[source/원본: 스포츠조선]

한국의 패션시장을 보면 한 흥미로운 것은 두더러집니다: 백인 모델 아주 많은 것. 특히 속옷, 란제리 모델은 거의 백인입니다. 일부 사람은 이 것을 세계화한 나라로 생각해도, 문화제국주의에 약한 나라로 생각하는 지적은 있습니다. 어차피, 이를 조사됐는 스포츠조선 기사는 읽을 만한 것입니다. 본 기사 링크는 이것, 또 Korea Beat에서 읽을 수 있죠.

Anyone who pays attention to fashion ads in South Korea knows that there are a lot of white models here, most especially in underwear modelling. Some see this as evidence of a globalized Korea, others see a willing acquiescence in cultural imperialism. Whatever you think, give a read to this investigation of the phenomenon by a reporter from the Sports Chosun. The original Korean article is here, and you can also discuss over at Korea Beat.

Lingerie shows have recently become hot topics. Every night on home shopping programs models strut their stuff, clad only in heart-pounding underwear. Women’s magazines overflow with underwear ads. But we haven’t gotten to the really interesting thing yet. Pretty much all of the models are foreigners. Foreigners dominate the market for underwear models. Why is it so difficult to find a Korean in this market? Top stars have said they were going to make forays in to it, but it seems like they’re being kept top secret. From home shopping to TV shows to interviews it seems like foreign underwear models control the world.

Underwear modelling is “the land of foreigners”. Even if you keep your eyes peeled it’s difficult to find a Korean in that land. This isn’t even to draw a comparison to foreign players in pro baseball and basketball being more important than their numbers would suggest.

A representative from one foreign modelling agency said, “right now there are over 100 foreign models active in Korea.” 40 of them are models for home shopping programs. The rest are in women’s magazines, fashion shows, and beauty modelling.

The largest number of them are from Russia. Many also come from Ukraine and Uzbekistan. Others are from eastern Europe and Germany, but none from Southeast Asian countries. Decisions are made by body shape and skin color.

Starting last year there have been big changes. The number of Brazilian models has significantly increased. They don’t have the bodies of the Russian models, but their dark and lustrous skin makes them look healthy and sexy. Their stock has been rising as they get hired during the summer bikini season. They are making tidy sums of money with 6- or 12-month tours through Korea, China, Japan, and similar countries.

21-year old Ukrainian Natalya, who came to Korea just last week, said, “this is my first time in Korea but I’ve already worked in China, India, and Japan.”

There are two big reasons for the trend towards foreign underwear models.

The main reason is the body types of foreign models. They’re tall and their skin is white and clean. Above all, they have glamorous figures which let them effectively show off the underwear. With well-developed chests and bottoms, they have a sexual magnetism that stimulates the interest of women consumers. Underwear manufacturers and home shopping programs also choose foreign models. And with no aversion to being exposed, they are willing to strike daring poses without feeling it to be too much.

On the other side are Korean models, who shun underwear modelling. Goh Gyeong-ho of the modelling agency DCM said, “Korean models have a strong tendency to avoid underwear modelling, because they see it as beneath them. As far as exposing their body, if it’s a fashion they consider it art but modelling underwear, no. So A-level models don’t get attention.” Underwear models also make less money than runway and beauty models.

Home shopping underwear models started as nude models. At the end of the 1990s S and over 10 other star nude models caused a stir by moving into underwear modelling on home shopping programs. But they were able to get a lot of work when their attractive faces and bodies came into demand. So more and more of them started showing up, and after 2000 almost all underwear models on cable TV were Korean.

Foreign models grow rich in the Korean underwear market. In short, they really rake it in.

Kim Seon-hui of 미가라인 said, “in Russia fresh university graduates can expect to make about 500,000 won a month, but if they come to Korea they can four or five times that much. It’s possible to make over $10,000 a month.” But there are cases of women returning home empty-handed. One Russian woman badly damaged her image by falling into bad company.

Foreign underwear models either sign contracts specifying their monthly salaries, or else receive guarantees about how much work they are to receive. The contract specifies everything from their vehicle to their manager to room and board. And of course when they leave the country, those costs are taken care of.

Hiring a foreign model is easy. Kim said, “every day we get dozens of requests through the internet. Go to a shoot and you’ll see candidates lined up.” The selection process is complicated. It starts with the photo and swimsuit. Next is body, spirit, and any imperfections. Recently they even check videotape.

In the domestic market a pretty body and cute face are paramount. Sexy models are not particularly popular. They can compete in TV commercials but are not chosen for advertising products

Most foreign models working in Korea are in their mid to late 20s. Most of the Russians are 18 to 23-year old college students. They once could work at 15 or 16 but today no minors are chosen to do underwear modelling on TV. At the age of 20 one is assumed to be mature enough for that work. The success rate is no more than 5%. Instead they often get part-time modelling work or appear in commercials.

The biggest hold-up for foreign models is visa trouble. 90-day working visas are issued, but it is not enough time. A model who works for just three months before going home is frowned upon in the future, so many of them go back and forth several times.

There are 30 to 40 Korean agencies for foreign models. It doesn’t take much money to start one up. But they disappear quickly, too, because it is expensive to take care of the models’ costs. Bringing one model can cost roughly two to three million won at minimum.

안녕하세요, FeetManSeoul의 팬들! 저는 네이슨 (Nathan)인데, 흥미롭거나 색다른 한국어 기사를 영어로 번역하는 사이트 “코리아 비트” (Korea Beat)의 주인입나다. FeetManSeoul과 Korea Beat는 서로 좋은데 자주 여기서 패션이나 스타일에 대한 포스트를 합니다, 그 기사를 한국어도 영어도 읽을 수 있죠. FMS가 코맨트를 합니다.

Hello to FeetManSeoul readers! I’m Nathan, and some of you might know about my site Korea Beat, where we translate interesting and offbeat Korean news articles into English. Since FeetManSeoul and Korea Beat like each other I’ll be posting here occasionally with fashion and style-related translations with commentary from FMS himself.

저는 27세 미국 출신 영어강사인데 2년 동안 한국에서 살았습니다. 3.5년 동안 한국말을 공부했는데, 대부분의 공부는 독학. 처음 한국에서 산 뒤 한국의 에너지과 힘이 너무 좋아서 법과대학원을 퇴학하고 한국에 돌아갔습니다. 결국 한국어로 쓴 신문을 읽기 시작했고 한국어기사를 영어로 번역하는 것은 취미로 삼았어서 코리아 비트를 시작했습니다. 이제 한국에 살지 않지만 아직도 한국말을 공부하고 한국에서 마난 제 일본사람인 와이프가 매일 김치를 먹습니다.

I’m a 27-year old American who lived in Korea for two years as an English teacher, so I’ve been studying Korean for about three and a half years, mostly through self-study. The first year that I lived in Korea I grew to love the country’s energy and verve, and then dropped out of law school to go back. Eventually I started reading Korean newspapers for more practice and started translating them into English as a hobby, which grew into putting them on my blog, and Korea Beat was born. Even though I don’t live in Korea these days I still keep up with studying Korean and my wife, who is Japanese, is a serious kimchi addict.

FeetManSeoul의 커뮤니티과 함께 하기로 시작합니다! 그리고 우리 첫 기사가 종아리 수술에 대한 거네요. eDaily에 나온 기사이니까 한국어 원본을 거기에 읽을 수 있어요. 밑에는 영문 번역된 버전이에요.

So, I’m excited to join the FeetManSeoul community! And our first article is about calf surgery in Korea, from the online newspaper eDaily:

Obviously, many women want to have slim legs, but it’s taking care of you calves is especially important for women who do stand-up work. Standing all day thickens your calves, because you’re constantly pumping your calf mucles. When the weather starts getting hot, short skirts and pants come into fashion — and along with them, the anguish of women who work on their feet all day long.

26-year old stewardess Lee Min-Gyeong (pseudonym) agonizes over her thick calves. She wears high heels on flights that can go over 10 hours each, standing all the time, leaving nothing she can do to prevent her calves from getting bigger, and when she looks at her thick calves she doesn’t just not feel good — she has a complex over it. She feels distressed when she compares her legs to those of her co-workers’, and even on her of days she avoids wearing high heels or, of course, short skirts. She heard from a co-worker that there is an easy to solve the problem through surgery, and decided to have calf-reducing surgery. She went for a consultation to a well-known hospital and put in an application to take time off from work.

Cases of thick calves can be grouped three ways — an excessive accumulation of fat; thickening due to both fat and muscle; and finally, an excess of muscle alone. It is possible to get thick calves through too much exercise, but it also happens when you work while standing all day in high heels. Wearing such shoes and then standing for a long time creates a synergy effect in your body because that situation stimulates the production of muscle. The women’s jobs which create the most stress over thick calves are stewardess, teacher, clerk, and narrator model. Because there are so many situations which can create calf thickening, normal liposuction alone cannot solve the problem, but removing muscle can. Because exercise and dieting cannot reduce thick calves, it can be seen that an operation to reduce the amount of muscle is unavoidable.

Previous methods of reducing calf size had the drawback of causing nerve damage which impeded exercise or had other side effects, including relapses and asymmetry, but new surgeries safely remove only muscle. The surgery can remove inner and outer muscle, and its semi-permanent maintenance is a strong point. Also, only local anaesthesia is required and once the swelling subsides a week or two later you can see the results immediately.

Recently, endoscopy is being used to increase the benefits of the new surgery. Jo Gil-hwan, chief of the Misou PLastic Surgery Clinic (미소유성형외과), explained, “the use of endoscopy when performing calf reduction surgery allows for a smaller incision and less scarring. Furthermore, bleeding is reduced and this allows the removal of muscle and fat without touching the nerves and the surgery can be tailored to the individual.” Also, not only can the surgery be used for thick calves caused by obesity but also for those caused by naturally thick calves and those caused by walking around a lot.