"Please Don't Hit My Face": Heo Gayoon of 4Minute Opens Up on Yu Quiz About School Violence, Bulimia, Her Brother's Death, and Bali
Former 4Minute member Heo Gayoon made a profound impact on Episode 332 of Yu Quiz on the Block, candidly revealing her experience of school violence as a trainee, seven years of battling bulimia, the sudden death of her older brother, and her decision to move to Bali.
Note on Images: An official profile image of Heo Gayoon could not be attached to the Files property due to copyright restrictions. Please refer to the tvN broadcast capture source links within the article.
"Please don't hit my face" — this one sentence shook South Korea's internet on February 26, 2026. Heo Gayoon, former lead vocalist of 4Minute, appeared on Episode 332 of tvN's Yu Quiz on the Block and laid bare the unfiltered truth of her life — a story she had long kept silent.
TL;DR
- Heo Gayoon (former 4Minute member) appeared on the "With Tenacity" special episode of Yu Quiz, which aired on February 25, 2026.
- She confessed that she was a victim of school violence during her trainee years, but "chose to endure the beatings for the sake of her dream of becoming a singer."
- After 4Minute's disbandment, she suffered from bulimia for 7 years. She moved to Bali after losing her older brother to sudden death at age 33 in 2020.
- Now in her third year of living in Bali, she practices a life philosophy of "living happily even if I die tomorrow."
- Her public confession about mental health resonated deeply with fans and the general public alike, landing her on real-time search trends.
The Facts: What Happened
On Wednesday, February 25, 2026, at 8:45 PM, Episode 332 of tvN's Yu Quiz on the Block — the "With Tenacity" special — aired. One of the guests, Heo Gayoon (born 1990, former lead vocalist of 4Minute), shared updates from her third year of living in Bali and publicly revealed three key stories for the first time on broadcast.
1) School Violence: She Chose to Be Hit for Her Dream
Heo Gayoon, who began life as a trainee at age 14, was a victim of school violence during her school years. She said: "I was caught up in school violence, but I chose to endure the beatings because I had to achieve my dream. I told them: please don't hit my face." Her teenage years — in which she internalized even violence as something she had to "endure" in pursuit of her goal of debuting as a singer — were captured in those words.
2) Seven Years of Bulimia: After 4Minute's Disbandment
After 4Minute disbanded in 2016, Heo Gayoon transitioned to acting and began suffering from bulimia amid frustration and emptiness. "It started with insomnia and led to bulimia. My hands would shake even when I wasn't hungry, and I couldn't feel fullness. I only stopped when my stomach hurt," she described. This condition persisted for seven years, and through psychiatric treatment, she identified a strong tendency toward perfectionism and obsessive behavior.
3) Her Older Brother's Sudden Death (2020)
Her older brother, two years her senior, passed away suddenly three days before a scheduled heart surgery. He was 33 years old. Heo Gayoon recalled: "I sorted through my brother's belongings myself. The boxes filled with brand-new home appliances — from when he had just moved out — broke my heart even more." She added that her parents told her, "If it weren't for you, we would have wanted to follow him," conveying how devastated the entire family was.
Why This Confession Went Viral
| Factor | Details |
|---|---|
| Relatability | The narrative of idol → discarded → recovery resonated strongly with the 20s and 30s generation |
| Mental Health Discourse | A celebrity publicly discussing bulimia and psychiatric treatment remains rare in the Korean entertainment industry |
| Yu Quiz's Reach | The Yoo Jae-suk & Jo Se-ho MC duo guarantees high-profile buzz on this platform |
Context and Background
Heo Gayoon debuted as 4Minute's lead vocalist in 2009. After the group disbanded in 2016, she pursued an acting career, appearing in dramas and films. However, her public activities gradually diminished, and the loss of her brother in 2020 became a turning point in her life. Around 2023, she relocated to Bali, where she currently resides.
In the Korean entertainment industry, mental health confessions from idol-turned-actors are rare. Bulimia is an eating disorder that, if left untreated, can lead to serious physical and psychological complications. The very act of publicly acknowledging psychiatric treatment is being credited with helping reduce social stigma.
Outlook: How Long Will This Issue Last?
- Short-term (1–3 days): Search trends spike immediately after the broadcast; expected to hold the top of entertainment portals
- Medium-term (1 week): Likely to be followed by follow-up interviews, columns, and articles related to mental health
- Long-term impact: Expansion of discourse around celebrity mental health; ongoing trend of reassessing second-generation idols
Estimated lifespan: half a day to 3 days (typically short-lived as an entertainment issue, but may be extended through secondary coverage on mental health and eating disorders)
Checklist: Things to Keep in Mind When Viewing This Issue
Reference Links
- Heo Gayoon Confesses School Violence and 7 Years of Bulimia… "Brother Died 3 Days Before Heart Surgery" (Sports Chosun, Daum)
- Heo Gayoon Confesses School Violence and Brother's Death: "I Want to Live Happily Even If I Die Tomorrow" (iMBC)
- Heo Gayoon, Headed to Bali: Bulimia + Brother's Death After 4Minute Disbandment (Daum TV)
- Heo Gayoon Survived School Violence and Bulimia… Then Her Brother Left at 33 (Nate)
Image source: No separate images in the article (copyright unverifiable). For related broadcast footage, please refer to the official tvN channel.