DNA Testing and Plastic Surgery

I received an email back from Korea Social Services, Inc. and they gave me a couple forms to fill out, to begin the process of finding my (if any) family. I am going to do this today and send back right away (fingers crossed!). I also have a good friend who is from and lives in Korea (going forward, I am just going to say Korea... just know it is South I am referring to :D), and he has said that he would try and help me as well. I feel I may be lucky on this one because he is an important person over there, and I am sure I can move things along if he is on my side. (More on him in future posts!) That is where I am currently am with finding out if I have any biological family out there!

Another thought that has crossed my mind and I plan on doing, DNA testing. I know a couple people who have done this and it is very interesting, merely for the fact of finding out what your exactly made of. Am I 100% Korean? I have always been told I look a bit mixed. It may help if you have a photo of me to decide for yourself, so here are a couple! (Sorry, they are not professionally done!) The first one is of me at the orphanage, 4-5 years old. This is one out of only 2 photos I have of my life in Korea. The second one is a good 'selfie' I took when playing around :D (yes, I do take a lot of selfies and I am not ashamed of it!), and the third photo is of my husband and son, Statham, pronounced 'stay-thumb'. Where did we come up with this name? Good question: I was pregnant and watching a Jason Statham movie (love that guy) and decided that his last name would be a kick ass name. That is the simple truth!

I will post on my process for DNA testing, in case you may be wondering about it too! From my research, it costs around $100-$200 and I think I am going to go with Ancestry.com or 23andme.com

A hot topic in Korea that many Westerners (better term than non-Koreans) are curious about is...plastic surgery! I'll admit, I have thought about getting a little bit done to myself as well. The main one is Asian blepharoplasty, or double eyelid surgery. WHAT, you ask!?! Obviously this isn't a problem for non-Koreans :D. In Korea and other Asian countries, monolids are (sorry about the pun) viewed as 'not pretty'. Big eyes are very much idolized and I also fall victim to the longing of big, double eyelid eyes. I get it, don't change anything about myself... we are beautiful the way we are. Okay, okay, but it is just like you would want a skinnier body, or someone's nose, not being bald, or anything you feel to enhance what you deem as beautiful, etc... and it is so common in Korea that often, parents will save up to buy their children this surgery knowing it may help them be more successful with their future since it is idolized so much in Korea. Korea is very particular on standards of beauty. I know so many women that have gotten breast implants, but when I talk to them about blepharoplasty, they are shocked and say no way (a bit hypocritical if you ask me). I get it though, it is done on the face which is much riskier and scarier. Still, let us not judge one another of our wants and desires... it is not as though I am going to act on it... at least I don't think so, but I can't promise for sure and ultimately it is my choice. Other popular surgeries are chin reductions, rhinoplasty, hair transplants, and forehead augmentations (see photos below).

A few other notes about plastic surgery: Korea is ranked number one in plastic surgery and they are known for the best plastic surgeons. Many foreigners flock to Korea for plastic surgery. Koreans have a very 'loose' attitude about telling others what they think on their looks. It is almost comical that someone you may not even know may tell you that you are beautiful or that you need to lose weight or get some work done. Believe me, it is shocking too... but that is just the way this country is. (I'll focus on their respect culture next post to show you Korea is not as superficial as this post makes it seem!). Koreans have a very high standard for beauty and weight... you cannot be big in Korea, and by big... I mean probably what is considered a normal, healthy weight here in the US would be considered overweight in Korea. When I visited there in July of 2012, I was about 130 pounds (and I am 5'7'' so slender in US comparisons). However, trying on clothes... I was told I was 'too big' at one store in Itaewon... can you believe it! It didn't apply to just myself either. My husband couldn't find any clothes either (he is 6'1'' and ~190 pounds), nor any of the cool shoes they had (highest size they went up to was a 10). Hey, it is what it is. We don't have to agree with it. Many people across the world do not agree with some of US ways either... but keep an open mind. Every country has their uniqueness to them. I feel Korea has a deep respect culture that only other countries can wish they have (more on this later).

Here are some photos of plastic surgery from Korea. We saw posters everywhere... and I mean everywhere! Again, it is so common there that it is not viewed upon as a big deal at all. Prepare to be astounded by some of these transformations! (There was even a case I saw, not sure if it was in Korea or another Asian country, but a husband sued the wife for misleading him due to how much plastic surgery she had). Please feel free to post your thoughts (but please, no vulgarity!). Also, feel free to comment on future topics you would like to know about Korea or just in general. Until next time!

With love, Jessica (Eun Joo, 은주)