Heo Kyung-hwan confesses to a second heyday, saying, "I feel anxious, as if I'm holding a weapon."

“In the past, I fought with bare fists...” The weight of his prime, as felt by Heo Kyung-hwan

Now that comedian Heo Kyung-hwan has emerged as a major trendsetter in the entertainment industry, he has candidly shared the psychological pressure that has grown alongside his rising popularity. Appearing on MBC's 'Radio Star' airing at 10:30 PM on the 15th, Heo Kyung-hwan will confess his sense of pressure while mentioning his changed status.

This appearance marks Heo Kyung-hwan's 12th connection with 'Radio Star.' Once known as the 'Icon of No News' who would visit the studio without any special updates, he has recently established himself as a top-tier guest, appearing across various variety shows.

Regarding his current situation, he used a metaphor, saying, "In the past, I fought with bare fists, but now I feel like I've suddenly grabbed a weapon." This means that unlike the days when he stepped onto the stage without much expectation, he now feels the pressure to meet the heightened expectations of the public.

This change in mindset was also evident in a recent anecdote. During the 'Pinggyego' awards ceremony, when a quiz asking to guess Heo Kyung-hwan's catchphrases was presented, Hwang Jung-min, Lee Sung-min, and Lee Dong-wook discussed the answers in the back. Heo Kyung-hwan recalled that in that moment, the time he spent steadily pushing his catchphrases flashed before his eyes like a kaleidoscope.

Elementary school fans' 'Unbalance' dance relay and the challenge of being 180cm

What recently revitalized Heo Kyung-hwan was the 'Unbalance' meme, which was once considered a dark chapter of his past. A remix version of his old dance video was reborn, sparking a challenge craze. Heo Kyung-hwan shared an anecdote of being surrounded by elementary school students at a convenience store in front of his house.

He explained that students who recognized him followed him out one by one and lined up to perform the 'Unbalance' dance. He expressed feeling both bewildered and grateful for the unexpected warm welcome from the young fans.

In the studio on the day of the broadcast, the 'Unbalance' challenge will continue as part of the 'Big Eaters' special featuring Kim Sung-ryung, U-Know Yunho, and Pungja. In particular, the original creator Heo Kyung-hwan is expected to show nervousness at U-Know Yunho's performance, which is as powerful as an idol's.

Heo Kyung-hwan has also prepared a new catchphrase targeting the second half of 2026. Revealing that he lost sleep while brainstorming new ideas, he will face the cold evaluations of the MCs.

'You Quiz' national interview and life at 180cm

Heo Kyung-hwan also shared behind-the-scenes stories from his appearance on 'You Quiz on the Block' last December. He realized belatedly that his appearance was essentially treated as a 'national interview.' He confessed that he even posted proof shots of the broadcast at the time and waited anxiously until the results were out.

A humorous confession regarding his physical concerns follows. Having recently practiced 'living a day as 180cm' by wearing high shoes, he recreated life at 180cm in the studio wearing high shoes. The cast burst into laughter at Heo Kyung-hwan's artificial 180cm visual, and he shared the sense of emptiness he felt the moment he returned to his original height.

A claim was also made that he might have missed his chance to grow due to a momentary mistake during his school years. Heo Kyung-hwan made the set erupt in laughter by saying that period changed his destiny.

Heo Kyung-hwan fills Lee Yi-kyung's spot, returning as a trending guest

Heo Kyung-hwan, who took over the fixed position on 'Hangout with Yoo' after Lee Yi-kyung's departure, returns to 'Radio Star.' Recently, he has established himself as a trending guest, appearing across various variety shows. This appearance comes at a time when he has moved past being called the 'Icon of No News' and is entering his second prime.