South Korea will push to impose value added tax on cosmetic surgeries intended to improve the appearance, such as liposuction and bimaxillary operations, the Finance Ministry said Friday.

Under an enforcement ordinance revision, the ministry said that it plans to impose a 10-percent value added tax on surgeries performed for beauty, not for medical reasons.

The law revision does not require parliamentary approval before going into effect. It is expected to be applied starting in the first half of next year.

Accordingly, liposuction, bimaxillary operations, anti-wrinkle treatments, double eyelid operations, breast augmentation and reduction operations will be among those subject to the additional taxes, the ministry said.

Treatment to remove moles, freckles, body hair and other medical procedures to improve beauty will also be subject to the 10-percent value-added tax, according to the ministry. (Yonhap News)