The practice of plastic surgery has always been something that people have been fascinated by, which is why it is not surprising that shows such as Botched or Extreme Makeover are so popular. However, nowhere in the world is going under the knife more mainstream than in South Korea, which is why it makes sense that the reality show that South Korea has produced about plastic surgery is more popular than any Western show could ever hope to be.
One of the most popular reality television shows, Let Me In, is about altering women who are socially outcast and destitute via the use of cosmetic surgery in order to provide them with better lifestyles. However, we are not talking about a straightforward nose job, a few lip fillers, and a significant amount of makeup here. The majority of the applicants who are selected to have surgery emerge from the procedure appearing unrecognizable. Some of them have different bone structures and entirely altered general characteristics, such as the form of their eyes and mouth. In spite of the fact that it has garnered its fair share of criticism for promoting cosmetic surgery, Let Me In has been airing for a decade now, and it continues to be a tremendous hit on television.
In terms of the number of plastic surgery operations performed on a per-capita basis, South Korea holds the top spot in the world. In this country, getting cosmetic surgery is considered to be such a significant event that the capital city of Seoul has a “Improvement Sector” that is home to hundreds of facilities that specialize in the procedure. South Koreans are well-known for their preoccupation with their appearance, even at a young age. As a result, cosmetic procedures such as rhinoplasty (nose job) and blepharoplasty (double eyelid surgery) are often given as graduation gifts to high school graduates. For this reason, the success of Let Me In was essentially assured from the very beginning, despite the fact that it was contentious.
When the first season of Let Me In was shown in 2010, it soon became a hit on television, causing millions of people to keep their eyes glued to their television sets in order to see the dramatic metamorphosis that the participants underwent. Despite the fact that some of the ladies featured on the program seemed to be unrecognizable in a positive sense, there were some parts of the show that may be considered unsettling by some viewers.
As an example, the makers of Let Me In have been accused of criticizing the looks of regular ladies and giving the impression that the primary reason for their lack of self-assurance was the fact that they did not have the appearance of a movie star. At the same time, cosmetic surgery was seen to be the sole method that might assist people in enhancing their sense of self-worth.
According to a statement released by the civic organization Korean Womenlink, “Let Me In fails to disclose the negative aspects of cosmetic surgery and promotes the fantasy that your life can be much better through plastic surgery.” “Despite the fact that the program is classified as a television show, it is impossible to deny the fact that the program is providing advertisements for cosmetic surgery.”
The nicknames that were given to participants based on their physical problems (such as “Girl Who Looks Like Frankenstein,” “Woman Who Cannot Laugh,” “Flat-Chested Mother,” and so on) as well as the practice of bringing the parents of the participants out on stage to apologize for giving them bad genes and being unable to afford plastic surgery for their children have also been the subject of criticism in the past.
Let Me In has managed to maintain its popularity and prime-time spot on South Korean television despite the controversy that has surrounded it. This is due to the fact that viewers continue to be fascinated by the stunning alterations that the selected participants undergo. Due to the enormous popularity of the program, it has been able to cross national boundaries, and a Thai adaptation of Let Me In has been shown for more than three years at this point.