Fans of hit K-drama series Reply 1988 will probably remember Korean comedian and actress Lee Se Young, who played Deok Sun’s (Lee Hyeri) BFF in the series.

Beyond dramas, she rose to fame on comedy sketch show SNL Korea, where her mischievous “auntie smile” became such a hit that it turned into one of the internet’s most recognisable memes.

But behind the laughs, Se Young, 36, battled years of online bullying.

Despite her popularity, she became a frequent target of trolls who mocked her appearance and small chest.

Comments like “How could your parents give birth to such a face?” left her deeply insecure.

She recently opened up on YouTube channel NamooMiki Detective Agency, revealing that the attacks ultimately drove her to undergo multiple cosmetic procedures, spending 100 million won (S$92.5K) in the process.

"I spent as much money on plastic surgery as a Mercedes Benz S-Class," she quipped.

"I've lived with the same face for over 20 years, so I wanted to live the rest of my life with a different face… and to look a bit more sophisticated.” 

Among the procedures underwent include double eyelid surgery, a nose job, and breast augmentation.

She initially opted for fillers costing 10mil won (S$9.3K) for a swimsuit shoot, but things quickly turned disastrous.

During a gym session, a barbell struck her chest, causing the filler to leak. One breast collapsed and sagged severely.

“It was so bad I had to bind my chest with a tie to keep it in place,” she recalled.

She had to undergo emergency corrective surgery to remove the filler.

“They had to cut open my chest and scrape it all out. It was really serious,” said Se Young.

She eventually replaced the fillers with implants, which she says gave her a confidence boost.

“When I take off my top, people’s reactions are always intense,” she laughed.

Despite the extensive procedures, Se Young insists she never intended to completely alter her looks.

“As a comedian, I still wanted to keep my natural look to some extent. If I’d gone further, I think my original features would’ve disappeared,” she said.

For her, the goal wasn’t just about becoming “prettier,” but also staying true to her identity as a performer known for candid humour and relatability.

Reply 1988

Photos: seyoung_1408/Instagram, tvN, 나무미키 흥신소/YouTube