Former Baseball Star Yoo Hee-kwan Reveals Dramatic 13kg Weight Loss on MBC Radio Star

Former professional baseball pitcher Yoo Hee-kwan stunned viewers and fellow guests alike when he appeared on MBC's "Radio Star" episode 954 on February 25, revealing that he had lost 13 kilograms using the weight-loss medication Wegovy. The 39-year-old, who retired from baseball in 2022 after recording 101 career wins, has since become a beloved fixture in Korean entertainment thanks to his quick wit and unfiltered personality.

From 96kg to 83kg

Yoo wasted no time sharing his transformation story with the Radio Star panel. He disclosed that he had dropped from 96 kilograms to 83 kilograms through Wegovy injections, drawing audible surprise from the studio. His longtime friend and fellow former baseball player Hwang Jae-gyun, who was also a guest on the episode, could not resist a playful jab, asking incredulously if this was really all the weight he had lost.

When veteran host Kim Gura questioned why Yoo had not simply relied on exercise to shed the weight, the former pitcher gave a candid response. He admitted that traditional methods simply had not worked for him, explaining that he ultimately needed the help of medical science. The admission resonated with audiences familiar with the growing conversation around weight management and pharmaceutical interventions in South Korea.

Losing Weight, Losing Character

In a twist that only a natural comedian could deliver, Yoo revealed that he has actually stopped taking Wegovy — not for health reasons, but because people around him said he was losing his signature character along with the weight. The entertainment personality has built his on-screen persona partly around his larger-than-life frame, and the rapid transformation apparently raised concerns among colleagues about his variety show appeal.

The episode delivered plenty of laughs at Yoo's expense. Kim Gura took aim at his physique with characteristic bluntness, while fellow panelist Yoo Se-yoon marveled at the fact that even professional athletes were turning to Wegovy. Park Young-gyu and actor No Min-woo rounded out the guest lineup for what became one of Radio Star's most entertaining health-themed segments.

The Wegovy Phenomenon in South Korea

Yoo Hee-kwan's revelation comes amid growing public interest in GLP-1 receptor agonist medications like Wegovy across South Korea and globally. Manufactured by Novo Nordisk, Wegovy works by mimicking a hormone that regulates appetite and food intake, helping patients feel full longer. Originally developed as a diabetes treatment, it has gained widespread attention as a weight-loss aid that delivers measurable results.

Medical experts note that such medications are intended for patients with a body mass index of 30 or higher, or 27 and above with accompanying health conditions like hypertension or diabetes. Research from Oxford University has shown that patients who discontinue GLP-1 medications may experience weight regain at rates approximately four times faster than those who lose weight through diet and exercise alone, underscoring the importance of sustainable lifestyle changes alongside any pharmaceutical approach.

Yoo's characteristic humor in discussing his weight-loss journey turned what could have been a straightforward health segment into must-watch television. His ability to find comedy in every situation continues to solidify his position as one of Korean entertainment's most naturally funny personalities, regardless of what the scale says.