The whole court case
Laetitia Martinez27 May 2014
Grade 5 Girls
vs.
Korea’s Entertainment Industry
A Mock Trial
K-PoP and Media entertainment industry of Korea:Defense Attorney
10-12 years old 5th graders who are against plastic surgery:District Attorney
Issue at hand:The defense is being sued for forcefully making the kpop stars have plastic surgery and that leads to others wanting it. Starting a plastic surgery craze in Korea.
Note:We will only present the final arguments of this case.
Bailiff: All rise. [Wait for everyone-except the judge- to stand.] Department One of the Superior Court is now in session.Judge Daniel presiding. Please be seated.
Judge: Good morning, ladies and gentlemen. Calling the case of 10 and 11 year old 5th graders who are against plastic surgery versus K-PoP and Media entertainment industry of Korea. Are both sides ready?
Deputy DA: Ready for the People, Your Honor.
Defense Attorney: Ready for the defense, Your Honor.
Judge: Will the clerk please swear in the jury?
Clerk: Will the jury please stand and raise your right hand? [Wait for everyone to stand.] Do each of you swear that you will fairly try the case before this court, and that you will return a true verdict according to the evidence and the instructions of the court, so help you, God? Please say “I do”. [Wait for jurors to say “I do.”] You may be seated
Deputy DA: [Stand up and talk to the jury.] Your Honor and ladies and gentlemen of the jury: the defendant has been charged with the crime of destroying the self esteem of all girls in this country, leading them to believe that they must be beautiful to succeed. The evidence will show that just in 2009, 1 in 5 women has had plastic surgery, it has most likely been risen since then with the increasing popularity of K-PoP. Almost all of the K-PoP stars has had plastic surgery.The increasing growth of this surgery craze has led to many articles about the subject. The evidence I will present will prove to you that the defendant is guilty as charged.
Defence Attorney: [Stand up and talk to the jury.] Your Honor and ladies and gentlemen of the jury: under the law my client is presumed innocent until proven guilty. During this trial, you will hear no real evidence against my client. You will come to know the truth: that girls in Korea can listen to K-PoP by choice and they know that these Stars have had plastic surgery by choice,without any involvement from my client. After finding out that Korea has the highest rate of plastic surgery, my client simply embraced that fact so that they could fit the public's definition of beauty. Therefore my client is not guilty.
Judge: The prosecution may call its first witness.
Deputy DA: The People call Sun-Hwa. [Bailiff takes the witness to the witness stand.]
Clerk: Please stand. Raise your right hand. Do you promise that the testimony you shall give in the case before this court shall be the truth, the whole truth, and nothing but the truth, so help you God?
Sun-Hwa: I do.
Clerk: Please state your first and last name.
Sun-Hwa: Sun-Hwa Lee.
Clerk: You may be seated.
Reporter: Please spell your last name for the record.
Deputy DA: [Stand up.] Sun-Hwa, what do you do after you have finished school?
Sun-Hwa: I normally go home and do my homework.
Deputy DA: So, at what time do you listen to K-PoP?
Sun-Hwa: I don’t listen to it.
Deputy DA: Then why do you feel pressured into getting plastic surgery?
Sun-Hwa: Well, when I’m at school my friends always talk about how pretty the K-PoP stars are and how they plan to get plastic surgery. Also that people who aren’t pretty don’t succeed.
Deputy DA: But is that enough to feel pressured into getting it?
Sun-Hwa: Well, no. But I live in Gangnam, so when I get home I see all these pictures of how all these girls and boys change their faces and then they become very pretty and handsome.
Deputy DA: So you felt pressured even more?
Sun-Hwa: Yes. Yes and then to make matters worse, I plan to become a singer, so my friends and the media give me the impression that I need to have plastic surgery in order to succeed and be famous.
Deputy DA: In conclusion you felt that you had to have plastic surgery because if you didn’t you would not achieve your goals or have many friends.
Deputy DA: Thank you, I have no further questions,your honour.
Judge: Does the defense have any questions?
Defense Attorney: Not at this time, Your Honor.
Judge: The witness is excused. [Wait for the witness to leave the stand.] The prosecution may call their next witness.
Deputy DA: The People call Ian Kim . [Bailiff takes the witness to the witness stand.]
Clerk: Please stand. Raise your right hand. Do you promise that the testimony you shall give in the case before this court shall be the truth, the whole truth, and nothing but the truth, so help you God?
Ian: I do.
Clerk: Please state your first and last name.
Ian: Ian Kim.
Clerk: You may be seated.
Reporter: Please spell your last name for the record.
Deputy DA: [Stand up.] Ian, have you had plastic surgery?
Ian: Yes, I had double-eyelid surgery and V-line chin surgery.
Deputy DA: What would you say made you want to get plastic surgery?
Ian: Well, A lot of people in my family believe that people who are handsome do better in life.
Deputy DA: But thats not really enough for you to get plastic surgery .After all, I’ve heard of a lot of people whose families believe that but they don’t undergo surgery. How come you did it?
Ian: Yes but at school my friends always boast that they got plastic surgery. and I felt pressured by that.
Deputy DA: And why do your friends have surgery?
Ian: Well, according to them, they felt that they aren’t handsome enough and that they will be treated better or be treated like K-PoP stars actors.
Deputy DA: No further questions, your honor.
Judge: Does the defense wish to ask any questions?
Defence Attorney: [Stand up.] Yes, Your Honor.
Defense Attorney: Ian, are your friends forced to watch K-PoP and dramas?
Ian: No, why would they be?
Defence Attorney: Well, according to my logic, if they feel that K-PoP stars and drama stars are beautiful and they aren’t and they go to clinic to get the surgery. I can see plainly that the results are not failed, so what exactly is the problem with K-PoP and drama stars surgery?
Ian: Uh, well. My friends do feel better but they look a sort of similar so I don’t like it.
Defence Attorney: But didn’t you yourself get plastic surgery?
Ian: Yes, but I was not as happy with the results.
Defense Attorney: Really, and why is that?
Ian: Well, the stitches were extremely painful and I don’t feel my jaw anymore!
Defense Attorney: But you got what you wanted and look how you wanted to look.
Ian: Well, yes.
Defense Attorney: No further questions, your honor.
Judge: The witness is excused. [Wait for the witness to leave the stand.] Does the prosecution have any other witnesses?
Deputy DA: Not for the moment, your honour.
Judge: Is the defense ready to proceed.
Defense Attorney: Yes, Your Honor. I called an SM entertainment star scout. [Bailiff takes the defendant to the witness stand.]
Clerk: Please stand. Raise your right hand. Do you promise that the testimony you shall give in the case now before this court shall be the truth, the whole truth, and nothing but the truth, so help you God?
Dong-uk: I do.
Clerk: Please state your name.
Dong-uk: Dong-uk Choi.
Clerk: You may be seated.
Reporter: Please spell your last name for the record.
Dong-uk: C H O I
Defense Attorney: Dong-uk, what do you do for a living?
Dong-uk: I scout for K-PoP stars.
Defense Attorney: What exactly do you look for in a K-PoP star?
Dong-uk: Well, I just look to see if they are good at singing.
Defense Attorney: So do you know if any of the stars you scout have had plastic surgery?
Dong-uk: Well, Yes, almost all of them.
Defense Attorney: Now were more of the surgeries performed after or before, they became famous? Keep in mind that you are under oath.
Deputy DA: Objection!!
Judge: On what terms?!
Deputy DA: On the grounds that the question is misleading and not relevant because the witness can not speak for all the k-pop star, as this would be heresay. .
Judge: Objection Over-ruled. Defense, you may proceed.
Defence Attorney:Thank you, your honor. So these stars have had plastic surgery,right. But according to what you said, not all of them had it before. Also according to soompi.com, most plastic surgeries are performed after becoming scouted. Is that correct?
Dong-uk: Well, uh, well. most were done before but majority were done after.
Defense Attorney: So, it is true that most of them had it before, not after.
Dong-uk: Yes but the majority of them wanted it and were not forced to get it.
Defense Attorney: So it was really just by choice that they had the surgery?
Dong-uk: Yes.
Defense Attorney: So it had nothing to do with them being K-Pop stars, and these stars weren’t always famous so according to logic they could also have wanted it before they were famous. Thank You. No further questions.
Judge: The witness is excused. [Wait for the witness to leave the stand.] Does the prosecution have anymore questions?
Deputy DA: Yes, Your Honour.
Judge: But first we shall take a short recess.
(After 10 minutes)
Judge: Alright where were we? Ah, yes Deputy DA you may proceed.
Deputy DA: [Stand up.] Dong-uk, How do you feel about plastic surgery?
Dong-uk: Well, um .I feel that it is quite unnatural and odd but I think its good for business.
Deputy DA: Now why is that?
Dong-uk: For example, it’s not my fault if the public wishes to see glamorous views of perfect people. But that’s just what they want to see.
Deputy DA: This is quite some burst of energy you seemed to acquire .May I ask you what has caused it?
Dong-uk: Well. My lawyer and I consulted the facts and it turns out that its not my fault.
Deputy DA: Well, let me ask you this, what is your idea of beauty?
Dong-uk: My idea of beauty is slim, v shaped chin and big eyes with a small nose, but I do not see how this is relevant.
Deputy DA: This is relevant because you just perfectly describe almost all of the most famous K-PoP stars!
Dong-uk: Well, yes.
Deputy DA: No further questions, your honour.
Judge: The witness is excused. [Wait for the witness to leave the
stand.]
Deputy DA: Your Honor, the People rest their case.
Judge: Ladies and gentlemen of the jury, I am now going to read to you the law that you must follow in deciding this case. To prove the crime charged against the defendant, the prosecution must prove three things to you:
First, that the defendant have made all their celebrities look the same perfect image with the use of plastic surgery. Second, that this has sparked a new interest in plastic surgery for all the people who have seen K-PoP stars and actors.[Third, that these people are also responsible for all the mistakes that have happened in the increase of surgery, as well as many deaths.
If each of you believe that the prosecution proved all three of these things beyond a reasonable doubt, then you should find the defendant guilty. But if you believe the prosecution did not prove any one of these things beyond a reasonable doubt, then you must find the defendant not guilty. Proof beyond a reasonable doubt does not mean beyond all possible doubt. It means that you must consider all of the evidence and that you are very sure that the charge is true.
Judge: Are you ready with final arguments?
Deputy DA: Yes, Your Honor.
Defense Attorney: Yes, Your Honor.
Deputy DA: [Stand up and face the jury.] Your Honor, and ladies and gentlemen of the jury: The judge has told you that we must prove three things. There is absolutely no question about the first two things that we must prove. First, the defendant has made all the most famous and less famous stars look at least a little similar and at most the same. Second, that the defendant has made all the young people of Korea have some sort of interest if not much in plastic surgery.Therefore, all we have to prove is that the defendant has done all these things and did infact start this surgery craze.The defendant admitted having made the stars all look the same. The defendant most likely knew that they were making them disfigure themselves for the sake of fame. Based on the evidence, you must find the defendant guilty as charged. According to business insider 1 in 5 women in Seoul has had some type of procedure. How can this not be connected to media? According to Asian Century Institute, South Korea has the highest percentage of procedures, with 650,000 performed in 2011 alone, including people from other countries. Why would people have this much surgery? At least some of it must be connected to K-PoP. Ladies and Gentlemen of the jury, more and more people across the world are thinking wrongly about plastic surgery and Korea. There was a quote that said how the different cultures have different preferences of plastic surgery. The quote said’ The Chinese are not afraid of a complete overhaul. The Japanese are more conservative preferring to keep their most unique features.The Koreans mostly follow trends.’. Why would CNN write this in an article, if it had no reason to. There is something you should notice though, they use the word trend. Who sets the trends in Korea? The K-PoP and media stars! Therefore they are responsible for the plastic surgery craze. Also there is a 2 weeks wait list for consultation with a plastic surgeon at the Severance Hospital, which signifies the craze for plastic surgery and the influence of K-Pop.Therefore the defendant is more than likely guilty.I rest my case.
Judge: Defense Attorney, are you ready with your final arguments?
Defense Attorney: [Stand up and face the jury.] Your Honor, ladies and gentlemen of the jury: My client was unlucky to need to actually make and let their stars have the surgery but it was a little bit required since after all it is not my clients fault that this country places such an emphasis on beauty and looks. My client just felt that in order for the people to have good entertainment and for the stars to stay stars, they merely wished to please. Korea finds very particular things beautiful and pleasing. But the prosecution’s own victim said himself that he had chosen to have the surgery with influence or without. I suggest to you that the real person behind Korea’s surgery craze is Korea itself. Koreans have their idealistic beautiful face, so my client and his clients are simply embracing that fact. If there was no surgery, then my client would be most likely out of business. Remember that under the law my client is presumed to be innocent. The prosecution must prove every part of its case beyond a reasonable doubt – that means that you must be very sure. One of the things they must prove is that my client intended to start the craze in Korea. My client is the only person who knows what they intended to do, and testified under oath that they were only ever choosing people for their voices.The prosecution has presented no real evidence to you to show that this is not true. According to a recent interview in Dwight school Seoul. The stars that were interviewed said that they signed up for it but haven’t gotten it before. So it was their choice to become famous and not ours.They knew what they were getting into. That means that there is a reasonable doubt and, therefore, you must find them not guilty. Thank You.
(45 minutes later)
Judge: Will the jury foreperson please stand? Has the jury reached a unanimous verdict?
Foreperson: Yes, Your Honour
We, the jury finds the defendant Guilty.
Judge: The jury is thanked and excused. Court is adjourned.
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