SKoreans see ugly side of economic slowdown

0 Comments | AFP, June, 2008

SEOUL (AFP) — South Koreans are cutting down on cosmetic surgery and vacations amid the economic slowdown, news reports and surveys showed Tuesday.

The Dong-A Ilbo newspaper said cosmetic surgeons in Seoul were suffering from a rapidly decreasing number of clients because of the downturn.

"We saw a 30 percent drop in double eyelid operations and rhinoplasty from last year and more than a 40 percent decline in facial contouring surgery," Kim Beyong-Geon, a surgeon in southern Seoul, told the paper.

Also hit hard were dentists offering services such as orthodontics, teeth-whitening and implants, which like cosmetic surgery are not normally covered by state health insurance.

A joint survey by JoongAng Ilbo newspaper and recruitment firm Job Korea showed...