Jeon Ji Hyun

The 20-year-old from Shanghai chose to pay the money for an 'improved look' when hometown Chinese surgeons would have charged a fraction of the sum.

"As many movie stars in South Korea gained their beauty through plastic surgery, I trust Korean doctors' skill and capability. When the swelling went away, I found I really had the refined face of my dreams," said Rong in an interview with the Straits Times.

Patients like her are drawing an increasing number of Korean plastic surgeons to set up shop in affluent Chinese cities such as Shanghai.

Over the past five years, more than 20 South Korean plastic surgery clinics have set up branches in Shanghai, according to a Seoul plastic surgery association journal.

Industry watchers say that this is just the tip of the iceberg as there are many unaccredited South Korean plastic surgeons plying their trade in China.

Back home, the poor economy has dampened demand for the trade, which is getting increasingly crowded with more than 1,000 registered plastic surgeons.

Shanghai's gross domestic product has been achieving consistent double-digit growth over the past decade.

Choi Ji Woo, another favourite face of Chinese wannbe starlets

Dream Plastic Surgery Clinic, an established set-up in Seoul, is about to join the Shanghai-bound bandwagon with the opening of its first clinic in September.

Its director Choi Joon Yong, 36, told The Sunday Times: "Shanghai is booming with rich people who want South Korean doctors to make them more beautiful. Market research shows that our skills are in high demand there."

Shanghai Ninth Hospital, for instance, conducted over 26,000 cosmetic surgeries in 2003, a 40-per-cent increase from the year before. And doctors say the waiting lists are full.

At Shanghai's Renai Hospital, three plastic surgeons from South Korea fly to the Chinese city every month to conduct surgery at the hospital.

Their services are always booked months in advance and the hospital fields more than 100 inquiries every day.

The prowess of South Korean plastic surgeons is grudgingly recognised by their Chinese counterparts.

"We are as good as the Koreans when it comes to skill but our creativity still needs improvement,"said Dr Wang Wei of the Shanghai Ninth People's Hospital. The popularity of Korean dramas, songs and movies in China is also boosting business.

Scores of young Chinese girls come armed with pictures of Jeon Ji Hyun (left) or Choi Ji Woo wanting to be transformed into the likeness of these stars.

Jeon is the female lead of the popular South Korean movie My Sassy Girl while Choi starred in the hit drama series Winter Sonata.

By setting up shop in Shanghai, Korean surgeons can also provide after-care services to a growing pool of well-heeled Chinese clients who had surgery in Seoul.

Dream Plastic Surgery, whose overseas customers make up 10 per cent of its clientele, believes that such a branch will encourage repeat visits.

With a seemingly bright future beckoning in Shanghai, Dr Choi said: "This is as good as it gets."