[INTERVIEW] Dr. Hee-tae Koo

A doctor standing before an operating table in a plastic surgery clinic,

and a painter standing before a canvas.

Although they may appear to belong to two entirely different worlds,

for Dr. Hee-tae Koo, these two pursuits share the same

“essence.”

We met Dr. Hee-tae Koo, who adds beauty to people’s lives

with a momentary touch,

and heard about his medical philosophy.

Q. Was there a particular reason you became a plastic surgeon?

I have loved drawing since I was young.

Naturally, I became interested in things that were beautiful and aesthetically pleasing.

While considering my career path in medical school,

I encountered plastic surgery.

It felt almost like falling in love—

I had the intense feeling that my whole being wanted to do this work.

That conviction led me to where I am today.

Q. What do you believe is the “essence” of plastic surgery?

I often compare surgery to the work of painting a portrait.

A portrait is not completed simply by copying a face;

it requires fully understanding the person.

The same is true of plastic surgery.

Even the smallest change can alter the harmony of the entire face,

so the most important process is fully understanding the momentary changes created by my touch

and looking deeply into the patient’s beauty.

Q. What value do you consider most important as a doctor?

At first, I thought that sophisticated techniques and attention to detail were everything.

But what I realized after meeting countless patients

was that, in the end, it came down to one’s “attitude.”

Not compromising with oneself,

and having the determination to provide each patient with the best possible treatment—

although that mindset is the most difficult to maintain,

I believe it is the most important value a doctor must uphold.

After all, plastic surgery is also “medicine” that heals people.

Q. Why did you choose ETON?

Above all, I was looking for a clinic that focused on the

essence of achieving the “best possible results.”

Even through brief conversations with my fellow doctors,

I became convinced that “this is exactly where I wanted to work.”

I am happy to be working alongside colleagues who saw and understood my sincerity,

rather than simply choosing a doctor with an impressive background,

and who continually ask questions and strive to learn.

Q. How would you like to be remembered as a doctor?

There are many things a plastic surgeon must consider,

but in the end, I want to focus on just one thing: the “essence.”

To make people more beautiful,

and, as a result, happier.

I want to be a dependable partner

who helps patients rediscover their inherent beauty in their lives.

Through the interview, we were able to glimpse

the doctor’s warm perspective, which treats each patient’s face like a work of art,

and his firm convictions as a physician.

Dr. Hee-tae Koo says that plastic surgery is an art

that requires fully understanding the face.

You can now discover the inherent beauty he creates

at ETON Plastic Surgery.