In South Korea, where the beauty industry plays a major cultural role, celebrities across generations — from actors in their 80s to reality television personalities in their 30s — are becoming increasingly open about their cosmetic procedures. Their candid disclosures are now emerging as a trend in entertainment and online content.
On Tuesday, veteran actress Jeon Won-joo, 83, uploaded a video on her YouTube channel titled “Jeon Won-joo receives skin lifting procedure said to turn back the clock by two decades in Cheongdam — but how much does it cost?”
“Everyone wants to age gracefully,” Jeon said, pointing to wrinkles and dark spots as reasons she felt reluctant to face herself in the mirror and why she decided to visit a dermatology clinic.
Jeon Won-joo / Captured from her YouTube channel
Doctors recommended lifting and pigmentation treatments. She opted for a range of procedures, including Ultherapy, titanium lifting, ONDA lifting, dark spot removal and Botox, totaling about 3 million won ($2,250) for a single session.
The cost can rise to as much as 5 million won with additional procedures, a sum that drew attention online. The actress, nonetheless, appeared satisfied after undergoing the treatments.
“I look a bit different, don’t I? Beauty comes after money is spent,” she said.
Jang Young-ran / Captured from her YouTube channel
Broadcaster Jang Young-ran is another celebrity who has been open about her cosmetic routine, sharing details from specific procedures to their costs.
“I receive Ultherapy and Thermage once a year, or every six months if I can. I’ve been doing it for a long time, for over five years,” she said on her YouTube channel, adding that the treatments cost about 2 million to 3 million won per session.
They are not alone in openly discussing their cosmetic treatments. Kim Nam-joo, Ahn Sun-young, Shin Ji, Kim Sung-ryung, Lee Young-ae, Ji Ye-eun, Jun Hyun-moo and other celebrities have mentioned Botox and lifting procedures as part of their routine beauty upkeep.
Above, Hyunsook from Season 26, and below, Hyunsook from Season 29 of the reality dating show “I Am Solo.” / Captured from SBS Plus YouTube channel
The trend extends beyond celebrities. Reality show participants and other noncelebrities appearing on television have also begun sharing details about cosmetic treatments and related products.
Hyunsook, a participant from Season 26 of the dating reality show “I Am Solo,” underwent various beauty treatments while preparing for marriage and shared details about multiple procedures and skincare routines.
According to Hyunsook, participants commonly receive lifting procedures, and she was no exception, despite previously experiencing side effects from skin treatments.
She said her skin “felt smoother for about three weeks without doing anything extra,” adding that while she gained weight during her honeymoon, “my face didn’t gain weight as much.”
Another participant named Hyunsook, from Season 29, also drew attention after appearing noticeably different during a livestream on Jan. 22 compared with her on-air appearance. She said she had received Botox and filler treatments but denied undergoing fat grafting.
“Just Botox to adjust the corners of my mouth — no fillers on my lips or under my eyes, and no fat grafting either. I think the change is mostly due to makeup and stage lighting,” she said.
Hey Jini / Captured from her YouTube channel
YouTuber Hey Jini likewise appeared in a video on her channel with visible swelling, explaining that she had recently undergone a lifting procedure. She said she sought treatment after experiencing reduced skin elasticity following postpartum weight changes.
Public reaction has been mixed. Some viewers welcomed the candid disclosures, saying they appreciated the sharing of information and viewed cosmetic procedures as increasingly common.
Others raised concerns about excessive promotion of treatments, high costs and potential safety risks associated with increasing cosmetic treatment trends.
This article from Xportsnews is adapted by a generative AI system and edited by The Korea Times.
‘ The preceding article may include information circulated by third parties ’
‘ Some details of this article were extracted from the following source www.koreatimes.co.kr ’
