KpopUSA: Eyes Are the Windows to the Soul: The Double Eyelid

America has always been fascinated with Asia, deeming it “the Orient” and found it mystical, exotic and foreign. There was trade of teas and silks—and of beauty ideals. While America fantasized about Asian life and beauty, Asians tried to emulate American beauty.

From straightening hair and bleaching it to more extensive and painful surgeries such as eyelid and nose reconstruction, there has been an obsession that has grown into the modern culture of Korean youth. These beauty ideals are reflected in the Korean pop stars of today’s generation and it reinforces the thoughts of young people both in Korea and in America. Many Korean pop stars have altered their appearances to look more Western. Some argue that this isn’t true, but where else would they have gotten these ideas to change how they look?

Because of the strong cultural practices that come from Korea, it is common for young girls to get eyelid surgery because it has become more affordable and thus has become more common. The eyelid surgery is purely a cosmetic surgery where after the surgery one has a double eyelid, or a crease/fold above the eye. This surgery creates a wider, rounder eye, something that Koreans hold to a very high beauty standard. Many teenagers get this particular surgery on their 16th birthday as a present from their parents.

A popular substitute for this surgery is the double eyelid tape or glue where it creates the look of a double eyelid for the day and is much more affordable to those who still can’t

afford the surgery.

There are many steps to create this double eyelid:

1)Wash face to remove oils.

2) Apply the eyelid tape or glue above the lash line.

3) Push the upper eyelid towards the adhesive tape or glue using the end of a bobby pin.

4) Apply makeup as desired to enhance the eyes.

5) Can be washed off with warm water and soap at the end of the day.

While it still is an individual’s choice of whether or not to get the surgery, many youths do because of cultural values and the fact that many of the celebrities they idolize have it done as well. There are still celebrities such as Gain who haven’t had the double eyelid surgery and is still seen as beautiful in the eyes of her fans. Though all the girls from group Girls Generation have been speculated as having a variety of plastic surgeries.