Hwang Jung Eum suffered severe complications following breast augmentation surgery—including a hunched back and rapid weight gain—leaving her too self-conscious to show her face in public.
She also underwent a botched nose job and now deeply regrets the procedures, having lost her money only to end up with physical damage.
Many entertainers turn to plastic surgery hoping to enhance their appearance, but not everyone achieves the desired result; Hwang Jung Eum is one such case. In a new video posted to her personal YouTube channel on the morning of September 24, the actress revealed that she had secretly undergone breast augmentation surgery and subsequently suffered horrific complications. Hwang Jung Eum recalls the experience with regret: “Back in 2010, breast augmentation surgery was all the rage. I secretly underwent the procedure to enhance my bust size without telling anyone. That was while I was filming the drama *Giant*. If you watch the show now, the difference in my bust size compared to my earlier projects is immediately noticeable. However, after the surgery, I unexpectedly suffered from poor blood circulation and rapid weight gain. My mother took great care of me to help my body recover quickly. Consequently, I gained a lot of weight and felt incredibly heavy. Before I knew it, I had developed a hunched back. Trends have changed recently, so I’ve had the implants removed. The initial surgery to insert the implants was far more painful than the removal process. I feel so much more comfortable now; I honestly can’t understand why I ever got a breast augmentation in the first place.”
Hwang Jung Eum regrets having undergone breast augmentation surgery in the past. Photo: Naver
In a recent video, Hwang Jung Eum also expressed regret over undergoing plastic surgery that altered her original features: “Back then, my face was already beautiful, yet for some reason, I chose to get plastic surgery. I was born beautiful—there was absolutely no need for cosmetic procedures—but I paid to ruin my natural beauty. Now, I’m spending even more money trying to restore my face to its original state. Truly, leaving things natural is best.”
Previously, Hwang Jung Eum spoke candidly about a botched nose job while appearing as a guest on the show *Jung Bo Suk’s Chung Dam Dong 1AM*. The actress revealed that she was once too self-conscious to even leave her house due to the failed procedure: “I used to feel insecure about myself and tried to shift my mindset. Whenever I felt a lack of confidence in my appearance, I would consider plastic surgery. I would constantly tell myself, ‘I’m beautiful, I’m beautiful,’ to stop myself from going under the knife. But in the end, I went through with it. I had a nose job once, but the result was an unnaturally high bridge—it looked a lot like Keanu Reeves’ nose. Because of that, I decided to have everything removed. For about a month, I didn’t dare go outside unless I had to go to the agency.” Hwang Jung Eum suffered severe complications following breast augmentation surgery: a hunched back, rapid weight gain, and an inability to show her face in public
Hwang Jung Eum revealed that she once dared not step out of her house due to a botched cosmetic procedure. Photo: X.
In the South Korean entertainment industry, Hwang Jung Eum was once hailed as the “Sitcom Queen” or “Ratings Queen,” thanks to the success of numerous hit series such as *High Kick!*, *Listen to My Heart*, *Kill Me, Heal Me*, and *She Was Pretty*. During her heyday, the actress—born in 1984—commanded top-tier fees for acting contracts and commercial endorsements. However, in recent years, she has become known to the public more for personal controversies than for significant artistic achievements.
Reportedly, the actress faced legal trouble and received a prison sentence for her unlawful actions. Last year, Hunminjeongeum Entertainment—a company wholly owned by Hwang Jung Eum—was accused of operating illegally by failing to register as a pop culture and arts management business. Shortly thereafter, her agency, Y.ONE Entertainment, ruthlessly cut ties with her. Specifically, the company hastily announced the termination of its exclusive management contract with Hwang Jung Eum amidst allegations that she had established an unauthorized company.
Furthermore, the *She Was Pretty* star was accused of embezzling approximately 4.34 billion won (82 billion VND) from Company from Hunminjeongeum Entertainment in 2022. The actress invested 4.2 billion won (79.3 billion VND) in cryptocurrency, while using the remaining funds to pay property and local taxes, as well as credit card bills.
Hwang Jung Eum admitted to all charges and agreed to repay the money misappropriated from Hunminjeongeum Entertainment. To make restitution, she sold off real estate assets and settled the payment in two installments. In late September 2025, the 2nd Criminal Division of the Jeju District Court (South Korea) sentenced Hwang Jung Eum to two years in prison—suspended for a four-year probation period—for embezzlement under the Act on the Aggravated Punishment, etc. of Specific Economic Crimes.
