In pursuit of Korean beauty
SOUTH Korea may be the land of K-pop and K-drama, but it’s also famed for K-beauty. And unsurprisingly, it’s also the world’s hub for cosmetic surgery.
In 2023, the government announced its goal to attract 700,000 foreign patients a year by 2027. At the end of 2024, it had already surpassed its target – with a record-breaking 1.17 million foreigners, mostly seeking dermatological treatments and plastic surgery.
Even American media personalities Kim and Khloe Kardashian have jumped on the bandwagon, jetting to Seoul just this past month for a slew of aesthetic treatments, with at least one booked through a South Korean beauty concierge.
While not a new phenomenon, more concierges have sprouted this year to serve the booming market, acting as coordinators and translators, and earning commissions from the clinics they partner. Industry players say more Singaporeans have engaged such services. In this week’s BT Lifestyle, we find out more about beauty concierges and what those considering a nip and tuck should look out for.
In the Arts, we dive into Singapore Gallery Month, and specifically Gillman Barracks, which is set to celebrate its 30th anniversary with a host of events on Aug 30.
And in Dining, we visit Omakase @ Stevens to see if it lives up to its freshly minted status as the only new one-Michelin-starred restaurant in Singapore this year.
For all this and more, don’t miss this week’s edition of BT Lifestyle.
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