Why is beaury in South Korea so Important? by Kyarii Ly

Why is beauty in South Korea so important?
The definition of beauty is different for each and every person. I believe that the size of your body, nose, or eyes, shouldn't determine if you are beautiful or not. But society and social norms disagree. Tall, skinny, tan, and long hair were the basic characteristics of being beautiful when I was growing up. Though I will be honest and say that in my twenty years of living, I never cared much about beauty until I traveled abroad. The well-known Barbie doll, whose features are considered the perfect, never had an influence on me, but the real doll like faces of Japanese girls had me taking a second look at my appearance. It was not until I came to Korea that I felt ugly, below the standards of appearance to every Korean female who passed me. I never understood why beauty was so important in South Korea, but my experience and research have led me to a solution that makes sense. With the possibility of plastic surgery and cosmetics, men and women around the world are able to correct their imperfections. South Korea is a prime example. In this paper, I will talk about why beauty is so important in South Korea, focusing on plastic surgery and touching on cosmetics, then slightly comparing it to the West from my point of view.
During my study abroad trip in Korea, I couldn't help but notice the commonness and openness of Koreans undergoing surgery. There were advertisements plastered on the subway, streets, stores, and clinics out in the open. I was even more shocked to find out that our tour guide who met us at the airport confessed that she too has had her experience under the knife, making her look half her age. Hoping possibly to see some Korean idols, Stephanie and I venture out to Apgujeong area. Instead, we found numerous large buildings providing several forms of surgery with a wait of two to three people in line, old and young ages. It was not until then that I realized how similar all the Koreans in the Gangman area looked; tall, skinny, fair white skin, perfect nose, and big eyes with double eyelids. But does beauty mean getting plastic surgery to change how you completely look? When did this phenomenon start?
In a mini documentary, where Kelly Katzenmeyer moved to Korea to see for herself why Korean students have so much pressure in high school, she discovers the way high school Koreans girls view beauty. In the documentary, when the Jasmine Daniel, an English teacher asks her Korean students; "Who is beautiful?" one student responds that Vanessa Hudgens is beautiful because of her big eyes. The idea of Sang-Kul-Pul (Double-eyelids) is introduced and how the students use a set glue to make them have a double eyelid look. Some students even admit that they have had plastic surgery and said that "Before I was ugly. Now I am pretty. My mother likes me more. She calls me pretty. Not once since I was born has she said I'm pretty." Ryu Yong-hyun, a senior in the English Linguistics Department of Hankuk Universe of Foreign Studies explains; "It is true that, in Korea, many high school students wish to have plastic surgery more than electronic devices for graduation gifts." What does this say about parental pressure on their kids? Even growing up in the United States we see pressure of being beautiful, but we were never promised a reward such as plastic surgery. Alicia Chon, a student at the Wharton University of Pennsylvania, writes in the Huffington post that the issue with plastic surgery in Korea isn't the actual surgery. Her friend Stella had high hopes of getting a double eyelid surgery when she was 12 years old, promised by her mother, if she could get into a university with the same level ranked college like Harvard. Also shown in the documentary mentioned before, when asked if a nose job was good, there was one student who wasn't reluctant to raise her hand. What is even more surprising is that she had no idea why she wanted one, she wanted one just because. Another student explains that the nose is in the middle of the face, so if she changes it then people can see it and think she is more beautiful. Of course the idea of being beautiful and having their kids undergo surgery doesn't just pop into their minds, let's take a closer look at the factors that affect the beauty in South Korea.
Many Koreans believe that being good-looking somehow leads to success (Ryu 6). In Korea, we were told that if you apply for a job, along with a resume, you send a picture of yourself. The stereotype in Korea is that you will only be hired if you have the looks. I have come to believe that it's true. Not once in Korea did I see an average looking person. Even the elderly women dressed and looked better than me! In the U.S, a person would be shamed knowing that they had judged a book by its cover. Though even in the U.S, it has been seen that the most attractive candidate would be more likely to get the job. This also crosses over to marriage, as well. Research by a prominent Korean matchmaking agency reveals that marriage-seeking men prioritize the following attributes in descending order: Beauty, personality, economic capacity/occupation and family background (Ryu 6). Not just in marriage but in finding a boyfriend, as well. In Kelley's documentary, a Korean student tells the camera that, in the next week, she will be getting braces for three years. She says that Korean boys hate braces so for the next three years, she won't be able to get a boyfriend. Again the teacher asked why beauty is so important, the same exact student who was unsure of why she wanted a nose job, quickly replies "Love." "To get a boyfriend." Another replies. "So many boys like beautiful girls." Another says. Society has taught the young girls that only if you are beautiful will you get a boyfriend. As the video nears the end, the camerawoman focuses on two students. One student tells hers that she will get plastic surgery, and a boyfriend with pride. When the camerawoman states that you don't need plastic surgery to be beautiful. The student shakes her hand quickly saying "No no no." It's something you have to do; it's a must, because beauty is important in Korea. In the play I attended at Hamline University called How to be a Korean Woman, directed by Sun Mee Chomet, she tells her story of being a Korean adoptee traveling back to South Korea in search of her birth mother. Her birth mother tries to change Sun Mee into a typical Korean woman. Her mother told her that she did not look Korean and forced on her the Korean Woman standards. In the West, the meaning of beauty comes from within. Being born in South Korea, Sun Mee did try to fit in with her original background, but being raised in the West, she remembered that she was beautiful in the inside. From high school students wanting a boyfriend to having a sustainable job, there is one more significant impact to South Korea's beauty standard; the flawless, charismatic, and perfect Korean idols of the Hallyu Wave.
Big Bang and 2NE1 are two of the countless boy and girl groups that contribute to the Hallyu Wave, as known as the Korean Wave. Korean films, dramas and TV shows are also parts of the Hallyu Wave. The Korean Wave has had a significant impact on the Korean national economy through exports of its products and increased tourism (4). According to Hyun, the Korean Wave is a term coined by the Chinese media towards the end of the last millennium to describe the sudden, surprising surge in the popularity of Korean entertainment products in China. There were many dispute to when the Korean wave started, but most will agree that it started in China during the 1900's with the exposure to Korean TV drama series and pop music, but Korean pop (K-pop) has not only expanded its way to China, with the help of YouTube, K-pop has spread throughout the world. This is how I began my love for Korean dramas and music. It started with my father doing some random searching on YouTube and coming across a boy group called Super Junior. Super Junior is a thirteen-member boy group with angelic looks, charismatic voices and dance moves. That then led me to watch dramas and I knew I was hooked. But looking back at the years of my young age, I was primarily drawn to K-pop because of their beauty. A couple years ago, there was a Korean television show called Invincible Youth. This show picked girls from K-pop groups and brought them together to experience how to live in the rural outdoors. Watching episodes with my father, I remember an episode where it was time for a wake up call and one host along with the cameraperson would barge into the girls' rooms and catch them in the act of no makeup on. All the girls' responses were the same, screaming for them to get out and covering their faces from the camera. Conversely, there was one idol that expected this and had already put her makeup on. It was disappointing to see this because I know how big of an impact these female idols have on all girls, not only in South Korea but also around the world. Moving on to dramas, Hyun lists nine reasons total as to why Korean entertainment took off in China amongst those reasons are beauty. In Korea, I noticed how smooth all the Koreans faces were. It seemed as if they had perfect skin! But of course to my surprise, their flawless skin were due to intense usage of skin care products. It seems that Koreans will go to great lengths to cover their so-called "imperfections" and to fit the social norms. In Summer Scent, for example, the main female character, Hyewön, played by a beautiful sexy actress named Son Yejin, does not even appear in a swimsuit because of her heart transplant surgery scars on her chest (Hyun 4). This is portraying that any scar or mark that you have must be covered or not shown. Another example is the famous comedy released in 2006 called 200 Pounds of Beauty. It was criticized in some circles, on one hand, as pro-plastic surgery and hailed by others, on the other hand, as a satirical indictment of South Korea's "booming surgery culture," 200 Pounds Beauty chronicles Hanna's journey from obese back-up singer to sleek and sexy headliner. Saving up money from gigs as Korea's most famous pop star's "ghost singer" and as a sex hotline operator, Hanna undergoes major surgery and reemerges with an ideal face and body according to dominant 21st Century South Korean beauty standards (Lee 5). Hana was an obese girl that was a vocal singer for a much prettier, skinner, and more loved idol. I remember seeing in the movie that when she performed, they had her hidden under the stage. Another job she worked was as a sex hotline operator, also a job where she was hidden. After saving enough money, she has the opportunity for plastic surgery. Loving her new body at first, she enjoys her new life of being beautiful and loved. She soon comes to find out that the body she's in is not her own and represents nothing about her. Another important factor is that she did all of this to have the man she adored notice her. This film has a Western influence because I've seen many Western movies of teens that don't like who they are, and wanting to impress a certain boy, they start to change themselves to get the boy to notice them. Later having realized that the new self was a lie, they start to appreciate their true beauty deep within and notice the boy who has been trying to get their attention the whole time when they were their old self. With the spread of the Korean wave, the phenomenon of plastic surgery has taken its toll in China. The use of BB cream has become incredibly popular in China and while I studied abroad there, I notice some very distinct influence of the Korean culture.
Light skin or dark skin, today, either or is considered beautiful in the western society. Back then if your skin was dark, it meant you were in the lower class of society and if your skin was whiter, you were in the higher class. When I studied abroad in China, my complexion was very dark compared to theirs. I noticed how they took extra good care of their skin, for it to be white. When the sun was shining they carried umbrellas to shade themselves, they even went to far extremes on wearing long sleeves and pants on hot muggy days. It was no secret that the Chinese loved the idols of Korea. Everywhere you walked there would be K-pop playing in the background, posters hung up, and locals of all ages watching Korea dramas on their phones. My father and brother raised me as a child, there was no influence whatsoever of a mother figure, thus no formal introduction to cosmetics. But in China, I met many girls who were infatuated with it and then I decided to take a leap into another dimension. We told the Chinese sales clerk that I have never used make-up and that I wanted the essentials. The clerk said that BB cream was a necessity. Koreans use BB It makes your skin white but only came in limited shades, geared towards the Asian color of skin. "This is what the Koreans use, this will make your skin more white and beautiful." She told me. It was not until I bought BB cream in Korea did I notice that it did make me look fresher and how much the Chinese really did love this product.
Wondering in Hongdae, Stephanie and I entered several cosmetics shops browsing for some new products to try. When the sales clerk came up to welcome and assist us, in a mix of broken English and limited Korean we learned from dramas, we were finally able to communicate that we knew little Korean and the sale clerk English. Giving up we decided to switch to our mother tongue and just communicated with each other. Once we did, the sale clerk started speaking Mandarin. Stunned, I spoke Mandarin back and learned that she moved here from China and learned Korean. Thinking it was just a coincidence, I was further astonished to find that every other make up store I went to had at least one worker who was of Chinese descent or spoke Mandarin. It got me thinking, why were there so many Chinese living in Korea. Aside from living, they looked and spoke fluent Korean. When I return to the Kimchee Guesthouse, I told my professors what I encountered. They both told me that it was very common, Korea has many Chinese tourist, but Japanese as well. Remembering when we would get lost on our shopping sprees, we would see women and men dressed in red jackets that said tourist. What I initially thought was those men and women where leading a tourist group and being translator and tour guide. However, I watched as people of all languages came and spoke to them asking for directions. They pulled out maps and indicated them into the right direction. I was so impressed with Korea's diversity placing a strong focus on its tourists, offering global tax-free items, translators, and even discounts if you show your passport. My Korean professor told me that plastic surgery in Korea is becoming less and less expensive, so in return, many foreigners come to Korea to have their transformation because Korea has the best plastic surgery outcomes and they also get a discount. Cate Siu, who is originally from Hong Kong, is one of the many fans that have been swept away by the Korean Wave. Ms. Siu is a 25-year-old hoping to get into the acting industry. So, when Ms. Siu decided she'd have a better shot at breaking into the entertainment business after improving her looks with a surgical makeover, she knew where she wanted to go. In April, she flew more than 1,000 miles to a clinic here for operations to raise the bridge of her nose, make her eyes appear larger and sharpen her chin (Fairclough 3). Chung Jong Pil is a surgeon who functions the Cinderella Plastic Surgery Clinic in Seoul. A good-sized portion of his foreign visitors travels from China, Taiwan, and Hong Kong. Jung Dong Hak, another surgeon who concentrates on nose jobs, says that approximately 15% of his patients are foremen and states that; "The increase has been very big since the Korean Wave." The popularity of Korean stars is establishing Korean ethnic features as a standard of beauty across the region. "All the buzz and atmosphere makes young people today think [surgery] is common," says Lee Yihsiu, who runs the Taipei office of International Plastic Surgery, which matches up foreign patients with Korean surgeons. "Korean pop culture has made plastic surgery fashionable." (Fairclough 3). I can't imagine how many of the plastic surgery match up clinics there are throughout Asia or how inexpensive the cost of plastic surgery is in South Korea. I've heard many females voice "Beauty is pain." Looking at the different photos of during a Korean plastic surgery procedure, the patients are wrapped with bandages, scars on their faces, they look horrible and in so much pain. But surprisingly, they all have the same thought; I will be more beautiful, it is worth it. Plastic surgery is becoming more and more common throughout Asia but was always a taboo in the eyes of most westerns.
I never cared for the topics of plastic surgery and cosmetics except for the fact that they made a person fake. I was never supportive of plastic surgery but as I journeyed to Korea, I now find that it may not be as bad as it seems. Of course I can argue that applying make up or loving your inner beauty is a healthier way of beauty but what works for one person may not work for another. As I mentioned before, while my time in Korea, I felt that my looks could not compare to theirs. Researching, I found other foreigners that felt the same way as I did. Ashley Perez, a Cuban, Filipino, and Korean American made her way to Daegu, South Korea to teach. Thinking that she would be able to embrace part of her heritage, but instead was crushed to find that her people didn't accept her. In the Korean standards, she was too tall, fat, and dark. Trying to fit in, she went to several cosmetics and clothing stores to be told her skin was too dark and that they didn't carry her size. "I was sick of my students calling me "plain face" or "tired teacher" on the days when I wore no makeup, sick of getting looks of disgust from strangers if I walked two blocks from the gym to my apartment in my workout clothes, and sick of feeling ugly in a country that was once home to my ancestors. I had been thrilled to live in a place where I expected my heritage to make me feel like I belonged. But discovering the opposite was soul crushing. I felt like I couldn't be beautiful or fully accepted as Korean because I had fallen short of mainstream Korea's unattainable beauty standards." (Perez 6). When you go outside of the house in Korea, it's all about fashion and looking good. Another student who studied in Korea with, Pang, told me of the weird looks she got when she wore her pajamas out for a late night run to the store.
In conclusion, beauty is important in South Korea because from a young age, they had an ideal image implanted into their minds of how they must to look in order to be beautiful to attain a good job or a spouse to marry. Along with the sudden uproar of the Korean Wave, the number of plastic surgery given in the past few years has significantly risen, not only in South Korea but also in other parts of Asia, including China. It is true that some Westerners place a huge importance on beauty with the skinny body, perfect tan and long hair, but the meaning of beauty is constantly changing. Because of this when foreigners travel abroad, they feel unwelcomed. I felt the same way as I took the subway. Everywhere the South Koreans went, they did it with beauty and style. This idea of beauty is quickly spreading throughout the world, what happens if plastic surgery gets so cheap that everyone suddenly wants to change his or her face? We've seen how beauty can corrupt a person; we'd be living in a world of fake people. As time goes on I hope that everyone will be able to accept the appearance they were born with and that true beauty comes from within. A pretty face will not get you far in life.









Work Cited
Chon, Alicia. "The Issue with South Korea's Cosmetic Surgery Culture Isn't the Actual Surgery." The Huffington Post. N.p., 17 Mar. 2014. Web. 18 Mar. 2014.
“Documentary on Korean High School.” Dir. Kelley Katzenmeyer. A Documentary Film on Korean High School. N.p., Nov. 2011. Web. 15 Mar. 2014.
Fairclough, Gordon. "Korea's Makeover From Dull to Hip Changes Face of Asia." Wall Street Journal - Eastern Edition 20 Oct. 2005: A1+. Academic Search Premier. Web. 23 Mar. 2014.
Hyun-key Kim, Hogarth. "The Korean Wave: An Asian Reaction To Western-Dominated Globalization." Perspectives On Global Development & Technology 12.1/2 (2013): 135-151. Academic Search Premier. Web. 23 Mar. 2014.
Lee, Sharon Heijin. THE (GEO)POLITICS OF BEAUTY: RACE, TRANSNATIONALISM, AND NEOLIBERALISM IN SOUTH KOREAN BEAUTY CULTURE. Diss. University of Michigan, 2012. N.p.: n.p., n.d. Web. 13 Mar. 2014.
Perez, Ashley. "BuzzFeed." BuzzFeed. N.p., 31 May 2013. Web. 13 Mar. 2014.
Ryu, Young-hyun. "Obsession with Appearance." The Korea Times.

Improving the Care of Victims of Sexual Slavery based on the Experiences of North Korean Women by Holly Marple

A young woman has decided to make a break for freedom. She waits until it is late at night and crosses the border between North Korea and China. She can hear gun shots as she frantically runs across the ice covering the Yalu River. The woman is so scared she does not even notice the pain in her feet. Her feet are bare as she runs through the snow and ice. Once she finally reaches safety as she meets a member of the Underground Railroad, she realizes the condition on her feet. Her feet are frostbitten so severely it is likely they will need to be amputated. This woman is only one of the thousands of women who have risked their lives to reach freedom. Even though her medical condition was serious, she is still very fortunate to be in safe hands upon her arrival in China. Many North Korean women who escape to China are sold as sex slaves to Chinese farmers. These women represent the challenges victims of human trafficking experience every day. There are victims of sexual slavery in the United States who experience similar challenges. Although it may be a surprise to many Americans, the United States has an estimated 100,000 children who are part of the sex trade industry (Polaris Project, 2014). One of the first steps in decreasing the number of victims involved in sex trafficking is to raise awareness. It is imperative for health professionals to be able to recognize the signs of sexual slavery. These victims are often silenced out of fear. As a future nurse, I know I will come across patients who have been victims of sexual slavery. Currently there is no routine training for health professionals on how to best care for these victims. Health professionals can learn how to better empathize and care for victims of sexual slavery by learning about the hardships experienced by North Korean women. In this paper, I will explore the relationship between challenges faced by victims of sexual slavery in North Korea and the United States and how health professionals can learn from this information. This information can be used to improve awareness and the care of victims of sexual slavery in clinical practice.

 

There are millions of people, women in particular, who are victims of human trafficking every day. Human trafficking is defined as “the use of force, fraud, or coercion to lure people away from home and make them work as prostitutes, domestic servants, factory workers or other types of laborers” (Clay, 2011). This is not only a problem in less developed countries, but a serious problem in the United States. The Department of State estimates 14,500 to 17,500 individuals are trafficked into the United States each year (Clay, 2011). This is only a growing problem that is the second largest illegal industry in the world (Clay, 2011). Nancy Sidun, a supervising clinical psychologist for the Hawaiian region, describes human trafficking as a “silent epidemic” (2011). Some scenarios that may be red flags include a neighbor who has a wife that is never allowed to leave the house or a coworker that hates her job but is not allowed to quit. Traffickers often inflict forced isolation, verbal and physical abuse, nonstop work, and fail to meet basic needs for their victims (Clay, 2011). Even though human trafficking is a major problem throughout the world, including the United States, it still lies as one of the most invisible worldwide crimes. Many women become victims of sexual slavery because they are refugees fleeing a situation in their home country. The women fleeing North Korea become easy targets for human traffickers due to their desperation for freedom and a better life.

North Korean citizens suffer from food shortages, torture, inhumane treatment, and violations of human rights every day. It is estimated that 2.8 million North Koreans are malnourished with a lack of vital protein and fat in their diet (Human Rights Watch, 2012). This is most likely a low estimate because it is difficult for outsiders to get accurate data due to Kim-Jong II’s strict privacy guidelines. Large amounts of food in North Korea are strictly kept for military or government officials (Human Rights Watch, 2012). Citizens are tortured and subjected to inhumane treatment due to criminal or political charges. Some of these charges were brought about due to false confessions or bribes. Common forms of torture include iron rods or sticks, kicking, slapping, sitting or standing for long periods of time, sleep deprivation, and starvation (Human Rights Watch, 2012). Women are often raped by guards as a form of punishment.  Citizens can be subjected to public executions due to petty crimes like stealing metal wire, fraud, smuggling, or speaking against the government. There are about 200,000 people kept in prison camps. Committing a criminal act or being related to someone who committed a crime are common reasons for imprisonment. Many prisoners are born into these camps (Human Rights Watch, 2012). It is illegal for North Koreans to leave the country without permission. There is a “shoot-on-sight” order to kill any refugees trying to cross the border without permission. There are high levels of security for all of the borders surrounding North Korea. The highest security is surrounding the borders of Russia and South Korea. Refugees have a better chance of escaping to China rather than the other surrounding countries (Human Rights Watch, 2012). Those who are caught trying to leave are either publically executed or face a lengthy sentence of torture and imprisonment. Most citizens in North Korea live a life full of famine, imprisonment, torture, and violations of human rights.

Women are forced to decide between an inhumane life in North Korea or risking their lives to escape to China. It is estimated that two thirds of refugees fleeing from North Korea to China are women (Young, 2011). About 80% of women fleeing North Korea are sold as brides to Chinese farmers (Young, 2011). These women must choose between imprisonment in North Korea and sexual slavery in China. Women are forced into marriages, commercial sex exploitation, or into harsh labor conditions. North Korean women who enter China live in constant fear of arrest and deportation. China maintains strict deportation guidelines for any North Korea caught residing illegally (Young, 2011). Refugees constantly fear being turned in or random house raids. Children born to North Korean mothers and Chinese fathers are not able to obtain legal citizenship in China. In the case that a mother is deported, children are left to live with the father or other family members. Many fathers are unfit to care for the children due to disabilities or other mental illnesses. Sometimes children are left under the care of grandparents who do not have the time, energy, or financial resources to provide adequate care. “Once in China, fear of being sent back to North Korea grips them, keeping them silent and obedient no matter how abusively they are treated” (Young, 2011). Women are often raped by their husbands and silenced due to the fear of deportation. One North Korean refugee who now resides in South Korea explained her arrival in China as “shame, fear and humiliation. I even missed my home in North Korea. Although I was starving at home, I was at least a citizen. In China, I had to be invisible and dumb” (Young, 2011). North Korean women who are caught in China face brutal punishments. Refugees may face internment, death, forced abortion, or separation from older children (Young, 2011). Women are forced to choose between sexual slavery in China, and starvation and punishment in North Korea.

Women who escape North Korea must carefully weigh the benefits and consequences of escaping. If the women are caught trying to escape, they will either be killed or sent to a prison camp. The conditions in the prison camp are so strict and oppressive that some women may choose sexual slavery over living in the prison. In the prison, women and men are not allowed to live together. Children are only permitted to live with their mothers until they finish primary school. Once children finish primary school they are taken away (Yeo-sang, 2012). Marriage in the prison camps is not considered a human right, but a means to producing a young labor force. “Prisoners usually prefer having many children… because many children are killed by accidents in the mine” (Yeo-sang, 2012). There are some camps that do not allow marriage or sexual intimacy under any circumstances. If a woman is found to be pregnant, the guards will force an abortion and punish the father. The infant mortality rate in the prisons is very high because there is no maternity or child-care support. There are either no or very limited medical services available to the prisoners. If treatments are available, services are very simple such as medications for diarrhea or a cast for a broken bone. Medical staff receive very little education and may include prisoners or officers. The mortality rate from contagious diseases is very high in the prisons due to limited preventive and isolation treatment. Even if a North Korean is not held directly in a prison camp, life outside of the prison camps is not much better.

North Korean refugees have very little power and resources and require the help of outside organizations. North Korean refugees and their children lack basic resources like food, shelter, medical care, and hygiene materials. Many children are orphaned and abandoned after their mothers have been discovered and deported. An organization calling Helping Hands Korea works to deliver food and other basic necessities to refugees and orphaned children (Peters, 2013). The organization was founded by Tim Peters, a Christian activist. HHK’s mission statement is to alleviate “physical, social, political and spiritual needs through partnership with like-minded individuals, in response to Jesus Christ’s call to love, serve, relieve suffering and set the exploited free” (Peters, 2013). HHK operates an “underground railroad” to try to help refugees escape China and enter South Korea. Once refugees enter South Korea, they are given citizenship and some governmental aid (Peters, 2013). There are millions of refugees all over the world who need assistance. Organizations like Helping Hands Korea are making a significant impact on thousands of lives. Unfortunately, there are not enough of these organizations to assist all victims of sexual slavery. These victims need the help of every day citizens and health professionals. These victims have experienced traumatizing events that will require special treatment. Citizens who are aware of human trafficking can help identify victims by recognizing the signs and symptoms and also providing resources for those in need. Health professionals can learn about the experiences of victims, like the stories of the North Korean women, and use that information to provide the most effective care. These victims will not receive effective treatment if health professionals are not properly educated about this issue.

Citizens and health professionals need to understand this is not only an issue in the United States, but also a crime that frequently occurs here in Minnesota. According to a recent segment on Kare 11 News, the FBI considers Minneapolis and St. Paul as two of the top cities for child prostitution (Olstad, 2014). It is estimated that 200 girls are sold each month in Minnesota. Commander John Bandemer of the St. Paul Police department is working with undercover officials to end sex trafficking in the Twin Cities. Officer Bandemer explained there are websites that feature young girls in Minnesota that are available for prostitution and escort services. After a new listing is posted, it takes under 90 seconds for the phone to ring with a male trying to purchase these services (Olstad, 2014). It is estimated that one third of runaway children are sexually exploited in Minnesota (Olstad, 2014). The prevalence of sexual slavery in the Twin Cities is alarming. Based on these estimates, many of us come in contact with victims of sexual slavery every day. The new Safe Harbor Law is one step forward in providing support for victims. This law treats underage girls involved in sexual slavery as victims rather than criminals. Even though this is a step forward, this law only protects underage victims. Unfortunately, victims that are of legal age are still often prosecuted as illegal prostitutes rather than victims of sex crimes. Noelle Volin, a representative for Breaking Free, an organization that aims to help victims of human trafficking, estimates that 85% of adult victims of human trafficking started when they are underage (Olstad, 2014). Many victims of legal age are afraid to come forward and seek help because they fear being charged with prostitution. There is still a lot of legal work that needs to be done to provide psychological and physical support for the victims of sexual slavery.

Victims of sexual slavery suffer from psychological and physical wounds that require a comprehensive treatment approach. There is little known about the most effective treatment approach because this remains an “invisible” issue. Many victims suffer from sexually transmitted diseases, pelvic inflammatory disease, hepatitis, and tuberculosis (Black, 2008). Some of these conditions can be life threatening and can cause permanent damage. Many of the victims face unwanted pregnancies, forced abortions, or complications from illegal abortions. Victims of sexual slavery suffer from high rates of nightmares, insomnia, and suicidal tendencies (Black, 2008). There is very little research about the psychological implications of sexual slavery. Most articles explain the prevalence of sexual slavery and how traffickers get their victims. This is important information, but it is not helpful when health professionals come across a victim of sexual slavery and must design a treatment plan. Even though sexual slavery does have a high prevalence rate in the United States, health professionals do not receive training or information specifically about caring for sexual slaves. As a nursing student, there is not a single piece of information about sexual slavery or human trafficking in any of my textbooks. Nancy Sidun explains that there has been an emphasis on prosecuting perpetrators and tending to victims medical needs, but very little is done to address victims’ psychological needs; “psychology as a discipline is behind the times in acknowledging trafficking” (Clay, 2011). This shows that health professionals are not receiving the necessary education and resources to care for victims of sexual slavery. These victims need psychological counselling, medical treatment, job training, employment, housing, and government resources. All of these needs cannot be addressed by a single health professional. Teams of psychologists, physicians, nurses, and social workers are needed to address all of the needs of these victims.

Health professionals should be aware of the common signs of sexual slavery in order to identify victims in need. There is a long list of red flags suggesting someone may be a victim of sexual slavery. Many of these signs can easily be overlooked. Victims are often under tight constraints and are not free to come and go as he/she wishes. Victims may work long or unusual hours for very little money (Polaris Project, 2014). Victims often exhibit poor mental health or abnormal behavior like avoiding eye contact, appearing fearful, anxious, depressed, submissive, tense or paranoid. They may also be very fearful or anxious around law enforcement. Poor physical health can also be an indication (Polaris Project, 2014). Women may appear malnourished or show signs of physical or sexual abuse. Victims often have very few or no personal possessions. Someone else usually has control over their money, financial records, and identification documents (Polaris Project, 2014). Health professionals should also look for an inability to provide a permanent address. Victims may claim they are visiting someone or may appear homeless. Even though all of these signs may appear as “red flags”, these signs can easily be mistaken for other conditions. A victim may be misdiagnosed with a mental illness, homelessness, domestic violence, partner abuse, or imbalanced nutrition. All of these conditions may be true, but if health professionals do not identify the root of the problem (sexual slavery), the victim will not receive all of the necessary help. Health professionals need to specifically assess for signs of sexual slavery.

It is vital for all members of the healthcare team to receive education and training on how to assess and provide resources for victims of sexual slavery. The Polaris Project is a non-profit, non-governmental program that works exclusively on the issue of human trafficking (2014). This organization provides resources for professionals working with victims of human trafficking in every state. The Polaris Project has also established the National Human Trafficking Resource Center that includes a toll-free hotline available to answer calls and texts 24/7. As health professionals begin to use resources to help victims, it is important for them to understand the legal process of dealing with victims. Victims may be afraid to come forward due to fear of deportation or punishment. Health professionals must have some basic knowledge about the legal process in order to educate their patients and provide the necessary resources. The Trafficking Victims of Protection Reauthorization Act of 2013 combined with the Trafficking Victims Protection Act of 2000 established human trafficking as a federal crime with severe penalties (Polaris Project, 2013). These laws also put into place emergency response provisions within the State Department to respond to crises and decrease the prevalence of sex trafficking. Health professionals should explain to victims that sex trafficking is not a criminal act. Victims will not be prosecuted. It is important for health professionals to build rapport and trust with their patients. It can be very difficult for victims to confide in a stranger. Health professionals should also recommend that their agency or organization receive training on how to identify and treat victims. A speaker or trainer can be provided by the National Human Trafficking Resource Center (Polaris Project, 2014). By contacting an agency that specializes in human trafficking, health professionals can be sure they are receiving effective and reliable information. Trainers and speakers will then provide the health professionals with materials to review, outside resources for victims, and methods to identify victims. Polaris Project also offers an online interactive training program for health professionals. This could be a great training tool that could be incorporated into new employee orientation. Some agencies or health care organizations may not see this training as necessary. Health professionals need to explain to their employers the prevalence and importance of this issue on a local level. It is up to us as health professionals to be advocates for our patients and learn how to support our patients in the most effective way. There are many resources available for health professionals that can be used without training.

Assessment tools can be used to identify patients who may be victims of sexual slavery. These tools can be used in almost any clinical setting. Before using this tool, health professionals need to evaluate the patient’s safety. These questions must be asked in a private environment where the patient is free and safe to talk. Health professionals may need to ask family members or friends to leave the room in order to provide a safe environment. It is not only important to identify victims of sexual slavery, but to make sure there is something that can be done to keep the client safe after the information has been revealed. For example, a client may have children at home with the trafficker. Health professionals are obligated to report situations of abuse. It is important to make sure the client and children are in a safe place before you report that information. This can be a difficult situation that may take many other professionals (social worker, law enforcement). During the assessment, health professionals should convey active and empathetic listening. This includes sitting down and facing the client. Providers should avoid taking notes (or very limited notes) while conducting the assessment. Taking notes while a client is speaking can increase the client’s anxiety level. If the client does not speak English or understands another language better, it is essential to use a medical interpreter to gather the most accurate assessment data (Polaris Project, 2014). The Polaris Project website has a very thorough assessment tool that can be used by health professionals (2014). This assessment tool offers several different ways to ask different questions concerning coercion, monetary obligations, history of sexual abuse, intimate partner and inter-familial trafficking, and details about the trafficker. After the initial assessment, there is a “medical assessment tool” that can be used to indicate the next step. This tool tells professionals what signs to look for, how to respond, what to do after medical concerns are assessed/treated, and what action to take next (Polaris Project, 2014). This assessment tool has been attached to this paper for reference purposes. This is an assessment tool I plan to use as a future nurse. I will also share this assessment tool with my future colleagues to raise awareness and improve the care of victims.

As a future health professional, I will take the information I have learned about sex trafficking and use it to improve my practice. Nurses have the unique opportunity to spend more time interacting with patients. This extra time allows us to gather more physical and psychological assessment data. These assessment tools can be used by almost any health professional in any setting. As a hospital nurse, I may notice several of the red flag signs in one of my female patients. This would be an opportunity for me to use the assessment tool and further assess the situation. Nurses may also use this information in schools or clinics. Health care providers must not overlook the possibility of sex trafficking. If there are 200 girls who are sold into sex trafficking each month, there is a great possibility that health professionals are coming in contact with these women. Health professionals may not be equipped to deal with victims. Many health care workers are not even trained to deal with victims of rape or domestic abuse. Dealing with victims of sex trafficking is a much more complex situation. Social workers, psychologists, law enforcement, nurses, and physicians need to work together to address complex cases. As health professionals, we need to act as advocates for our patients. The greatest thing we can do for our patients is make them feel safe. Then we can help them get the resources necessary to begin their journey to recovery. Raising awareness and improving training programs will give health professionals the tools to be better advocates for their patients.

The information health professionals learn about North Korean sex slaves can be used to provide better care and advocacy programs for victims in the United States. Health professionals need to understand the differences between prostitution and sexual slavery. Prostitution is an illegal crime, while sexual slavery is slavery for the purpose of sexual exploitation. Sexual slaves can be refugees from other parts of the world fleeing dangerous conditions in their home country. Sexual slaves can also be vulnerable runaway children or adults. The North Korean women were silenced due to their constant fear of punishment and deportation. Sex slaves in the United States may also be silenced due to fear of punishment from their traffickers or the law. Children can be born into toxic environments of sexual slavery. Many North Korean sex slaves bore children with their “husbands”. These children suffer from abuse, starvation, or lack of a stable environment. Children in the United States can be born to sex slaves in the case of unwanted pregnancies. There are many similarities between sex slaves in North Korea and in the United States. Victims from both places have a reason why they became vulnerable targets for human traffickers. Victims may have run away from home due to domestic abuse, lack of resources, fear of punishment, or may have been misled due to false promises. These victims have also suffered from similar practices of psychological and physical abuse. Lastly, victims from all around the world, suffer from similar feelings of fear and silence. Health professionals should take this information and learn how to apply it to their own patients. Raising awareness and participating in training programs is the best way to help identify victims. Many of these victims are silenced and need help finding their voice. It is our duty as health professionals to be advocates and provide safety and resources for our patients.

 

 

References

Black, J. G. (2008). Human trafficking: Common diagnoses and the treatment of sexual exploitation. (Order No. AAI3313086, Dissertation Abstracts International: Section B: The Sciences and Engineering, 3260.

Clay, R. (2011). Modern-day Slavery. Retrieved from http://www.apa.org/monitor/2011/05/slave

Human Rights Watch. (2013). North Korea. Retrieved from http://www.hrw.org/world-report/2013/country-chapters/north-korea?page=2

Olstad, J. (2014). Kare 11 Investigates Sex Trafficking. St. Paul, Minnesota: Kare 11 News. Retrieved from http://www.kare11.com/story/news/crime/2014/03/04/sex-trafficking-police-safe-harbor-law-investigates/5990571/

Peters, T. (2013.). Confronting the NK Crisis. Helping Hands Korea. Retrieved from http://www.helpinghandskorea.org/confronting-the-nk-crisis/

Polaris Project. (2014). Recognizing the Signs: Polaris Project | Combating Human Trafficking and Modern-day Slavery. Retrieved from http://www.polarisproject.org/human-trafficking/recognizing-the-signs

Yeo-sang, Y. (2012). Political Prison Camps in North Korea today (2. ed.). Seoul: NKDB.

Young, A. M. (2011.). North Korea: On Sale, Girls look for Chinese Husbands Retrieved from http://www.ipsnews.net/2011/07/north-korea-on-sale-girls-look-for-chinese-husbands/

 

 

Opening unique presents

It has been a couple months now since I returned from Korea with a group of 18 undergrad students.  This week I am grading papers students wrote about some aspect of that experience.  It is like Christmas.  Each paper is a presents - insight into how expereinces in Korea, the country of my childhood (and yet a very differrent place now) have provoked thought and changed lives.  As I obtain permission from the authors, I will post a few of the papers here.  The topics and perspectives are quite different from one student to another.  It is interesting to see what touched each one, and how they incorporated the experiences in Korea into their own lives.  Each time I return to Korea my own life is enriched as I make new friends, visit old friends, re-connect with people I have not seen for many years, and learn more about Korea and about myself.  These papers bring a freshness to my own experiences.  Enjoy.

Jeju-North Korean Connections

The February 5th issue of The Jeju Weekly reported that Kim Jong-un's maternal grandfather was born on the island of Jeju in 1913.  Apparently he left Jeju during the Japanese occupation of Korea to work in Japan.  In Japan he met and married another Jejuian.  They had a daughter, born in 1952 in Japan.  In 1962 the family moved to North Korea where the young woman later joined a dance troop and caught the eye of the leader of that country, a relationship that eventually produced Kim Jong-un.

The early years after the Korean War were hard in both Koreas.  Back then the North was economically better off than the South and attracted many Japanese Koreans who thought life would be better there.  Most did not fare as well as this family from Jeju-do.

Whole villages were burned during the Jeju massacre that started in 1948

The irony of this story is that Jeju-do underwent a huge massacre that lasted from 1948 for the next 7 years, a massacre that was justified by accusations that Jeju protesters were communist.  In reality the protests that sparked the Jeju Rebellion, as it has been called, was more about economics and politics.  After World War II many young men returned to Jeju (many had been conscripted to either fight for the Japanese or to work in Japanese war factories) only to find that there was no work to be found.  In addition, the United States was pushing an election in South Korea that would divide the country.  Parts of Jeju-do

The Jeju massacre slaughtered citizens without regard for age or gender

Protesting the building of the Naval Base as a funeral to the ecology and to peace

The village of Kongjeong prefers to be a village of Peace

boycotted the election to protest the division of the country, an action that resulted in severe retribution by the Korean military under orders from the United States Command in Korea.  The purge resulted in the massacre of an untold number of Jeju men, women, and children.

Kim Jong-un's grandfather had probably already left for Japan before 1948, but the discovery of his birthplace is fodder for spin from several groups.  Those who want to justify the actions of the military use it to support the theory that the 1948 protesters were communist.  For others, particularly some residents of Jeju who are still protesting military build-up in the area, this news can be seen as a reminder that all Koreans are family and that the division is the result of foreign intervention and militarism (or imperialism) and that Jeju-do is now, as it has always been, an island that values peace and unity.

Residents of Kongjeong village continue to protest the building of a large naval base there.  They see the base as not only an assault on local ecology, but also as a symbol of the militarism that has disrupted the peace of the island for many years and of international imperialism, especially by the United States that still maintains a major military presence in South Korea.

Mentors

The icons who inspired my generation are slowly slipping away.  Nelson Mandela, Pete Seeger....  Others, like John Lennon, left us long ago.  Our world is changing.  The U.S. Congress is gridlocked, fighting for the next election instead of for the needs of their constituents.  Wars rage throughout the world.  Sexual assault and gun violence are so common that they don't even make the evening news. Apathy is rampant.

Meanwhile, consumerism has become the new god of many throughout the world.  CocaCola sales are higher than ever in Mexico.  Even during the recession of the past few years sales of luxury items never dropped.  In South Korea the streets of Insa-Dong are packed with young shoppers.  Churches are more concerned with their coffers than with the hungry.  Clergy sex abuse scandals are at the top of the news.  Young people are apathetic to world affairs.

But are the times really changing all that much?  In the midst of the hustle and bustle of the consumer world are enclaves of alternative thought.  The new Pope is a breath of fresh air in an institutionalized and often corrupt religious organization.  The people of Cangjeong village fight the military machine by symbolic protests that continue daily year after year.  As part of their protest they crochet sweaters for their trees and set up free libraries on street corners.  Their tactics are not much different from those of Pete Seeger who hoped to use his music to counter violence.

Recently I spent 3 days in a Buddhist Temple.  The Sunims (nuns) want to change the world.  Their weapons are their smiles and their sincerity.  They believe that through midfullness and meditation they can reach a state of enlightenment or perfect peace.  They choose a simple life.  Their shaven heads and make-up free faces shine with unadorned beauty that comes from peace within and compassion for their surroundings.  My time with the Sunims gave me hope for the world.  I saw that it is possible for young women to find peace and happiness without a Coach purse, that the values of our mentors are not dead. 

I saw the same thing in the young women who accompanied me on this journey to Korea.  They went to fulfill a college requirement, but got a lot more out of it than a grade.  They were able to experience solidarity with the demonstrators, with their Korean peers, and with the Sunims.  In the process they began to appreciate their personal responsibility and their place in the world.  Perhaps one of them will be the future equivalent of Mother Theresa or Indira Ghandi, or maybe a neighborhood leader who stands up for justice.  There is hope.  New mentors will emerge!

The First Step

Imagine a young girl, 17 years old, walking alone through the snow and the cold day after day until her feet are frozen.  She stumbles across the frozen river in the dead of night.  She has escaped North Korea into China but her journey is only beginning.  Her feet need immediate medical attention.  Kind strangers, part of a little known Underground Railroad, take her to a sympathetic doctor.  The prognosis is grim.  She is likely to loose both feet.  But it is too dangerous for her to stay where she is.  There is heightened security inside North Korea and the Chinese border patrol is searching everywhere.  She has to be moved deeper into China where another doctor takes over her care.  With time and patience her feet begin to heal and only two toes need to be amputated. But time is short.  If she is discovered she will be sent back to North Korea where she will be imprisoned or executed.  If she stays in China she is likely to be trafficked or sold to a Chinese husband.  The Underground Railroad moves her on until, feet still swaddled in bandages, she reaches a safe haven in a third country.  In her letter of thanks she tells those that helped her that she will study hard because she wants to be a doctor to help others who are poor and hurting just as she was.

This is just one of many stories of the refugees who arrive in Northern China.  This young lady left China with five other girls, each with her own story of survival.  The majority of the refugees escaping from North Korea are female.  This surprised me so I asked why.  I got two answers.  First, the women can hide themselves easier in China because they can more easily find work in restaurants or can be sold or trafficked.  The second is that men have to report for work or military service.  Men have ten years of mandatory military service.  Women have only two years of military service and do not have to report to work.  Their disappearance might not be noticed as quickly as that of a man.

Often when we hear about North Korea the emphasis is on military threats and nuclear proliferation.  Aid efforts often fail to help the most needy causing frustration among donors and others wanting to help.  Here in Korea I hear over and over again that the young are apathetic to social issues in their own country and see North Korea and the possibility of reunification as a needless financial strain on the South Korean economy.  I am told that they no longer teach Korean history in Korean schools.  Many young people do not know and do not care.  Beauty and money are the gods of their generation.

Where does that leave our young lady with the frozen feet?  Without the activists of the Underground Railroad she would have been left to die my the river or captured and sent back to North Korea.  She knows that she owes her life to their faith and their bravery.

The activists are seeing some signs of change.  They are seeing pockets of young people beginning to care.  There is a strange coalition forming between Christian youth and liberals led by activists from earlier decades.  Their interest, along with that of other groups throughout the world, can ignite awareness and build energy towards change.  Governments have not been able to find solutions.  It is only through the individual acts of bravery and compassion that we can chip away at the forces that cause suffering in North Korea, in the Congo, and in every other corner where humanity suffers.  We must each find what touches our own heart and take action, no matter how small, to alleviate a little bit of suffering or feat.

Connections

I am back in Korea weaving a little more color into the tapestry of my life.  This time I am co-leading a course for 18 students from St. Catherine University in St. Paul, Minnesota.  The course is titled "Global Search for Justice Korea: Voices of Dissent and Women".  Although I am revisiting many of the places I went to last summer while preparing the course, I am seeing them through new eyes - my vision changed by the perspectives of the young women taking the course.

Our group has an interesting combination of individuals and cultures.  We have 11 Hmong American students whose families came to the U.S. as refugees after the war in Southeast Asia.  Two of the students are Hispanic/Chicana with close ties to Mexico and El Salvador.  One is Tibetan.  The other 4 are Caucasian but interestingly 3 of their grandfathers fought in the Korean War.

When learning about the evolution of the role of women in Korea many of the Hmong students saw parallels to their own culture and discussed the process of changing social norms and gaining equal status from a very personal perspective.

One of the favorite things about this course has been the interaction with Korea college students and Korean Buddhist nuns who were all about the same age as our students.  We spent 3 days living in a Buddhist Temple where bonds were formed and new Facebook friends emerged.  Our students began the Temple Stay with some trepidation.  It all seemed so foreign and scary.  By the time we left there were hugs and tears of parting.  For me one of the highlights of the Temple stay was the interfaith dialog that took place both formally and informally.  On the informal side there was the devout Catholic student making the sigh go the cross before each prostration and the many chats over coffee between the head Buddhist Sunim, a Catholic nun, a Catholic theologian, and myself (the daughter of Protestant missionaries).  During the 4:15 chants each morning there was a Christian prayer offered.  Our last evening at the temple the Buddhist and Catholic nuns led a discussion of faith.  We were then divided into groups of 3 with one Sunim in each group.

In Gwangju the students learned about the massacre of May 18, 1980.  They shared the experience with Korean college students who had close family ties to that event.  The Korean and U.S. Students shared rooms in the retreat center, shared beer and chicken parties, and worked together on a family history project geared towards helping them find connections with each other and with the history of Korea.  The connections and the learning were amazing.  The Korean students were surprised to learn of the 3 grandfathers who fought in the Korean War.  Many of them also had relatives who had fought in Southeast Asia and related to the Hmong students' stories of war, refugee camps, and forced immigration.  More Facebook friends and tearful goodbyes.

Other highlights included a trip to Peace Life Valley in the Gong-wondo region of the DMZ which included not only a beautiful trip into the mountains and some fun Korean folk tales, but the opportunity to warm up and bond in a Korean style sauna.

Our last stop before returning to Seoul was in Congjeong village in Jeju.  Jeju showed a different Korean women's history as well as connections to U.S. Policy in modern Korean history.  It combined beauty with sadness and brought many things together for the students.

From the "comfort women" and the plight of North Korean refugee women sold to Chinese men, we heard about historical and present oppression of women.  But we also learned about the leadership of Korean women from the Jeju Heonyo to the students and graduates of Ewha.

These young women will return home with new perspectives and new self-awareness.  But first they have a few more days in Seoul to shop, play, and reconnect with Korean friends they have met along their journey.

For me it has been a time to learn, grow, and reconnect with friends here in Korea as well as the opportunity to meet new friends and to get to know 18 amazing young women who came along for thus journey.