South Korea is a place where appearance really matters. The country’s cosmetic surgery prowess is known the world over. It’s one of the world’s top plastic surgery markets, and by some estimates, more cosmetic procedures are performed here per capita than anywhere else on the planet — mostly facial enhancements such as Botox injections, eyelid jobs or nose jobs.
But lately, a few doctors have been putting their highly sought skills to use in a different way. They’re helping North Korean defectors erase the scars from painful, abusive pasts.
“There are many ways a doctor can contribute to society. One of them is donating talent,” says Dr. Hong Jung Geun, chief surgeon at Metro Plastic Surgery in Seoul’s affluent Gangnam district.
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