Han Go-eun reveals urgent surgery after breast lump grew beyond 5 cm

Actor Han Go-eun has revealed that she underwent urgent surgery after a lump in her left breast grew from 3.2 cm to at least 5 cm in just nine months. She later returned to filming before fully recovering and ended up in the emergency room with vomiting and low blood pressure.

Han Go-eun described the ordeal in a video released on the 15th on her YouTube channel, Go-eun Unni Han Go-eun. The video was titled “Why Han Go-eun Finally Underwent Surgery for a Lump That Grew to 5 cm in Nine Months.”

“For the first time, I couldn’t visit my in-laws for the holiday this year and spent it in the emergency room,” she said.

The lump was discovered during a health screening in January this year. It measured 3.2 cm, and she was initially advised to monitor it after further examination.

“They said that once it reaches at least 3 cm, they refer you to a secondary hospital. So I was examined again, but they said we should watch it for now,” Han Go-eun explained.

When she returned for another examination in August, the lump had grown to more than 5 cm. “They said I needed surgery immediately, so I had it urgently,” she said. The period between its discovery and surgery left little room for reassurance, although the information she disclosed does not establish the lump’s precise diagnosis or nature.

A break in the drama’s broadcast schedule for Asian Games coverage gave her an opportunity to undergo surgery. But she said her responsibilities as an actor and her commitment to viewers meant she had to continue filming without enough time to recover.

“I rested for about three days and resumed filming, and then I developed body aches,” she recalled.

The return to work also took an emotional toll. “I ate whatever I could because I had to survive, but instead of feeling replenished by eating, I felt like an empty shell,” she said. Her account suggested severe exhaustion as postoperative pain compounded the pressure of returning to work before she had regained her strength.

One morning, she began vomiting repeatedly. Her condition worsened until she could not even keep water down, prompting her to seek emergency care. Her husband, who witnessed what was happening, was also badly frightened, she said.

“My blood pressure dropped and I became dazed. All sorts of thoughts went through my mind,” Han Go-eun said, recalling her fear. She added that the examination results were reassuring, with no major abnormalities found.

Known for a strong, confident public image, Han Go-eun spoke candidly about the pain and anxiety she experienced during surgery and recovery. Her account also highlighted the pressures of maintaining a filming schedule while dealing with a health problem, and the importance of seeking adequate medical care and allowing time to recover when symptoms arise.

Born in 1975, Han Go-eun entered entertainment through the Super Elite Model Contest in 1995 before expanding into acting. Her drama credits include Bodyguard, More Beautiful Than a Flower, Spring Day, Love and Ambition, Capital Scandal, A Man Called God, Fluttering Warning and Undercover. She is currently appearing in Family Resister.

She married Shin Young-su, a non-celebrity four years her junior, in 2015.

Read the original (Korean)