Famous Kpop Idol Opens Up About How Her Past Obsession With Weight Loss Did Irreparable Damage To Her Body

Kara’s Han Seungyeon opens up about her past obsession with maintaining a thin body.

The upcoming episode of the high-quality SBS documentary series, SBS Special: Bodymentary – Confessions About Weight, airing on the 8th, brings together five iconic female stars—Kim Wanseon, Han Seungyeon, Jeon Hyosung, Soyou, and Hwasa. These women, who left a significant mark in their respective eras and genres, come together to share heartfelt confessions about their struggles with societal beauty standards and their journeys to rediscovering themselves.

Soyou recalls the harsh reality of debuting as a singer. Growing up singing in Jeju’s tangerine fields, her dream faced an unexpected obstacle: the “120 formula,” an industry expectation that dictated weight standards for idols. She vividly remembers worrying about gaining weight even from receiving IV drips in the emergency room. At 168 cm tall, her agency set her ideal weight at 48 kg, leaving her with no choice but to starve to meet the requirement.

The documentary captures candid stories from these stars as they shed light on their past struggles and explore the truths they’ve uncovered about self-worth and acceptance.

Han Seungyeon, once celebrated as the epitome of a “doll-like” idol with her flawless visuals, opened up about the darker side of her glory days. Known for her group’s massive success with “Mister,” which spurred a Hallyu wave, she revealed that the achievements came at a significant cost. To wear low-rise pants and a short top, her stomach could not show even the slightest bulge. Han Seung Yeon said, “When I gained weight, I was 46kg. I lost another 4kg and then I fainted.” Obsessed with her slim figure, she ended up developing a condition that was hard to cure. She came here hoping no one else would repeat the same mistake.

Hwasa, known for incorporating messages of self-love in her songs like “Maria” and “I Love My Body,” also shared her struggles with societal beauty standards. Despite appearing to embrace herself unapologetically, she revealed that even she was once trapped by these expectations. Hwasa admitted to taking laxatives to lose weight, sacrificing not just her physical health but her sense of self. She shared, “There’s a standard of beauty that’s impossible to achieve. No matter how hard I try, it’s just not attainable.”

Source: (A)