A Korean man is going viral after viewers were left stunned by his dramatic transformation — achieved with zero plastic surgery.
The story was revealed on the May 3 broadcast of tvN’s Kim Chang Ok Show 4, where an older sister appeared to share her frustrations about her youngest brother, whom she believes has become obsessed with managing his appearance.
According to the sister, her brother had been a model student throughout his school years. However, after moving to Seoul for university, the two gradually lost touch. She was later shocked when she stumbled upon appearance-management videos on social media, only to realize that the person featured was her own brother, whose face looked completely different from how she remembered him.
Here is the before and after.
She explained that he has always been extremely sensitive and is treated like a “precious son” at home, adding that even during high school, the entire family had to be careful around him while he studied. Now, instead of focusing on job preparation, he seems consumed by his looks — a change that led the sister to lash out at him in frustration.
When photos of the brother’s past appearance were revealed on the show, the studio fell into shock. The contrast between his former self and his current visuals was so drastic that many viewers initially assumed he had undergone cosmetic procedures.
However, the brother clarified that he had not received any plastic surgery. Instead, he credited his transformation entirely to makeup techniques, hairstyle changes, weight management, and meticulous grooming, drawing widespread attention and disbelief.
The brother later revealed that his fixation on his appearance began after a painful moment in the past. A woman he once had a crush on reportedly asked him, “Are you sick somewhere?” — a comment that deeply affected him. From that point on, he said, he became determined to change his appearance, even setting his sights on achieving an idol-like look.
He went on to share the extreme lengths he took to manage his visuals: gaining 20 kilograms, completely cutting out sodium to prevent facial swelling, and using makeup and hairstyling to alter his face shape.
The segment has since sparked heated discussion online, with some netizens praising his discipline and effort, while others express concern over how far appearance pressure can go.