Ku Hye-sun reveals surprising 8kg weight gain after Himalaya trek

Actress Ku Hye-sun has drawn significant attention after revealing that she unexpectedly gained 8kg following her expedition to the Himalayas. Contrary to the common expectation that weight would decrease in extreme high-altitude environments, her candid confession that high-calorie meals required for survival actually led to weight gain brought both laughter and surprise.

On the 18th, Ku released a video on her social media (SNS) with the short caption, "Himalaya 8kg bulk-up expedition story."

The video was filmed personally at an altitude of 4,300m. Ku noted, "A video taken at 4,300m altitude," and teased her upcoming broadcast appearance by writing, "See you tonight at 9:40 PM on MBN's 'Kim Ju-ha's Day and Night.'"

In the upcoming broadcast, Ku's vivid account of her recent attempt to climb the Himalayas will be revealed.

Ku shared the details of her extreme journey, stating, "My goal was 4,300m, and I eventually achieved it," adding, "I continued a grueling schedule of walking an average of 16 hours a day."

However, what garnered the most interest was her physical condition following the harsh climb. Contrary to expectations that weight would naturally decrease during long-term high-altitude living and high-intensity trekking, medical results upon her return to Korea confirmed an 8kg increase.

Regarding this result, Ku explained, "I simply couldn't go if I didn't eat."

She said with a laugh, "Because I was going through such a hard time in the Himalayas, I thought, 'Since I've suffered this much, let's reward myself,'" and "I ate all the food available there."

She continued, making the cast burst into laughter, by confessing, "I even ate the food meant for horses, and I snatched up all the cookies and sugar cubes."

She explained that in extreme natural environments, securing sufficient calories is directly linked to survival rather than controlling one's diet, leaving her no choice but to consume whatever food was available.

In fact, in high-altitude areas, low oxygen concentrations cause energy consumption to increase significantly compared to lowlands. Experts in sports and high-altitude medicine agree that during long-term trekking, both basal and activity metabolic rates increase, making the continuous supply of sufficient calories and hydration essential. Ku also stated that constant food intake was inevitable to endure treks lasting up to 16 hours a day.

This expedition once again demonstrates Ku's relentless spirit of challenge. Since her debut as an actress, she has expanded her work into various artistic fields, including film directing, music, and fine arts. She has also pursued academic challenges, enrolling in the Department of Visual Arts at Sungkyunkwan University in 2011, and later earned a Master of Engineering degree by majoring in Science Journalism at the KAIST Munsul Graduate School of Future Strategy.

By succeeding in this climb to 4,300m, she has once again proven her identity as a "challenging creator" beyond her role as an actress.

The full story of Ku's Himalaya expedition and her "8kg bulk-up" will be revealed on MBN's 'Kim Ju-ha's Day and Night,' airing on the 18th at 9:40 PM.