Model and broadcaster Han Hye-jin blocked staff power-abuse allegations at the source.
On the 15th, a video titled "27-year veteran fashion model: the current state of the neck" was uploaded to Han Hye-jin's YouTube channel.
On that day, Han Hye-jin went to the hospital because she could no longer bear neck pain. She said, "My neck hurts so much. Do you know how many pillows are on my bed? There are six. I order cervical pillows every week. The ones with a depression in the middle, the ones with added padding at the neck area, the memory foam ones, the ones with little beans inside. It's really so hard. I bought and used almost every cervical pillow sold in Korea for two or three months each, so now I habitually rub the back of my neck even when I'm sitting still," expressing her distress.
She continued, "When I rewatched YouTube videos I had filmed before, my neck was sticking out even while driving, and looking at the time I went to LA this time, my neck was a bit forward while walking too. I was so shocked. I'm already the archetypal model for forward head posture. Anyway, these days my quality of life has completely declined because of my neck. I don't even know if forward head posture can be treated. I should ask the doctor when I see them. I'm upset," she said.
After arriving at the hospital, Han Hye-jin explained her symptoms to the doctor, saying, "Last time my neck was so bad I couldn't turn it, so I got an injection and it immediately turned back. As time passed and my posture changed a bit, it started to stop turning. Falling asleep at night is very difficult and from the moment I wake up in the morning the pain from the back here toward the head is very severe."
They then took X-rays, and the doctor who saw the results pointed out the serious condition, saying, "The reason the pain keeps recurring is that the neck has a reverse curve." Han Hye-jin was surprised, saying, "There should be a C-shaped curve toward the face, but it's straight and even slightly going backward," and the doctor also noted, "It's a reverse C-shape."
The doctor said, "The fortunate thing is that the foramina themselves are not narrowed, so you don't seem to have severe hand numbness yet. If it progresses to a herniated disc in the neck, hand numbness can also worsen. When a nerve is compressed it causes numbness and such. Depending on how much it's compressed, treatment may include a nerve block injection or surgery. Right now the forward head posture is very severe and because the neck is somewhat long, you are the type prone to forward head posture. If the neck is long it is more likely to be weaker."
Han Hye-jin asked, "Can it be restored to a normal C-shaped curve?" The doctor replied, "Because degenerative changes aren't severe yet, you can form a certain degree of curve. With lifestyle habit correction it's possible to some extent," and added, "Also, looking at the shoulder images there is shoulder impingement syndrome. Strengthening rotator cuff exercises for the shoulder are needed, and you should avoid sleeping on your side or doing planks and pushups."
At this, Han Hye-jin asked, "If 100 patients visited, what rank would I be?" curious, and the doctor said, "You'd be among the top 10. In terms of being bad," shocking Han Hye-jin. Then she said, "Our PD also had his picture taken." Earlier, the younger PD had also undergone X-ray imaging for comparison with Han Hye-jin.
But the doctor delivered a twist, saying, "He's worse." Han Hye-jin urgently called for the PD and said, "PD, this is serious. Sit down quickly." The doctor asked, "Does that patient not have neck pain?" and the PD confessed, "I've never felt pain." The doctor advised, "Don't look at your phone so much." He added, "These days, because people look at their phones for long periods, even high school students can develop neck disc. Try physical therapy or exercise therapy, learn exercises you can do at home and do them, and then observe the progress."
After the consultation, Han Hye-jin worriedly said, "What should I do, PD? What should I do?" and tried to prevent misunderstanding, saying, "He's only been at our company for two months. Everyone, don't misunderstand. It's not that our PD was made like this by me. He was damaged elsewhere," prompting laughter.
Finally learning neck stretching methods, Han Hye-jin said, "It seems my neck hurts more after going to the hospital. The most urgent thing is that I should stop upper body weight training. I will continue diligently the exercise prescription I learned at home and do more rehabilitation training when I go to the gym. Anyway, now that I saw my neck, I'm worried about everyone's neck. I hope everyone has a year of good neck health in 2026. Next time I'll meet you as a slightly healthier-necked Han Hye-jin," she said.
[photo] OSEN DB, Han Hye-jin YouTube
[OSEN]