Model-turned-broadcaster Hong Jin Kyung has personally addressed and put to rest plastic surgery rumors involving her daughter, Rael, clarifying that the dramatic change seen in viral photos was the result of photo editing rather than cosmetic procedures.
The controversy erupted after images circulated across online communities under captions suggesting that “Hong Jin Kyung’s daughter Rael has changed beyond recognition.” In the photos, Rael appeared markedly different from her childhood image, sporting a slimmer frame and heavy makeup. The visual contrast prompted a wave of reactions from netizens, with some speculating about plastic surgery and fueling excessive public interest.
As the rumors gained traction, Hong Jin Kyung intervened directly. On the 8th, she took to social media to share comparison photos, writing humorously, “Kim Rael before editing, after editing—fake life Rael. Isn’t this a scam!? You should hold your mother’s hand and try living the fake life too.” She also uploaded screenshots of private conversations, explaining that the images were created using editing apps capable of reshaping facial features, enhancing makeup, and altering appearances.
Her post drew lighthearted responses from fellow celebrities. Singer Lee Ji Hye commented jokingly, “Why even bother explaining this?” while Hong Jin Kyung playfully tagged Choi Jun Hee, daughter of the late actress Choi Jin Sil, quipping, “Didn’t you teach her how to edit?”
However, Hong Jin Kyung made it clear that the decision to go public was her own. When Orbit asked whether the post had been coordinated with Rael, she replied candidly, “No, she didn’t agree. The situation was getting serious, so I just posted it. I’ve apparently become a mother who shaved down her underage daughter’s jaw—I’m losing my mind because of her.”
She later revealed that Rael had reached out to apologize for causing concern. Sharing their messages, Hong Jin Kyung said her daughter jokingly responded to the media attention with, “Let’s just hold hands and go live the fake life.” Rael also wrote that she was trying to “protect her mental state as a triumph of the human spirit.”
In response, Hong Jin Kyung offered firm but affectionate advice, telling her daughter, “What are you talking about? Never do something like that again. Just accept your bare face and live as yourself. So what if you have a slightly square jaw? So what if you have a bit of cheek fat? That’s Kim Rael.”
By openly sharing the candid and at times humorous mother-daughter exchange, Hong Jin Kyung effectively dispelled the plastic surgery rumors, bringing the brief but noisy controversy to a close.
