and scars?? You don't usually get them until your teenage years since acne is usually associated with puberty. At that age, just washing your face twice a day is good enough.

[sakurahanabira]

this is sad.... it's ok to started skincare routine around 12yo but all these??? so unnecessary.

the part about one mother getting her son braces isn't unnecessary, though. Braces helps align the teeth and make them easier to clean and prevent any future dental problems that may come with misaligned teeth, like TMJ disorder or gum disease.

[愛��る]

Skincare is good but everything else? They shouldn't be exposing their children to all of that.

[sakurahanabira]

Skincare is good but everything else? They shouldn't be exposing their children to all of that.

 

how is one mother getting her son braces bad? Exposing young kids to plastic surgery is bad, but there's nothing wrong with getting them braces. 

[愛��る]

how is one mother getting her son braces bad? Exposing young kids to plastic surgery is bad, but there's nothing wrong with getting them braces. 

I….said nothing about braces.

[A Hamster Named Loneliness]

I….said nothing about braces.

 

but you did say "but everything else?  They shouldn't be exposing their children to all of that" and you might as well be including braces in "all of that" since you didn't exclude it and the original article mentioned braces was one of the procedures parents get for their kids. 

[愛��る]

 

but you did say "but everything else?  They shouldn't be exposing their children to all of that" and you might as well be including braces in "all of that" since you didn't exclude it and the original article mentioned braces was one of the procedures parents get for their kids. 

As someone who has had braces, that would be nonsensical for me to say. I assumed most people would would come to the conclusion of plastic surgery and makeup lessons.

[Ulmicola]

...why. D: 

 

Plastic surgery in South Korea is a fucking epidemic... why children. D:

[Peach Macaron]

can't they let the kids just...be kids for awhile without having to worry about all this nonsense for once? The only things mentioned that I'd be ok with would be the braces and the skincare (but even then they should probably start their kid off simple and not anything super extreme)

[exot9]

You know what's funny ? My parents didn't allow me to wear make up until i was 16 and i had absolutely no problem with it....i feel like i don't live in the same world...

I'm 17 and still not allowed to wear make up lmao

[denizen mars]

the part about one mother getting her son braces isn't unnecessary, though. Braces helps align the teeth and make them easier to clean and prevent any future dental problems that may come with misaligned teeth, like TMJ disorder or gum disease.

however. do most most 5th graders have their adult teeth? because getting braces on baby teeth is usually a waste. I got a retainer in 6th grade to fix some severe crowding and overjet and there was discussion of braces after that, but my orthodontist said 'come back later' because I didn't get my adult molars until age 14

[Kstarnet]

Korean parents who are famous for investing heavily in their children's education are now starting to do the same for improving their child's outer appearance. 

 

On December 16, Chosun Ilbo reported about the recent trend that is sending kids as young as in the fifth grade to skin care spas. One mother, age 37, who was interviewed said, "I purchased a 3-month skin care package for my fifth-grade daughter... Before she starts a new school year, I want her to get rid of acne skin and scars; she will have clear skin...They say nowadays, your appearance is a competitive edge, so if she is pretty, she will be more well-liked by her peers." This mom shared that she also plans to buy skin brightening procedure as well as aqua peeling treatment down the road. 

 

As Korean schools are about to begin their winter break, which lasts for about a month, many pre-teens' parents are exploring options to improve their children's looks. They are flocking to not only shopping malls to buy better outfits, but the newer trend is to use the winter break to work on dental work, skin care, and even plastic surgery. 

 

During winter time, these medical offices are crowded with elementary and middle school students who come with their mothers. Mrs. Jang, 40-years-old, said, "My son who is in fifth grade complained to me that his friends make fun of his protruding mouth, so we got him braces." 

 

Some of the plastic surgery offices are extending 40% off student discounts to middle school students. One staff member at a plastic surgery hospital said, "We do not encourage young students to get any work done since they're still growing, but there are many moms who bring their elementary school age kids and begs us to do an eye surgery on them; we have to convince them and say no." Winter special weight loss classes and courses to grow height are also very popular during this time of the year. 

 

 

Younger and younger girls are starting to wear makeup. So some parents are helping their kids choose better quality skincare and makeup products themselves. Mrs. Park who is a mom to a first-grade girl, said, "I decided to buy sunblock and lip products as a new school year present. The kids in her classroom just wear whatever other kids use, so it's better for me to buy good-quality products so she doesn't get skin trouble." 

 

Experts are attributing these trends to Korean teens' high interest in celebrities. Good-looking and well-dressed celebrities are highly admired, and the kids aspire to be like them. One education organization conducted a survey in May of this year with over 3,000 elementary school students, and 38% of them said that they wanted to become a celebrity when they grow up. In 1970s and 1980s, the number 1 answer among kids was President of Korea.  In 1990s, it was a physician. 

Other experts argue that it is actually the parents' desire for their children's success that is making these trends worse. Professor Im Woong stated, "Investing in children's beauty is another way to make your kids superior, other than education. It is not a good idea to implant an idea of 'no matter what, the only thing that matters is winning in a competition' to children who do not yet have a set of values for themselves," expressing his concerns for Koreans obsession over good looks.

 

Source: http://www.allkpop.com/buzz/2016/12/increasing-number-of-elementary-school-students-receiving-skin-care-plastic-surgery-and-makeup-lessons-in-korea

 

What in the world is happening???!!!

[fool]

 

 

um

[Laamaa]

How the f*ck can a chile get PS when they're still growing? Won't their face change a lot still?!?! *mindblow*

[eriy.m]

Already posted

[Kyrie]

These poor kids. :( Being taught so early that fortune favors the fair more often than not.

 

That said, getting skin care early isn't so bad. I had terrible, painful acne growing up and ended up needing to see a dermatologist. Taking care of your skin and starting early with good skincare habits is a good thing, I think. And makeup never hurt anyone.

 

Plastic surgery, though... wait until they're adults. 

[Kstarnet]

These poor kids. :( Being taught so early that fortune favors the fair more often than not.

 

That said, getting skin care early isn't so bad. I had terrible, painful acne growing up and ended up needing to see a dermatologist. Taking care of your skin and starting early with good skincare habits is a good thing, I think. And makeup never hurt anyone.

 

Plastic surgery, though... wait until they're adults. 

True,. Instead of make up and plastic surgery, they should be taught on being healthy, little skincare for survival for example, sunscreen for summer and lotion during winter. Because all those also affects their looks in future

[prawncrackers]

 

 

wow this is so messed up on so many levels  

 

the obsession over good looks in korea is going way out of hand, people are gonna look exactly like barbie dolls with no real substance in them. sad. 

[BobCaracal]

what a mess up society 

[glitteringstars]

This is just sad

[Tokki the Awkward Potato]

now its nothing wrong with skin care & dental work because no one wants to be out here lookin crusty & dusty but plastic surgery....w h y