DATE NO. 25
NAME: Shim Bongsoo
INTERESTS:
Aviation, Judo, Fishing
Parent Occupations:
Auctioneer; Realtor
Bongsoo: Have you had any plastic surgery?
Jisu: Excuse me?!
Bongsoo: Oh. Sorry. I didn’t mean to offend. I thought it was pretty common in Korea.
Jisu: I mean...people get plastic surgery. But you can’t just ask that. We literally just met. And it’s not like nobody here does it. Half of your friends’ moms have gotten Botox. I guarantee you.
Bongsoo: Really?
Jisu: Yes, really. If you can’t tell and they still look young and like they’re aging “gracefully,” that probably means they have a really good doctor.
Bongsoo: But don’t a lot of girls in Korea get procedures done? Like even at a young age? One of my cousins in Seoul got double-eyelid surgery for her high school graduation present.
Jisu: Yeah...that is a thing. And I know some girls who got that too...but that doesn’t mean that every girl in Korea gets her eyelids done.
Bongsoo: You don’t have monolids though...
Jisu: Not all Koreans have monolids! You don’t! Did you get plastic surgery?
Bongsoo: What? That’s a crazy thing to ask. I’m a dude.
Jisu: You do realize...plenty of guys go under the knife, too, right?
Bongsoo: Really? In Korea? They do that, too?
Jisu: Not just Korea. Look at your own state. Drive down six hours to LA or even right here around San Francisco. More people have had plastic surgery than you think.
Bongsoo: Wow. I had no idea. How do you know so much about this?
Jisu: I don’t know... It’s not like some big secret. You’re the one making grand assumptions without knowing anything.
Bongsoo: To be fair, South Korea is kind of known for plastic surgery. And most Asian countries do uphold certain Western beauty standards.
Jisu: So you just assumed that every girl, including me, fits into that trope and has had surgery? And I know what the Korean beauty standards are, Wonho. I’m a woman who actually grew up there. You don’t have to explain it to me.
Bongsoo: I’m not explaining anything. I’m just saying what I know.
Jisu: Sure.
Bongsoo: Would you ever think about...?
Jisu: Getting plastic surgery? Are you saying that I need it?
Bongsoo: No! No, oh, my god. Not at all. I’m just curious to hear from your perspective. Given all the pressure you and your friends must face whenever someone gets their eyes or their nose or lips done.
Jisu: Let’s...let’s talk about something else.
Bongsoo: Yeah.
Jisu: Umm.
Bongsoo: What do you think about potential reunification of North and South Korea?
Jisu: Really? Of all the topics you could’ve picked to talk about...
Bongsoo: What if both sides just agreed to open up the borders and let families see each other now and then? I really don’t get what all the beef is. Germany got over it. I’m sure they can figure it out... So many families were split up by it, and it’s so tragic. They deserve to see one another before it’s too late.
Jisu: You do realize it’s not that simple...right?
Bongsoo: What?
Jisu: Never mind...