Actor Yoon Kyung-ho lost 34kg out of pure spite

Actor Yoon Kyung-ho, who is earning praise for his powerful presence in the SBS drama 'Agent Kim Reactivated', is making headlines again as photos of his appearance from 10 years ago resurface. As images of his extremely thin physique—where his ribs were clearly visible—circulate, the story of the extreme weight loss he underwent for a role is being revisited.

Recently, photos of Yoon from the filming of the movie 'The Battleship Island' have been resurfacing in online communities.

In the photos, Yoon appears so thin that his collarbones and ribs are clearly visible. His face looks gaunt, showing the physical toll of the extreme weight loss required to portray the desperate life of a forced laborer.

This appearance has astonished fans, as it stands in stark contrast to the sturdy image he currently projects in 'Agent Kim Reactivated'.

- "I'll cast you if you lose 20kg"... A 34kg weight loss driven by spite

Yoon previously shared this experience on the tvN variety show 'Unexpected Business'.

At the time, he revealed he was actually gaining weight to film director Bong Joon-ho's movie 'Okja'.

"Director Bong Joon-ho told me he wanted me to gain some weight, so I kept eating, but then I received a casting offer from director Ryoo Seung Wan for 'The Battleship Island'," he said.

The problem, however, was his increased weight.

Yoon recalled, "Since my body had bulged up that much, it was essentially a miscasting."

He continued, "Director Ryoo Seung Wan said, 'I will cast you if you just lose 20kg,' and hearing those words, I became stubborn."

Ultimately, he completely transformed his body.

He stated that his weight, which was approximately 98kg during the filming of 'Okja', was reduced to approximately 64kg for 'The Battleship Island', meaning he lost 34kg in just a few months.

As the filming schedules for the two projects partially overlapped, he underwent a grueling marathon of rapidly gaining weight and then losing it again in a very short period.

- He even followed Lee Jung-jae's diet

To achieve this extreme weight loss, Yoon chose to follow actor Lee Jung-jae's diet plan.

He revealed that he modeled his nutrition after the diet Lee practiced during the filming of the movie 'Assassination'.

The diet consisted of meals centered around chicken breast, almonds, and peppers, eaten five times a day at three-hour intervals.

By combining strict dietary management with intense exercise, Yoon successfully achieved the look, realistically portraying the desperate state of a forced laborer in 'The Battleship Island'.

However, experts warn that such rapid weight loss of dozens of kilograms in a short period can be extremely dangerous for the average person and can place a serious burden on health; they advise against attempting such methods without professional supervision.

- From supporting actor to a reliable scene-stealer

After a long period of obscurity, Yoon has established himself as one of the most notable actors in the industry.

This year, he has been hailed as a "premium supporting actor" for his unique performances in consecutive hits such as 'The Cook, Becomes a Legend' and 'Agent Kim Reactivated'.

His talent was recently recognized at major award ceremonies.

At the 5th Blue Dragon Series Awards held on July 31, he shed tears on stage after winning the Best Supporting Actor award for the TVING drama 'The Cook, Becomes a Legend'.

Yoon gave credit to his colleagues, saying, "This is not an award I can receive alone. I could receive it because my colleagues were with me."

He delivered a sincere speech that drew much applause, stating, "I will take this award not as a sign to do well now, but as a mandate to continue holding this position well in the future. While I am telling stories about cooking someone's meal, I am most grateful to my family who silently supported me by preparing my meals.""

The actor, who bet everything on a single role by losing 34kg, has become a "reliable actor" who anchors dramas with his commanding presence. What made the current Yoon Kyung-ho was not glamorous leading roles, but the intense dedication he showed to his body and his craft for every project.