HyunA, who first debuted with the idol group Wonder Girls in 2007 and later shone bright with another group, 4MINUTE, has recently shared some eye-opening experiences about the harsh realities of her early days as a K-pop idol. Specifically, the extreme dieting restrictions she went through.
While preparing for her comeback to the music scene, HyunA had a heartfelt meal with her team. There, she revealed her troubling past experiences. Reflecting on her early idol days, she said “I used to eat very little. There were times when I would go a week without eating, and I even developed peripheral neuritis.” Then, she confessed “I would faint after surviving on just one piece of kimbap. I fainted 12 times in a month,” leaving her team in shock.
As HyunA shared these experiences, tears welled up, and she quickly gave a piece of advice to viewers: “Stay healthy and don’t fall ill like I did.” As the K-pop industry seems to become way more thoughtful about these problems by prioritizing idols’ health, there’s still a need for these practices to end forever.