Han Seung-yeon Reveals Chronic Illness Caused by Obsession with Slim Body “I Passed Out After Losing 4kg”
On the December 29 episode of SBS’s “Bodymentary – Confessions About Weight”, prominent female stars such as Kim Wan-sun, Soyou, Jun Hyo-seong, Han Seung-yeon and Hwasa discussed the challenges they faced in the entertainment industry, where appearances and weight often dictate evaluations. They also opened up about the hidden struggles behind their glamorous images.
Soyou said, “My agency set my weight at 48kg. With a height of 168cm, the only way to achieve that weight was by not eating.” Soyou, who grew up dreaming of becoming a singer while singing in Jeju’s tangerine fields, faced an unexpected barrier despite believing that her singing ability alone would be enough. The harsh standard that followed her like a “formula” for idols, called “height minus weight equals 120,” pushed her into an obsession with numbers. Reflecting on days spent worrying whether even an IV drip would make her weight increase, Soyou recalled her challenging past.
Jun Hyo-seong shared, “When people think of Jun Hyo-seong, they think of her figure… ‘I don’t want to lose this love’ became my life’s goal.” In her pursuit of a perfect figure, Jun Hyo-seong wore 15cm high heels and tight shapewear to shape her body. Despite being flat-footed, she found the idea of losing public love far more painful than the discomfort from high heels or constrictive undergarments. Reflecting on these days, she revealed the lessons she learned.
Han Seung-yeon began by stating, “I thought managing my appearance was an unavoidable part of this profession.”
She shocked everyone when she confessed, “My highest weight was 46kg, but I lost 4kg more and ended up fainting.” She shared how a comment from her agency’s CEO at the time “Now you’ll lose some weight, won’t you?” left a lasting impact and made her perceive her body as flawed for the first time. She recalled “It felt like my weight determined everything about me, including success or failure“, describing the intense stress she experienced.
Han Seung-yeon explained how extreme dieting had devastating effects on her body. During her “Mamma Mia” promotions, she chose to diet to enhance the slender lines required for the choreography. She recounted, “Toward the end of the promotions, I kept losing weight and hit my lowest point right after ‘Mamma Mia’.”
She revealed a harrowing moment when she collapsed upon exiting a bath due to physical exhaustion from the diet. Additionally, she developed unexplained hives on her face and neck, which took seven years to fully treat. She described the suffering, “The itching was unbearable, and there were many sleepless nights when I had to spray mist on myself.”
The side effects also severely impacted her ear health. She said, “I started hearing sounds strangely and went to the hospital, where I was told to gain 7kg.” Doctors diagnosed her with a condition where her pressure-regulating system wasn’t functioning properly, causing inner ear pressure issues. This led to a condition called patulous Eustachian tube disorder, which caused immense psychological distress. She admitted, “I cried in front of the mirror every day.”
Kim Wan-sun continued, “I couldn’t eat much, so my colleagues would say, ‘My wish is to see her eat.'” Kim Wan-sun, who set off a sensation in the late 80s with her groundbreaking career and helped usher in the era of music video stars, was no exception. Even after a major car accident, she went on stage just a week later. She admitted that she would often eat only an ice cream or biscuit before performances, and her weight once dropped to the 30kg range.
These women, who once shone the brightest, confessed they were also the hungriest during their rise to fame. Back then, failing to achieve a certain weight meant experiencing “shame,” and despite time passing, not much has changed. They all said they are on a journey to find the “self” they lost in the process.
Hwasa said, “There is an unreachable standard of beauty. No matter how hard I try, I can’t meet it.” Hwasa, known for embedding messages in her songs like “Maria,” “I LOVE MY BODY,” and “NA,” seemed to love herself as she is. Yet, even she couldn’t escape the rigid beauty standards. Having lost herself in the process of forcing herself to lose weight, Hwasa shared the turning point that led her to live life “as Hwasa.”
After revealing their stories, these five women posed one final question to the audience: “How about you?”
Source: Nate