Lee Hyun Reveals Struggles with Narcolepsy on Therapy House Era One

In the latest episode of Channel A's variety show Therapy House Era One (테라피 하우스 애라원), Lee Hyun (이현), known as a student of economics at Ewha Womans University (이화여자대학교), opened up about her serious battle with narcolepsy, a condition that she described as something that cannot be achieved without effort. During the broadcast on February 18, Lee Hyun shared her sleep test results, showcasing her struggle to stay awake even while recording.

Five years ago, she underwent a sleep study and revealed, 'There wasn't a problem; I just did it for fun, but I was diagnosed with narcolepsy,' which came as a shock to many. It turns out she falls into the top 10% of those affected by this condition.

A specialist even inquired whether she was able to attend classes during her middle and high school years. Lee Hyun explained, 'I would fall asleep without warning; my partner had to keep holding me. It wasn't just dozing off; it felt like fainting.' This revelation was particularly surprising given her status as a university student, highlighting the effort she must have put into her studies.

The doctor explained that narcolepsy is an autoimmune disorder that is difficult to treat and does not improve with increased physical strength. He recommended medication for the condition, to which Lee Hyun responded that she had been advised to take it five years ago but chose not to. The doctor reassured her, saying, 'The medication is designed to help normalize your condition.'

Lee Hyun debuted as a supermodel in 2005 and married semiconductor engineer Hong Seong-ki (홍성기) in 2012, with whom she has two sons. Reflecting on her journey, she mentioned, 'Since I was tall, I thought, 'Why not try modeling?' I entered a modeling competition and unexpectedly won. At that time, I was tutoring twice a week for 300,000 won a month, but modeling jobs paid 500,000 won a day for photoshoots. That’s when I thought, 'This is it!' and decided to pursue modeling.'