K-pop's 'bone-thin ideal' leaves idols traumatized, hospitalized

In recent times, the pursuit of a bone-thin figure has become a prevalent topic within the K-pop industry. The industry's emphasis on appearance-driven weight loss targets has left its toll on both seasoned celebrities and aspiring young artists. A new video from RESCENE member Woni has shed light on the personal struggles faced by fellow members Minami and Liv during their debut preparations.

Minami and Liv candidly discussed their weight loss journeys, revealing that they lost significant amounts of weight in the lead-up to their debut. Minami expressed that she experienced near-daily bouts of crying due to the immense psychological strain caused by her drastic weight loss. In a follow-up on a fan platform, Minami addressed the lighter tone often used when discussing idol diets.

While acknowledging that such conversations can be entertaining, Minami highlighted the highly traumatic and stressful nature of these experiences. She emphasized that while pressure to maintain one's appearance and weight is a reality for idols, it should never lead to harassment based on physical appearance. Minami stressed that inner character and talent should be the true focus, not the superficial aspects of one's physicality.