Soyou shared a harrowing experience of fainting in public and being helped by a stranger who took her to the hospital.
On December 29, SBS aired the special program 'Bodymentary - Confessions About Weight,' which highlighted the lives of female stars across different eras and stages who have faced constant judgment based on their looks and weight. Along with Soyou, singer Kim Wan Sun, Jeon Hyo Sung, Han Seung Yeon, and MAMAMOO’s Hwa Sa shared honest stories about navigating societal expectations regarding their appearance.
Recalling her experience, Soyou revealed that even in a vulnerable moment, her concern about weight overshadowed everything else:
"Once, I fainted on the street. A stranger took me to the hospital and I was given an injection. Even at that moment, I remember thinking, 'If I get this IV drip, my weight might go up.' I worried that the fluid going into my body would make me gain weight. Eventually, I debuted, and I was amazed by all the love I received. It felt so surreal."
Reflecting on her trainee days, she explained, "At that time, the company set my target weight at around 48kg. For my height, 48kg is extremely thin, isn’t it? So, I had no choice but to not eat and exercise."
After her debut, Soyou admitted her weight increased to 56kg when she was no longer under constant supervision. "The company told us, 'This is a serious problem.' At that time, I would eat only four quail eggs and even remove the yolks. That was my entire meal."
She also recalled an incident where her relationship with food brought her to tears: "I once went to a friend’s house, and her mother cut up some watermelon for us. My friends said, 'Just one slice won’t hurt,' but I refused and ended up crying a lot. That’s how I lost 8kg in just one month."
In related news, Hwa Sa also opened up about her struggles with anorexia during this documentary program.
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