K-pop stars praised for sharing eating disorder ordeals in industry fixated on body image

A recent documentary on South Korean television, Bodymentary, featured five prominent female singers – Kim Wan-sun, Soyou, Han Seung-yeon, Jun Hyo-seong, and Hwasa – who shared personal experiences with eating disorders and the harmful societal pressures on women’s bodies. The singers opened up about the toll these pressures took on their mental and physical health, drawing attention to the entertainment industry’s fixation on weight and body image. Hwasa, 29, of girl group Mamamoo shared a harrowing experience during her dieting struggles. Desperate to satisfy her cravings, she secretly ate a single piece of black sesame rice cake. However, she was immediately overwhelmed by guilt and anger, leading her to cry and force herself to vomit. This marked the beginning of her battle with anorexia and depression. Viewers praised both the artists for their bravery in speaking out and broadcaster for addressing its own role in perpetuating harmful stereotypes in past programming. From their trainee days, female idols are required to weigh themselves daily, often following the rigid “height-minus-120” formula to determine an ideal weight. For instance, a 165-centimeter tall singer is expected to weigh just 45 kilograms. Many idols face extreme pressure from agencies, hearing phrases like, “You can’t debut unless you lose weight.” It’s empowering to see artists speak up. I hope this sparks more conversations about rejecting body shaming A YouTube comment praising the documentary Post-debut, they are bombarded with malicious comments about their appearance, compounding the challenges of staying thin. Han Seung-yeon, 36, formerly of Kara, revealed that her extreme dieting caused her to develop patulous eustachian tube disorder, a condition where the ear loses its ability to regulate internal pressure due to weight loss. Her doctor prescribed an unconventional treatment: gaining 7 kilograms. Soyou, formerly of girl group Sistar, shared how extreme dieting once led to her collapsing on the street and being admitted to hospital. Even then, her primary concern was, “What if I gain weight from the IV fluids?” Her struggles with panic disorder followed, further compounded by online criticism over her demeanour. Experts emphasise that nutrient deficiencies caused by severe dieting increase susceptibility to depression and other mental health challenges. Jun Hyo-seong of Secret reflected on years of binge eating, weight rebound, and self-loathing, calling it “a continuous cycle of shame and self-hatred”. For Kim Wan-sun, now in her 39th year in the industry, meals were such a rarity during her career that fellow celebrities once joked, “My dream is to see Kim Wan-sun eat.” Author Oh Chan-ho, who appeared in the documentary, criticised society’s obsession with weight as a measure of self-discipline, calling it “a lazy and judgmental mindset”. The documentary, directed by SBS producer Chung Jae-won, was inspired by the rising prevalence of eating disorders among women in their 20s. Chung said that the project took 10 months to create, focusing on the voices of female singers rather than relying solely on expert analysis. Despite attempts to include younger idols in the discussion, no current fourth-generation idols (those who debuted after 2020) participated, highlighting how the industry’s pressures remain pervasive and silence its newer members. Chung expressed hope that the documentary would encourage viewers to question societal beauty standards and alleviate the self-blame often felt by those struggling with eating disorders. Studies show that understanding the structural flaws behind societal beauty norms can reduce feelings of self-blame and improve mental health outcomes for individuals dealing with such challenges, Chung said. The documentary drew keen attention from audiences, who left supportive comments on YouTube like, “Thank you for courageously sharing your stories,” and “It’s empowering to see artists speak up. I hope this sparks more conversations about rejecting body shaming.” Many viewers said that such discussions would foster a society where evaluations of people’s bodies are considered inappropriate. This article from the Hankook Ilbo, a sister publication of The Korea Times, is translated by a generative AI and edited by The Korea Times. Read the original story at The Korea Times Like what you read? Follow SCMP Lifestyle on Facebook, X and Instagram. You can also sign up for our eNewsletter here.

K-pop stars praised for sharing eating disorder ordeals in industry fixated on body image

Soyou of Sistar and other K-pop stars open up about extreme dieting and depression in a documentary, sparking discussion about body shaming