Page 7 - IAV Digital Magazine #525

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White Influencer Now ‘Classifies As Korean’ After Receiving Surgery To Look Like Pop Star
Sidrah Naqvi
A British influ- encer has explained how they now 'identify as Korean' after getting surgery to look like their favorite member of K-pop band BTS.
Oli London has reportedly gone under surgery 15 times in the past eight years to get their face as close to 'Korean' as possible. The cost of all these sur- geries is estimat- ed to have been more than $150,000.
The non-binary influencer believes they now have a striking resemblance to Jimin and asked their followers to use the pronouns 'they/them/Korean /Jimin.'
They added: "'I do identify as Korean... this is my choice, my decision. It's not
hurting anyone."
Oli revealed in a social media video that Korea is their "home nation" and "cul- ture," and that this is "exactly how I look now."
"I realize it's a lit- tle confusing for some people...no one has ever come out as Jimin or Korean, but it's
just something you know if you've been fol- lowing my path for the previous eight years. I've had a lot of trou- ble figuring out who I am and what my identity is "Oli stated.
Oli received con- troversy after posting a photo of a rainbow South Korean flag in an
attempt to solidify their identity and loyalty to the country.
Along with the image, they wrote: "This is my new official flag for being a non- binary Korean identifier. Thank you for your amazing support; it was really diffi- cult for me to come out as
Them/they/Korea n."
People chastised London for 'trivial- izing' Korean cul- ture since it is now 'trendy.'
Oli responded to the criticism on Instagram, writ- ing: "Yes, I con- sider myself to be Korean. Yes, I'm a non-binary per- son. Yes, I resem-
ble Jimin.
But none of this should be used to exclude me from society, to dehu- manize and con- demn me for being who I am: a non-binary Korean woman."
Oli's manager told the Daily Dot that the actor was "deeply bonded" to Korea and its culture.
The spokesman went on to say that London iden- tifies with Korea far more than the rest of the coun- try, so why shouldn't they be able to call them- selves Korean?
Oli explained in 2019 that they were not chang- ing their 'race' when they stated they identified as Korean and that it merely means he will refer to them- selves in that manner while speaking to oth- ers.
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