Comedian Heo Gyeong-hwan says he stepped back from chicken breast business, now works only as model

Comedian Heo Gyeong-hwan has wound down his chicken breast business.

A video titled "Are French people always this loud? (Life advice, English study tips, Paris flirting)" was posted Wednesday on the YouTube channel "Akseong Naeseong-in Jeong Il-yeong," featuring Heo in conversation with host Jeong Il-yeong. Jeong asked Heo about his current activities, noting that he appeared to be running a business while also appearing on four or five regular programs.

Heo confirmed he had four or five regular shows but said he had stepped back from his food brand. "I ran 'Heodak' for 15 years, but now I'm only working as its model," he said. "I wrapped things up when it was acquired last year. There wasn't much left for me to do."

He also offered a word of caution to others considering business ventures. "There are a lot of cases where celebrities with nothing to do just sit around and end up getting burned," he said. "I'd tell you the same — if people around you suggest going into business together, don't do it. If you do, just be a silent investor. I was too embarrassed to be a silent investor, and I ended up getting beaten up for it. I got scammed."

Heo had previously been defrauded by a business partner at Heodak. The partner was indicted on charges of embezzling approximately 2.73 billion won ($1.76 million) in company funds and received a confirmed two-year prison sentence in 2022.

Heo founded Heodak, a company specializing in convenient fitness foods such as chicken breast products, in 2010. In 2024, he announced that the brand had reached 70 billion won in annual sales and that a merger and acquisition deal worth around 100 billion won had been signed.