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BBC Newsbeat. "K-Pop band Six Bomb 'celebrate' plastic surgery with before and after videos." BBC Music, March 16, 2017. Accessed March 20, 2017.

In a BBC Newsbeat article, BBC discusses the popular Korean pop star group ‘Six Bomb’ and their recent decision for all their members to undergo plastic surgery. The controversial decision cost nearly 88,000 USD and all members had almost every procedure done from blepharoplasties to breast augmentation procedures. I would like to use this non-scholarly source as a platform to discuss the immense pressure that these women must feel in order to stay relevant in the public eye. The fact that all four of the girls received almost every plastic surgery procedure imaginable In order to rid themselves of their physical imperfections illustrates the profound point that these artists are not viewed as humans but instead are utilized as advertising campaigns to further solidify the agendas of big Korean media companies.

Epstein, Stephen, and James Turnbull. "Girls Generation." In Korean Pop Culture Reader, 314-39. Durham, NC: Duke University Press, 2014.

In Epstein & Turnbull’s study, they studied the various ways in which Korean media pervades every aspect of South Korean society. They specifically looked at the prevalence of Korean music videos and the importance of these music videos for advertising for various Korean media companies. By portraying all of their artists within the media’s image of beauty, these media companies can set out to set their own standards of physical attractiveness and beauty which then reaches the general public and profoundly affects the self-esteem and worth of women all over the world. I plan to utilize Epstein & Turnbull’s text to delve into how Korean media companies utilize musical groups to project an unattainable image of beauty and prosperity that many will reach for and never achieve. Specifically, examining the factors related to music video production and various advertisements throughout Seoul will help me gain a better understanding of the influence of Korean media on beauty standards within the culture.

Holliday, Ruth, and Joanna Elving-Hwang. "Gender, Globalization and Aesthetic Surgery in South Korea." Body & Society 18, no. 2 (2012): 58-81.

In Holliday & Elving-Hwang’s text, they analyze the various plastic surgeries that are popular within South Korea. Specifically, they examined the various popular surgeries known as blepharoplasties, rhinoplasties and jaw reshaping. In their text, the two authors delineate the various risk factors and benefits of each procedure. Learning about the specific procedures that are done in Korean plastic surgery and the prevalence of complications allows a more holistic view of what types of procedures are popular and why. I would like to utilize Holliday and Elving-Hwang’s journal article to examine the industry of plastic surgery within South Korea and analyze various factors related to healthcare. Specifically, I would like to analyze various ways in which many women pay for surgery and how it affects them post-surgery in terms of health and self-esteem.

Oh, Chuyun. "The Politics of the Dancing Body." In Korean Wave, 53-81. Palgrave Macmillan, 2014.

In Oh’s text, she analyzes the various ways in which Hallyu, or the “Korean Wave” has skyrocketed in popularity. She specifically examines the various ways in which fans interact with these music groups and how many people utilize the internet to access music and music videos that allow the pervasive influence of Korean pop star groups and Korean culture. Additionally, Oh argues that the way in which these Korean media companies present music is primarily through music videos. Specifically, these music videos often have young girls who are beautiful without any physical deformities due to their extensive plastic surgery. I will utilize Oh’s text in conjunction with Epstein & Turnbull’s paper to examine the connection between the popularity of Korean pop star groups and the prevalence of plastic surgery among the general population.

Wang, Yuqing. "Behind South Korean Cosmetic Surgery: Its Historical Causes & Its Intertwined Relationship with Korean Pop Culture." Master's thesis, University of Delaware, 2015. Accessed March 11, 2017. Proquest.

In Wang’s text, she reveals “nearly 15 million cosmetic surgery procedures were done in 2011 in South Korea.” Specifically, Wang’s paper attempts to establish various connections between the booming industry of plastic surgery in Korea with the prevalence of Korean pop star groups and their pervasive influence on the general public. Additionally, Wang contends that the popularity of plastic surgery within Korean culture is not due to the popular belief that many Koreans are trying to assimilate into Western culture. Rather, Wang argues that historical and cultural factors are the reasons for the popularity of plastic surgery within South Korea. I plan to utilize Wang’s journal article in my paper to examine the popularity of plastic surgery within South Korea as well as examining the historical and cultural factors that shaped the current climate of plastic surgery and pop star groups.