At the final held in Seoul last weekend, Woo Seo Yoon surpassed 25 contestants to claim the top title. Upon being announced as the winner, Seo Yoon stated she did not expect to win and had not prepared a speech. She thanked the organizers and fellow contestants for creating a meaningful program that conveyed a message of kindness and human connection.

Woo Seo Yoon at the pageant final. *Photo: Daum*

The 23-year-old beauty, who stands 1,75 m tall, studies fine arts at Tufts University in the US and dreams of becoming an art curator.

Seo Yoon's father is Woo Ji Won, a former basketball player renowned during his career peak. During her youth, Seo Yoon and her father participated in several television programs. After her beauty pageant win, many viewers reposted Woo Seo Yoon's old photos, noting changes in her facial features, including her eyes, nose, and chin.

Woo Seo Yoon in a television show during her youth (left) and currently.

Viewers commented on Instagram: "Perhaps she lost weight, making her facial features slimmer", "Is this a competition to see whose face is best 'edited'? I feel that natural beauty has disappeared, making it rare in beauty pageants now", "There's nothing shameful about an ordinary person becoming more beautiful through technology. But the Miss pageant should perhaps be renamed a plastic surgery competition."

Old and recent photos of Woo Seo Yoon sparked discussion on beauty forums. *Photo: Instagram/Rocket Mag*

Woo Seo Yoon has not yet responded to the controversy following the final. The Miss Korea organizers do not prohibit contestants from having plastic surgery. The competition was first held in 1957, and many winners became actresses after claiming the title, such as Kim Sung Ryung, Kim Sa Rang, and Honey Lee.

Nhu Anh