A white influencer has revealed that they now "identify as Korean" after going under the knife to look like a K-pop star.
Oli London, 31, has reportedly had as many as 15 surgeries over the past eight years in a bid to look "Korean" - spending over $150,000 in the process, Daily Mail reports.
Oli, who is from London, identifies as non-binary and uses the pronouns "they/them/Korean/Jimin" - the latter of which is based on their belief that they bear a striking resemblance to Jimin, a South Korean singer.
They added: "'I do identify as Korean... this is my choice, my decision. It's not hurting anyone."
Oli took to social media to explain how they regard Korea as their "home country" and their "culture" and that's "exactly how I look now".
"I know it's a little bit confusing for some people...nobody has ever come out as Jimin or Korean but it's just something that you guys know if you follow my journey for the last eight years. I've really struggled with identity issues, with who I am," Oli said.
However, Oli's "coming out" as Korean has not been without its critics, especially after they posted a rainbow Korean flag to symbolize their new home country.
They were criticized for "trivializing" Korean culture "because they're suddenly 'trendy'."
Slamming the post, one Twitter user wrote: "I'm sorry, but you can't just choose to be Korean. It's a nationality and ethnicity- You have to be born Korean! Just because you like the culture, doesn't mean you can take it and become it. There is a way to appreciate a different culture, this is not it."
A second non-binary person commented: "I am a person belonging to the non-binary umbrella, and this offends me A LOT, being Korean is a nationality, not a gender, you are making fun of all the non-binary umbrella, the neo pronouns, and the entire lgbtqa + community! really stop please [sic]."
Oli reacted to the criticism on Instagram, writing: "Yes I identify as Korean. Yes, I'm non-binary. Yes, I look like Jimin. But none of this should be a reason to outcast me from society, to dehumanize me and shame me for being who I am, a non-binary Korean person [sic]."
In an interview with the Daily Dot, Oli's manager explained that they chose the identity because they felt "strongly attached" to Korea and its culture.
.webp_k3JJBL?tr=h-184)