Tag: south-korea

  • As South Korea draws visitors chasing beauty, dodgy practices pose risks

    As South Korea draws visitors chasing beauty, dodgy practices pose risks

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    Seoul, South Korea – When Alex looked into the price difference between rhinoplasty, commonly known as a “nose job”, in the United States and South Korea, she thought that flying to the Asian country for the surgery was a no-brainer.

    “$30,000 or $6,000, the choice was clear,” Alex, who asked not to be referred to by her real name, told Al Jazeera, describing her decision to undergo the procedure in the country “known to be number one in plastic surgery”.

    But less than a year later, the entertainer found herself grappling with severe complications.

    The implant from her surgery had begun protruding through her skin, necessitating emergency removal back in the US.

    “Had I known what I know now, I would have never done it,” she said, visibly distressed as she described her ongoing struggle with complications, including a crooked nose and visible hole that required corrective surgery.

    “I don’t think I’ll ever go back to Korea to do surgery because of this.”

    South Korea has the highest rate of plastic surgery procedures per capita in the world, according to Expert Market Research, with a market worth $1.7bn in 2023.

    The sector is expected to grow to be worth $5.19bn by 2032, driven by the global popularity of Korean pop culture, or “hallyu”, which has popularised Korean beauty standards and fuelled interest in Korean cosmetic procedures worldwide.

    In the capital Seoul, the affluent district of Gangnam is awash with clinics and hospitals specialising in cosmetic procedures and surgery, offering everything from double eyelid surgery to facial contouring, liposuction and breast augmentation.

    korea
    A pedestrian walks past an advertisement for a plastic surgery clinic at a subway station in Seoul on March 26, 2014 [Jung Yeon-Je/AFP]

    While they also cater to local customers, international patients are a highly lucrative part of their business.

    Last year, South Korea attracted 605,768 non-resident foreign patients for medical services, according to the Ministry of Health and Welfare, with the highest numbers coming from Japan, China, the United States and Thailand.

    Plastic surgery accounted for 16.8 percent of procedures – more than 114,000 surgeries – making it the second most sought-after medical speciality after dermatology.

    But beneath the glossy marketing and viral social media videos luring medical tourists from around the world, foreign patients face a multitude of barriers to access, misinformation and deceptive practices, putting their health at risk, an investigation by Al Jazeera has found.

    One of the biggest challenges for medical tourists is the language barrier.

    In key markets like China and the US, prospective patients often turn to a variety of online platforms for advice, including open chat groups, Reddit pages, and even niche forums ostensibly dedicated to topics like designer handbags.

    These murky digital spaces are filled with anonymous users discussing procedures while exchanging clinic and doctor recommendations, procedure tips, so-called blacklists and translator contacts.

    The abundance of unverified information and lack of accountability make it challenging for users to discern genuine experiences from potentially biased accounts or covert advertisements.

    They are also a hunting ground for illegal brokers who can make substantial commissions for simply referring clients.

    While soliciting to foreign patients is legal, it requires a government licence. Eligible companies must have a registered Korean office address, maintain specified capital and carry insurance.

    Hospitals face more stringent requirements to be able to legally receive foreign patients, including having at least one specialist per medical department and higher levels of medical malpractice insurance.

    When posing as a potential patient on a number of platforms, Al Jazeera was approached within minutes by anonymous facilitators who admitted they did not have the required certification.

    In 2020, the dangers of the industry were thrust into the spotlight when Bonnie Evita Law, a heiress to a Hong Kong fashion empire, died during a liposuction procedure at a Seoul clinic.

    Law was reportedly introduced to the hospital through an illegal broker.

    The operating surgeon, later revealed to be an orthopaedic specialist rather than a plastic surgeon, was charged with professional negligence resulting in death. The outcome of the case was not publicly revealed.

    While only certified specialists can officially call their practices “plastic surgery clinics”, any licensed medical doctor in South Korea can legally perform cosmetic surgeries as Korean medical law does not restrict doctors to only working in their specialised field.

    In a more recent case, a Chinese woman died in January shortly after receiving liposuction surgery at a clinic in Gangnam.

    The problem of Chinese cosmetic surgery patients falling victim to unscrupulous and unsafe practices has become so prevalent that the Chinese embassy in Seoul in January issued a notice warning its citizens to “be wary of advertising and risks” and “carefully choose intermediary agencies”.

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    Pedestrians walk outside the Chinese embassy in Seoul on January 10, 2023 [Anthony Wallace/AFP]

    The Ministry of Health and Welfare, through the Korea Health Industry Development Institute (KHIDI), operates a centre for reporting illegal soliciting of foreign patients.

    The number of reports has risen significantly – from 11 cases in 2021 to 16 in 2022, to 59 last year.

    An official at KHIDI, speaking on condition of anonymity, said that “cases handled as suspected violations are subject to follow-up measures such as fines and penalties”.

    “Those confirmed as illegal solicitation are administratively disposed of by local governments in accordance with the law,” the official said.

    However, when pressed for specifics on how many cases were actually investigated or processed, the official did not provide figures, only stating that the number would “inevitably be lower” than the number of cases reported.

    Kang Ki-yoon, a lawmaker with South Korea’s ruling People Power Party, last year raised concern about the lack of clarity around the handling of cases, suggesting that despite the increase in reports, there appeared to be little follow-up action.

    “It’s a national disgrace for foreigners seeking our country’s world-class medical technology to fall victim to unethical practices by some medical institutions,” Kang said, calling for more rigorous management of such cases.

    Speaking on condition of anonymity, a friend of Law, the deceased Hong Kong heiress, expressed concern about the risks associated with overseas surgeries.

    “With social media glamourising Korea’s beauty industry, people treat getting surgery in Korea as casually as getting beauty treatment. They should be aware of the dangers and the difficulties of seeking recourse if complications arise,” the friend told Al Jazeera.

    Another concern is the prevalence of misleading and potentially illegal reviews.

    While Korean medical advertising law prohibits the use of influencers for testimonial marketing, the practice is widespread, especially involving foreign patients, which complicates enforcement.

    Al Jazeera reviewed a contract that required a foreign influencer to produce multiple promotional videos and social media content about a plastic surgery clinic in exchange for free surgery, with the clinic dictating specific positive language to be used in posts.

    The clinic required that that influencer produce the content before knowing the final results of the surgery, stipulated that it would review all content before its release, and included confidentiality terms that effectively prevented disclosure of the sponsored nature of the surgery.

    The influencer delivered the required content but expressed reluctance to use specific positive language demanded by the hospital as she was not happy with the results of the surgery.

    The hospital claimed that she had not fulfilled her agreement and demanded that she pay for the surgery and other associated costs, including airfare.

    However, according to correspondence from her lawyer, these threats abruptly ceased when the hospital was reminded about the illegality of such practices under medical advertising laws.

    ‘Conveyor belt’

    The case is not isolated.

    Al Jazeera spoke to three patients who claimed they were offered discounts in exchange for positive reviews.

    Claiming damages for a “medical accident” where “damage occurs to a person’s life, body, or property due to the medical practice of a healthcare provider” is possible through dispute mediation, but both sides need to agree to arbitration.

    Alternatively, a lawsuit can be filed, but the process can be lengthy and costly.

    Many large clinics boast on their websites that they are “accident-free”.

    Such claims are difficult to verify, as patients who share negative experiences publicly can face legal consequences under South Korea’s defamation laws, which can penalise even statements that are true.

    Alex, the American who travelled to South Korea for a rhinoplasty, said she found herself rushed into surgery within an hour, despite reservations and the absence of an in-house translator.

    Post-surgery, she experienced severe complications, including disfigurement due to the implant protruding through her skin, necessitating emergency removal surgery in the US.

    “I felt abandoned, like I was on a conveyor belt,” she said.

    “Once they had done the surgery, they didn’t want to deal with me any more. They kept saying I was still healing when I knew something was seriously wrong.”

    Frustrated by inadequate aftercare and unable to secure a refund, Alex wrote a review with photos on the Gangnam Unni app, a popular plastic surgery review platform marketed as Unni outside South Korea.

    Eager to avoid negative publicity, the hospital offered a full refund, but only after she agreed to delete the review and sign a confidentiality agreement.

    The document, which was reviewed by Al Jazeera, prohibits her from discussing the contents of the agreement and her experience on any platform, with failure to comply resulting in financial penalties.

    On Gangnam Unni, users can only sort reviews by “recent” or “recommended”, with no option to filter from lowest to highest rating, making it difficult to find negative reviews.

    Al Jazeera reached out to Healing Paper, the company behind the app, for comment on their handling of negative reviews and the practice of patients being pressured to remove critical feedback, but received no response.

    While risks exist, many patients have positive experiences with plastic surgery in South Korea, and efforts are being made to improve safety and transparency in the industry.

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    Gangnam Medical Tourism Centre [Raphael Rashid/Al Jazeera]

    One such initiative is the Gangnam Medical Tourism Centre, run by the Gangnam district office in Seoul.

    As a public entity, the centre does not receive commissions or make referrals, but instead, aims to help foreigners navigate the system and connect with professional, licensed medical translators.

    The centre maintains a list of vetted medical institutions, providing an additional layer of security for foreign patients seeking reliable care.

    As part of its vetting, the centre verifies that hospitals are registered to treat foreign patients, have specialists in each department, maintain proper malpractice insurance, and possess adequate facilities and staff to handle emergencies.

    The centre also conducts on-site inspections of partner institutions and provides training for medical interpreters.

    An official at the centre emphasised the importance of careful consideration when seeking medical procedures abroad. “We advise patients to prioritise their health and safety above all else.”

    “While cost is a factor, it shouldn’t be the primary consideration when choosing a medical provider or procedure,” the official told Al Jazeera, requesting anonymity.

    Jeet Dhindsa, who runs a licensed medical tourism facilitation company that has also helped patients who fell prey to illegal brokers and deceptive practices, stressed the importance of due diligence. “It’s crucial to verify the credentials of both the medical facilities and any intermediaries involved in the process,” Dhindsa told Al Jazeera.

    “It’s always best to contact people who are transparent about who they are.”

    Reflecting on her experience, Alex said: “Make sure you have someone who can advocate for you if things don’t go as planned.”

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  • North Korea launches long-range missile, signaling tech improvements

    North Korea launches long-range missile, signaling tech improvements

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    SEOUL, South Korea (AP) — North Korea test-fired an intercontinental ballistic missile for the first time in almost a year Thursday, demonstrating a potential advancement in its ability to launch long-range nuclear attacks on the mainland U.S.

    The launch was likely meant to meant grab American attention days ahead of the U.S. election and respond to condemnation over the North’s reported troop dispatch to Russia to support its war against Ukraine. Some experts speculated Russia might have provided technological assistance to North Korea over the launch.

    North Korean leader Kim Jong Un observed the launch, calling it “an appropriate military action” to show North Korea’s resolve to respond to its enemies’ moves that have threatened the North’s safety, according to the North’s state media.

    Kim said the enemies’ “various adventuristic military maneuvers” highlighted the importance of North Korea’s nuclear capability. He reaffirmed that North Korea will never abandon its policy of bolstering its nuclear forces.

    North Korea has steadfastly argued that advancing its nuclear capabilities is its only option to cope with the expansion of U.S.-South Korean military training, though Washington and Seoul have repeatedly said they have no intention of attacking North Korea. Experts say North Korea uses its rivals’ drills as a pretext to enlarge its nuclear arsenal to wrest concessions when diplomacy resumes.

    The North Korean statement came hours after its neighbors said they had detected the North’s first ICBM test since December 2023 and condemned it as a provocation that undermines international peace.

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    South Korea’s Joint Chiefs of Staff said North Korea could have tested a new, solid-fueled long-range ballistic missile on a steep angle, an attempt to avoid neighboring countries. Missiles with built-in solid propellants are easier to move and hide and can be launched quicker than liquid-propellant weapons.

    Japanese Defense Minister Gen Nakatani told reporters the missile’s flight duration of 86 minutes and its maximum altitude of more than 7,000 kilometers (4,350 miles) exceeded corresponding data from previous North Korean missile tests.

    Having a missile fly higher and for a longer duration than before means its engine thrust has improved. Given that previous ICBM tests by North Korea have already proved they can theoretically reach the U.S mainland, the latest launch was likely related to an effort to examine whether a missile can carry a bigger warhead, experts say.

    Jung Chang Wook, head of the Korea Defense Study Forum think tank in Seoul, said that it’s fair to say the missile involved in Thursday’s launch could carry North Korea’s biggest and most destructive warhead. He said the launch was also likely designed to test other technological aspects that North Korea needs to master to further advance its ICBM program.

    North Korea has made strides in its missile technologies in recent years, but many foreign experts believe the country has yet to acquire a functioning nuclear-armed missile that can strike the U.S. mainland. They say North Korea likely possesses short-range missiles that can deliver nuclear strikes across all of South Korea.

    There have been concerns that North Korea might seek Russian help to perfect its nuclear-capable missiles in return for its alleged dispatch of thousands of troops to support Russia’s war against Ukraine. U.S. Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin said Wednesday that North Korean troops wearing Russian uniforms and carrying Russian equipment are moving toward Ukraine, in what he called a dangerous and destabilizing development.

    Lee Choon Geun, an honorary research fellow at South Korea’s Science and Technology Policy Institute, said the early results of Thursday’s launch suggested Russia might have given a key propellant component that can boost a missile’s engine thrust. He said that a higher thrust allows a missile to carry a bigger payload, fly with more stability and hit a target more accurately.

    Jung said he speculates Russian experts might have given technological advices on missile launches since Russian President Vladimir Putin visited North Korea for a meeting with Kim in June.

    Kwon Yong Soo, an honorary professor at South Korea’s National Defense University, said that North Korea likely tested a multiple-warhead system for an existing ICBM. “There’s no reason for North Korea to develop another new ICBM when it already has several systems with ranges of up to 10,000 to 15,000 kilometers (6,200 to 9,300 miles) that could reach any location on Earth,” Kwon said.

    The North Korean confirmation of an ICBM test was unusually quick since North Korea usually describes its weapons tests a day after they occur.

    “North Korea could have probably thought that its rivals could look down it after it gave away so much in military resources to Russia,” Yang Uk, an expert at South Korea’s Asan Institute Institute for Policy Studies. “The launch may have been intended as a demonstration to show what it’s capable of, regardless of troop dispatches or other movements.”

    U.S. National Security Council spokesperson Sean Savett called the launch “a flagrant violation” of multiple U.N. Security Council resolutions that “needlessly raises tensions and risks destabilizing the security situation in the region.” Savett said the U.S. will take all necessary measures to ensure the security of the American homeland and its South Korean and Japanese allies.

    South Korean military spokesperson Lee Sung Joon said the North Korean missile may have been fired from a 12-axle launch vehicle, the North’s largest mobile launch platform. The disclosure of the new launch vehicle in September had prompted speculation North Korea could be developing an ICBM that is bigger than its existing ones.

    South Korea’s military intelligence agency told lawmakers Wednesday that North Korea has likely completed preparations for its seventh nuclear test as well. It said North Korea had been close to testing an ICBM.

    In the past two years, Kim has used Russia’s invasion of Ukraine as a window to ramp up weapons tests and threats while also expanding military cooperation with Moscow. South Korea, the U.S. and others say North Korea has already shipped artillery, missiles and other conventional arms to replenish Russia’s dwindling weapons stockpiles.

    North Korea’s possible participation in the Ukraine war would mark a serious escalation. Besides Russian nuclear and missile technologies, experts say Kim Jong Un also likely hopes for Russian help to build a reliable space-based surveillance system and modernize his country’s conventional weapons. They say Kim will likely get hundreds of millions of dollars from Russia for his soldiers’ wages if they are stationed in Russia for one year.

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  • North Korean troops likely to join Ukraine war, Pentagon says

    North Korean troops likely to join Ukraine war, Pentagon says

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    U.S. Secretary of Defense Lloyd Austin confirmed that he expects North Korean troops that have deployed to Russia to join the war against Ukraine, a step he warned could expand the conflict.

    In the last month, North Korea has sent 10,000 soldiers to eastern Russia, where they began training across three military sites. Around 2,000 of these troops have since moved west, with some receiving Russian uniforms and equipment. A smaller group has already entered the region of Kursk, where Ukrainian forces seized land earlier this fall.

    “There’s a good likelihood that these groups will be introduced into combat,” Austin said Wednesday, speaking alongside South Korea’s defense minister, Kim Yong-hyun, who was visiting Washington.

    Since publicly confirming last week that North Korea had sent forces into Russia, the Pentagon has warned Pyongyang against joining the nearly three-year war. After decades of chilly relations — including years of Russia trying to limit North Korea’s nuclear program — the two countries have warmed to each other following the 2022 invasion of Ukraine.

    North Korea has helped supply Russia’s military with munitions and other military equipment during the war, and their two leaders have held multiple in-person summits. American officials have grown concerned about what Pyongyang is receiving in return.

    That barter likely includes Russia transferring advanced technology on tactical nuclear weapons, reconnaissance satellites, intercontinental ballistic missiles and nuclear submarines, said Kim, the South Korean defense minister.

    “There’s also a high chance that they will try to replace their equipment” that may have grown obsolete, Kim said.

    The U.S. does not have direct relations with North Korea and already has a raft of sanctions imposed on the country. Austin said the administration is working with allies on how to respond to the deployment, though he wouldn’t specify how.

    “It does have the potential of lengthening the conflict or broadening the conflict if that continues,” Austin said of these troops fighting alongside Russia. If they do, he said, they would be fair targets for Ukrainian soldiers, including with American-provided weapons.

    Pentagon and White House officials have argued that the deployment is a sign of “desperation” from Russia, which is suffering immense and accelerating casualties in Ukraine’s east — more than 1,000 per day with more than 600,000 during the whole war.

    Austin went further Wednesday, saying the Kremlin is now asking Pyongyang for manpower to avoid another draft. Russia has been able to replace much of its losses through recruitment drives, offering higher pay and pensions, but a mobilization could be politically unpopular.

    Russian President Vladimir Putin “doesn’t want to mobilize, because then the people in Russia will begin to understand the extent of his losses, of their losses,” Austin said.

    After Russian advances toward the key eastern city of Pokrovsk this fall, Ukraine’s defenses have held. Still, Ukraine is also taking heavy losses and has a much smaller population, making them harder to replace.

    Noah Robertson is the Pentagon reporter at Defense News. He previously covered national security for the Christian Science Monitor. He holds a bachelor’s degree in English and government from the College of William & Mary in his hometown of Williamsburg, Virginia.

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  • North Korean troops likely to join Ukraine war, Pentagon says

    North Korean troops likely to join Ukraine war, Pentagon says

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    U.S. Secretary of Defense Lloyd Austin confirmed that he expects North Korean troops that have deployed to Russia to join the war against Ukraine, a step he warned could expand the conflict.

    In the last month, North Korea has sent 10,000 soldiers to eastern Russia, where they began training across three military sites. Around 2,000 of these troops have since moved west, with some receiving Russian uniforms and equipment. A smaller group has already entered the region of Kursk, where Ukrainian forces seized land earlier this fall.

    “There’s a good likelihood that these groups will be introduced into combat,” Austin said Wednesday, speaking alongside South Korea’s defense minister, Kim Yong-hyun, who was visiting Washington.

    Since publicly confirming last week that North Korea had sent forces into Russia, the Pentagon has warned Pyongyang against joining the nearly three-year war. After decades of chilly relations — including years of Russia trying to limit North Korea’s nuclear program — the two countries have warmed to each other following the 2022 invasion of Ukraine.

    North Korea has helped supply Russia’s military with munitions and other military equipment during the war, and their two leaders have held multiple in-person summits. American officials have grown concerned about what Pyongyang is receiving in return.

    That barter likely includes Russia transferring advanced technology on tactical nuclear weapons, reconnaissance satellites, intercontinental ballistic missiles and nuclear submarines, said Kim, the South Korean defense minister.

    “There’s also a high chance that they will try to replace their equipment” that may have grown obsolete, Kim said.

    The U.S. does not have direct relations with North Korea and already has a raft of sanctions imposed on the country. Austin said the administration is working with allies on how to respond to the deployment, though he wouldn’t specify how.

    “It does have the potential of lengthening the conflict or broadening the conflict if that continues,” Austin said of these troops fighting alongside Russia. If they do, he said, they would be fair targets for Ukrainian soldiers, including with American-provided weapons.

    Pentagon and White House officials have argued that the deployment is a sign of “desperation” from Russia, which is suffering immense and accelerating casualties in Ukraine’s east — more than 1,000 per day with more than 600,000 during the whole war.

    Austin went further Wednesday, saying the Kremlin is now asking Pyongyang for manpower to avoid another draft. Russia has been able to replace much of its losses through recruitment drives, offering higher pay and pensions, but a mobilization could be politically unpopular.

    Russian President Vladimir Putin “doesn’t want to mobilize, because then the people in Russia will begin to understand the extent of his losses, of their losses,” Austin said.

    After Russian advances toward the key eastern city of Pokrovsk this fall, Ukraine’s defenses have held. Still, Ukraine is also taking heavy losses and has a much smaller population, making them harder to replace.

    Noah Robertson is the Pentagon reporter at Defense News. He previously covered national security for the Christian Science Monitor. He holds a bachelor’s degree in English and government from the College of William & Mary in his hometown of Williamsburg, Virginia.

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  • North Korea blows up roads near South Korean border as tensions soar

    North Korea blows up roads near South Korean border as tensions soar

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    Latest move comes after Pyongyang accused South Korea of sending drones carrying propaganda leaflets over its capital.

    North Korea has blown up the northern sections of the roads that connect it to South Korea, according to South Korea’s military.

    Some parts of the road north of the military demarcation line dividing the countries were blown up at about midday (03:00 GMT), the Joint Chiefs of Staff said in a message sent to media on Tuesday.

    The military fired warning shots south of the demarcation line, it said.

    Seoul had warned on Monday that Pyongyang was preparing to blow up the roads.

    Tensions on the Korean Peninsula have risen since North Korea accused its neighbour of sending drones carrying propaganda leaflets over the country’s capital Pyongyang.

    The explosions came a day after North Korean leader Kim Jong Un called a meeting with his top military and security officials to discuss the issue.

    During the meeting, Kim described the flights as the “enemy’s serious provocation” and laid out unspecified tasks related to “immediate military action” and the operation of his “war deterrent” for defending the country’s sovereignty, North Korean state media reported earlier on Tuesday.

    North Korea earlier put frontline artillery and other army units on standby to launch attacks on South Korea, if its drones were found over North Korea again. South Korea has refused to confirm whether it sent drones but warned it would sternly punish North Korea if the safety of its citizens was threatened.

    Destroying the roads would be in line with Kim Jong Un’s push to cut off ties with South Korea, formally cement it as his country’s principal enemy and abandon North Korea’s decades-long objective to seek a peaceful Korean unification.

    In 2020, North Korea blew up the liaison office for the two Koreas, signalling the end of a period of detente.

    In November last year, Pyongyang said it would move more troops and military equipment to the border and would no longer be bound by a 2018 joint military agreement after Seoul suspended parts of the agreement in response to Pyongyang’s launch of a military spy satellite.

    South Korean officials have said that North Korea began adding antitank barriers and laying mines along the border earlier this year.

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