Korean Dictionary
How to say "Cosmetic Surgery" in Korean
“Cosmetic Surgery” in Korean is 성형수술 (pronounced "seonghyeong susul").
성형수술
seonghyeong susul
Usage & Context
성형수술 is very common in South Korea which has one of the highest per-capita rates of cosmetic procedures in the world. Popular 성형수술 in Korea include double eyelid surgery, rhinoplasty, and jaw reduction. Korean 성형수술 clinics in Seoul's Gangnam district attract patients from across Asia and around the world for medical tourism.
Example Sentence
강남에는 성형수술을 전문으로 하는 병원이 많아요.
There are many hospitals specializing in cosmetic surgery in Gangnam.
How to use 성형수술 naturally
Quick answer
The Korean word for “Cosmetic Surgery” is 성형수술, romanized as seonghyeong susul.
Usage tip
Learn this word together with a complete Korean sentence. Meaning often depends on particles, politeness level, and word order.
Common mistake
Do not rely only on the English meaning. Read the Korean example sentence and notice the particles, word order, and politeness level around 성형수술.
Pronunciation Guide
성형수술 (seong-hyeong-su-sul) is pronounced with 'seong' like 'sung' in 'sunglasses', 'hyeong' like 'hyung' (a common K-pop term). 'Su' sounds like 'soo' in 'soon', and 'sul' is like 'sool' (Korean alcohol) but with a shorter 'u' sound.
More Example Sentences
Gossiping with another friend.
친구는 쌍꺼풀 성형수술을 받았어요.
My friend had double eyelid cosmetic surgery.
Discussing medical tourism with a foreigner.
한국은 성형수술 기술이 정말 발달했어요.
Korea's cosmetic surgery technology is really advanced.
Confiding in a close friend about personal plans.
성형수술 상담을 받아볼까 생각 중이에요.
I'm thinking about getting a cosmetic surgery consultation.
Cultural Context
South Korea is globally renowned for its advanced cosmetic surgery industry, with clinics concentrated in areas like Gangnam. Procedures like double eyelid surgery (쌍꺼풀 수술), rhinoplasty (코 성형), and jawline contouring (윤곽 수술) are common and often openly discussed. For many, it's viewed as a means of self-improvement and enhancing competitiveness in various aspects of life, from career to relationships.
Editorial note
We review entries like 성형수술 for pronunciation, example sentence fit, and learner mistakes so the page answers more than a direct dictionary lookup.
Reviewed by Min-jung Park, Korean Language Teacher. Updated May 31, 2026. See our editorial standards.
Common Phrases
성형수술 상담
cosmetic surgery consultation
성형수술 전문 병원
hospital specializing in cosmetic surgery
성형수술 후기
cosmetic surgery review
Related Expressions
성형외과
seonghyeong oegwa
plastic surgery clinic/department
시술
sisul
procedure (often less invasive)
미용
miyong
beauty/cosmetics
외모
oemo
appearance
More Beauty & Skincare Words
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