Korean transgender icon Harisu recently shared candid insights into her pioneering journey and current health status in a new YouTube video, captivating fans with her openness. Released on August 18th, the video features the famous transgender star discussing the profound changes she experienced after gender reassignment surgery and her present health concerns.
In the video, Harisu revealed that before rising to fame through a groundbreaking cosmetics commercial, she endured a long period as an unknown.
From Unknown to Icon: Her Breakthrough Story
Recalling her early career, Harisu explained, “I debuted in the entertainment industry in 1991. I was cast in movies, dramas, and as an advertising model, but I couldn’t sign contracts because I was transgender.” This led to a decade-long struggle, keeping her largely out of the public eye. “I stayed unknown for 10 years before getting an opportunity,” she stated.
Her breakthrough came with a pivotal cosmetics commercial. Harisu highlighted its significance, sharing, “As the country’s first newcomer to become a makeup beauty model, I received ₩60.0 million KRW (about $43,200 USD) in just six months.” She added, “I understand that the cosmetics company president insisted it had to be Harisu,” underscoring her unique impact. Reflecting on that period, Harisu described her early 20s as her “prime,” marking a “heyday in the transgender community.”
Evolving Beauty & Health Revelations
Beyond her career milestones, Harisu also frankly discussed the evolution of her appearance and self-care methods over time. She recently visited a dermatologist for the first time in eight years, noting, “As I got older, bruises started appearing on my face, and my skin changed.” On the topic of Botox, she admitted, “The effect lasts only about 2 to 3 months and it doesn’t really work.”
A significant revelation was about her gender reassignment surgery, which she underwent early in her life in 1995 – making it 30 years since the procedure. Due to the historical burden of continuous female hormone therapy, she is not currently undergoing it. Compounding her health concerns, Harisu shared she was diagnosed with early osteoporosis about six years ago. She expressed her astonishment at the time, remarking, “My bones were in worse condition than my 80-year-old mother’s.”
Harisu concluded by sharing her current predicament and lack of resources. “It’s hard to start female hormone therapy again now,” she noted, adding, “Since I’m living outside the gender world now, I don’t have any information either.” Her openness continues to spark important conversations, cementing her legacy as a brave pioneer in Korea’s entertainment and transgender communities.
