Actor Hwang Jung-eum has revealed that she once underwent breast augmentation surgery.
In a video titled "The Day I Went Underwear Shopping at Namdaemun" posted Wednesday to her YouTube channel, Hwang browsed Namdaemun Market in Seoul and shopped for various items.
When a producer suggested visiting one of the market's well-known lingerie shops, Hwang said she had little use for underwear shopping. "I actually think it's a waste to shop for underwear. I don't need it. I normally don't wear a bra — I just use nipple patches," she said.
Hwang also addressed a past controversy in which photos of her had sparked speculation about whether she was braless. "Back then I was wearing a bra, and the straps showed in the photos," she said. "Today is the braless day."
She added that she finds padded bras uncomfortable. "I can't stand underwear with thick cups," she said. "When I was younger I wanted to look curvier, so I would push everything up and wear thick padding."
Hwang said breast augmentation was a trend in 2010 and that she had the procedure done without telling anyone, including her family. She noted she was filming the drama series "Giant" at the time. "If you watch it, you'll notice the difference in volume," she said.
The surgery did not suit her well, she said. "After the surgery I gained weight and had poor circulation, and then I ate so much to recover that I gained even more. Everything felt heavy and burdensome, and before I knew it my back had hunched over," Hwang said.
She ultimately had the implants removed. "These days, the natural look is the trend, so I had them taken out," she said. "My body feels so much better. I don't know why I ever did it."
Meanwhile, Hwang has been raising her two sons on her own since her divorce.
paq@heraldcorp.com
