Is that Hwang Jae-gyun? Long hair and slim face evoke 'Chuno'

Former baseball player turned entertainer Hwang Jae-gyun is drawing attention with a radical long-haired style and an unrecognizable change in appearance.

On the 28th, a short video featuring Hwang was released on the official TVING SPORTS SNS with the caption, "The Chuno that appeared on TVING."

In the video, Hwang appears with his long hair tied back. Upon seeing him, Jung Keun-woo expressed his surprise, saying, "You look exactly like Jang Hyuk!" while Hwang laughed and replied, "Chuno!"

Hwang jokingly remarked, "I have to go catch someone," and in response to a question about how long he intends to grow his hair, he stated, "I'm growing it until it can be tied. I'll keep growing it until I stop seeing comments telling me to cut my hair."

However, what drew the most attention from fans was his changed physique rather than just the long hair.

Hwang revealed a much thinner face and a sharper jawline, surprising fans as wrinkles around his eyes and face became clearly visible when he smiled. Some netizens reacted to the unexpected changes with comments such as, "Is that really Hwang Jae-gyun?", "I only realized after reading the comments," and "He looks like he lost too much weight."

On the other hand, positive reactions to his new style also followed. Some suggested that his long hair, which exudes a free-spirited atmosphere unlike his rugged image during his athlete days, shows a different kind of charm.

Hwang's transformation is garnering even more interest as it coincides with his new life following his retirement. After finishing his professional baseball career last year, he opened the second chapter of his life by fully engaging in broadcasting activities.

Hwang married Jiyeon of the group T-ARA in 2022, but announced their divorce in 2024. Since then, he has signed an exclusive contract with SM C&C and is continuing his career in the variety and broadcasting fields.