The basic premise of the program is to offer plastic surgeries to people suffering from low self-esteem due to their appearances. The program claims that it is helping people to overcome “aesthetic barriers” beyond their control to achieve a higher quality of life. The show also provides styling and make-up counseling as well as psychological therapy to candidates.

As this program receives great public attention, debates over the program’s legitimacy become heated up. Critics argue that this show desensitizes the public to dramatic and unnecessary cosmetic surgeries. Especially, they are worried that young generation watches this show and thinks that having plastic surgery is nothing extraordinary while ignoring the dangers of extreme procedures.

Furthermore, many are concerned that such TV show only exacerbates Korean society’s long-held problems with narcissism and lookism. As a matter of fact, a study conducted by the International Society of Aesthetic Plastic Surgeons in 2011 reveals that South Korea is indeed the country with the world’s highest per capita rate of cosmetic plastic surgery. 

Similarly, survey performed by the market research firm Trend Monitor reveals that one of every five women in Seoul in the age between 19 and 49 had undergone some kinds of cosmetic plastic surgery. Critics of the show claim that TV show like Let Me In only make Koreans’ obsession with beauty worse.

Despite such criticism, Let Me In Season III had recently been ended with relatively high viewer ratings. The next season is schedule to begin early next year.

Source: Inserbia