Over a quarter of foreign shoppers come to Korea to undergo cosmetic surgery procedures, according to a recent Korean study analyzing foreign beauty shoppers' behavior.

The paper, published by professor Lee Young-jae from Hanyang University's Jewelry Fashion Design department, found that 28 percent of surveyed foreign shoppers came to Korea seeking plastic surgery, compared to 67 percent who came to sightsee.

A poster for TL Plastic Surgery, based in Seoul's Gangnam-gu. (TL Plastic Surgery/Herald Corporation)

The survey interviewed 810 foreign shoppers -- mostly Chinese and Japanese -- in Seoul's top shopping districts of Myeong-dong and Apgujeong between September and October 2013.

Women were in the majority, comprising almost three quarters of the total respondents, while over 80 percent were in their 20s to 40s.

"Chinese women seeking plastic surgery tend to come to Korea because of the higher safety levels," said an overseas Chinese student surnamed Wu, who was not included in the study. Wu studies at Seoul National University.

The study, which was published in the scholarly journal "Korean Journal of Human Ecology," also found that foreign shoppers are influenced by K-pop and hallyu culture when it comes to making beauty shopping choices.

By Yoon Sarah (sarah356@heraldcorp.com)

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