57-year-old Kim Hee-ae, Kim Sung-ryung reveal their incredible fitness secrets
Actors Kim Hee-ae, left, and Kim Sung-ryung. Courtesy of Allure, InStyle
Actors Kim Hee-ae and Kim Sung-ryung are making headlines for their age-defying looks.
Both born in 1967, the two stand out among numerous actors for their youthful appearances and impressive bodies, which they attribute to "consistent and thorough management."
Recently, Kim Hee-ae showcased her abs in a photo shoot for "Allure Korea" magazine.
In the spread, Kim displayed a strong visual presence and healthy beauty. Her toned abs and slender arms, highlighted by bold outfits, captured attention.
Kim has also had a long career as a cosmetics model. She balances diet and exercise for her roles, maintaining a healthy diet and rigorous exercise regimen.
"I hate exercising, but it makes me feel refreshed. I stretch for 30 minutes every day," she said.
On the SBS variety show "Healing Camp," Kim once confessed, "I've never eaten a whole Choco Pie. If my weight exceeds a certain point, I immediately adjust my diet. It's always been my habit to eat one less spoonful."
She also shared her daily routine, which includes 15 reps of bicep curls, 15 squats, 15 tricep extensions and 15 lunges, along with an hour of cycling at home.
"If you plan to quit, don't start. If you decide to do it, you must do it every day," she said.
Actor Kim Hee-ae as Deputy Prime Minister Jung Soo-jin in the new Netflix series "The Whirlwind." Yonhap
Consistency and abdominal exercises
Kim Sung-ryung's diet secrets also pique many people's curiosity.
On MBN's "Talkback: Life Stories in a Bag," she said, "At my age, it's more about health management than dieting. I typically eat one meal a day."
When asked about binge eating, she replied, "The last time I binged was during my last pregnancy," to which the host, Kim Sook, expressed surprise, noting that it was 20 years ago.
Regarding late-night eating, Kim admitted, "I do eat pork belly and soju after 10 p.m. occasionally, especially during wrap-up parties. But I always exercise the next day."
Her secret is "consistency." Kim said, "I exercise like I eat breakfast. I do tennis, gyrotonics, and EMS workouts four times a week. The key is not the type of exercise but doing it consistently."
She added, "I wake up at 6:30 a.m. to exercise at 9:30 a.m. This means I need to go to bed early, around 10 p.m. to midnight. I think sleep might be my secret."
She said she never exercised before she turned 40. "I started abdominal exercises because I was dissatisfied with my voice tone and projection during acting, which I thought might be due to weak core muscles," she said.
"After having my first child, my body bounced back without exercise, but after the second, I realized it wouldn't, so I started exercising."
Actor Kim Sung-ryung appears in JTBC's "Knowing Bros." Captured from JTBC
This article from the Hankook Ilbo, sister publication of The Korea Times, is translated by generative AI and edited by staff of The Korea Times.