If you’ve never heard of Hang Mioku, her story is both shocking and heartbreaking. Once a successful South Korean model and singer in the 1980s, Hang was admired for her natural beauty. But at 28, she underwent cosmetic surgery, and what began as a single procedure soon spiraled into an obsession.
South Korea has one of the highest cosmetic surgery rates in the world, and in a culture where appearances are heavily emphasized, Hang felt pressured to keep altering her looks. Her parents, alarmed by her drastic changes, once sought medical help for her, but they could not afford continued treatment.
Desperate, Hang turned to dangerous alternatives. A black-market “doctor” gave her silicone, which she began injecting herself. When that ran out, she used cooking oil, causing her face to swell beyond recognition. Children cruelly nicknamed her “standing fan.”
In 2008, doctors removed large amounts of foreign substances from her face and neck. Despite dozens of surgeries, the damage was irreversible. Today, Hang works in a recycled clothing shop.
Her tragic journey is a powerful reminder of the dangers of addiction—and the importance of seeking help before it’s too late.
