"Because my rib cage was too wide": What was the "rib cage correction" Choi Jun-hee tried? [Health Talk]

[Financial News] Influencer Choi Jun-hee said she once tried to shrink her rib cage with a corset to achieve an extremely thin physique. An adult rib cage is a bony structure in which the ribs, sternum and thoracic vertebrae are connected. Although external compression, such as with a corset, may temporarily make the waist and torso look different, it is difficult to regard it as a medically safe method of actually reducing the rib cage itself.
Choi Jun-hee wrote on her social media on the 25th, "When I was trying to get extremely thin, my rib cage was too wide, so I started a project to shrink it with a corset, and it was a legendary bout of losing my mind," adding, "I gave up because I thought my proportions were getting strange with only my shoulders appearing wider. So now I'm just working on losing body fat."
In another post, she stated, "Corset rib cage correction is common these days. Please don't overreact by calling it 'shocking.'"
Choi Jun-hee previously said that her weight rose to 96 kilograms while she was battling lupus. She later reported that she had reduced her weight to 41 kilograms.

The rib cage is not an area made up solely of fat or muscle. According to the human body information provided by Asan Medical Center, it consists of 12 pairs of ribs, the thoracic spine and the sternum. The ribs connect to the thoracic spine and are linked to the sternum at the front through costal cartilage. Major organs, including the lungs and heart, are located inside the rib cage. 
One of the rib cage's key functions is breathing. As the ribs and surrounding muscles move, the volume of the thoracic cavity changes, allowing the lungs to take in and release air. Asan Medical Center explains that the rib cage protects the organs inside the chest while regulating the volume of the thoracic cavity to enable breathing. 
Therefore, it is important to distinguish between the torso appearing slimmer when a corset is worn and the actual correction of the ribs and sternum. Medical rib cage correction is performed for conditions involving an actual chest wall deformity, such as pectus excavatum, after the patient's condition has been assessed. Asan Medical Center explains that surgery for pectus excavatum involves inserting a metal bar inside the rib cage to lift the sunken sternum. 


Wearing a corset or a so-called waist trainer tightly for long periods can compress the area around the rib cage and make breathing uncomfortable. Cleveland Clinic explains that these products can compress the sternum and ribs, making it difficult to take sufficiently deep breaths. It also advises against wearing them continuously for extended periods. 
Severe compression can also worsen heartburn or reflux symptoms. Continuous pressure on the abdomen can push stomach contents upward. Cleveland Clinic explains that users should stop wearing such products if they experience shortness of breath, food regurgitation or leg swelling. 

An adult's body shape may look different depending on body fat, muscle mass and posture. Changes in waist circumference or upper-body proportions resulting from exercise and weight loss are different from reducing the width of the bones themselves.
If the rib cage is actually deformed or accompanied by chest pain or shortness of breath, seeking medical attention should take priority over compression for cosmetic purposes. Anyone who experiences chest tightness, shortness of breath or pressure along with chest pain should seek immediate medical care.
[email protected] Han Seung-gon Reporter