South Korea is infamous for being brutally strict when it comes to training K-pop idols.
K-pop brings in billions of dollars for South Korea’s economy each year, so it’s no surprise that nothing less than complete perfection is expected from the young hopefuls entering the music industry.
While a lot has already been said about K-pop’s record labels -where young children and teenagers are sculpted into chart-topping superstars– a shocking new statistic has now been revealed.
According to the investigative book titled K-pop: Idols in Wonderland, as many as eight out of 10 female K-pop trainees stop menstruating due to extremely restrictive diets, reports the Korea Times.
Other factors, such as stress and lack of sleep, are also likely to blame.
Last year, K-pop sensation Hyuna from the chart-topping girl group 4minute opened up about the devastating toll that disordered eating took on her body.
The K-pop veteran, who was just 15 when she debuted on the music scene, confessed to eating just one piece of sushi a day so that she could keep her weight down to 88lbs (40kg).
‘Back then, I’d survive on a single piece of kimbap while pushing through all the scheduled activities. And that destroyed me. By 26, I was so unhealthy,’ she revealed on the program B-Season.
K-pop is a multi-billion dollar industry for South Korea, but there’s a dark underbelly beneath all the glitz and glamour
According to the new investigative book titled K-pop: Idols in Wonderland, as many as eight out of 10 female K-pop trainees stop menstruating due to extremely restrictive diets
The singer went into more details about her issues on the Korean talk show Point of Omniscient Interfere, where she admitted that the lack of food led to her developing the fainting condition peripheral neuritis.
‘I used to eat very little. There were times when I would go a week without eating, and I even developed peripheral neuritis,’ she said, according to Allkpop.
‘Whenever my weight dropped too low, it would trigger it. I would faint after surviving on just one piece of kimbap. I fainted 12 times in a month.’
Vasovagal syncope, also known as reflex syncope, a medical condition that causes a brief loss of consciousness due to a decrease in heart rate or blood pressure.
In 2020, Hyuna fainted several times while filming a music video for her album I’m Not Cool.
Her wealth woes continued the following year, with the singer fainting again while filming the video for her song Ping Pong.
In 2019, the Bubble Pop hitmaker confirmed that she’d also been diagnosed with depression and a panic disorder.
In 2023, K-pop star Hyein, who is a member of the girl group NewJeans, revealed the paltry meal she was surviving on during a music video shoot.
K-pop star Hyuna developed a fainting condition after sustaining herself on one piece of a sushi a day
In 2023, NewJeans member Hyein revealed that she was eating just a cherry tomato, a slice of avocado and a tiny portion of rice to stay slim for a music video shoot
In a short clip shared online, the teenager, who was fourteen at the time, was seen picking at some sliced avocado, two-halves of a single cherry tomato, and some yellow rice.
And last year, another popular girl group member issued a public apology after receiving backlash online for gaining weight.
Jang Ye Eun, best known by her stage name J as a member of South Korean girl group Stayc, sparked chatter online in recent months after appearing slightly curvier during a number of live performances.
The star, who was 19 at the time, addressed the speculation around her weight in a post online where she admitted that she’d started working out and dieting to slim down.
‘To be honest, I saw the fancam and I’m sorry I didn’t maintain my figure well,’ she wrote, according to AllKPop.
‘I’m going to go on a diet a little. I’ll do it slowly while eating good food. Hehe.’
Jang Ye Eun of the girl group Stayc publicly apologized to fans last year after gaining weight
Her apology drew a strong reaction both domestically and internationally, with most people stating that her weight gain was not only minimal, but also flattering.
‘Feel so bad for her. The apology culture is terrible. Poor girl apologizing for being healthy…,’ one fan wrote.
‘I should be on a diet, not her. She is very skinny already!!!’ another wrote.
A third added, ‘That’s so unnecessary. Like, she is perfect how she is – no need to apologize.’
‘You don’t look fat at all and you look prettier than when you were skinny,’ a fourth fan chimed in.
Young performers like Rei from the girl group IVE train for years for a shot at K-pop stardom
South Korea is known for having some of the strictest beauty standards in the world, and is revered for its cutting-edge plastic surgery procedures and skincare.
Some of the most common physical features considered beautiful in the country include a V-line jaw, pale skin, double eyelids, a thin high nose, and a small face.
According to statistics, nearly 25 percent of women aged 19 to 29 in South Korea have undergone plastic surgery.
The unrealistic beauty standards in the country have since sparked backlash, particularly from feminist groups.
In 2022, a popular cosmetic surgery reality series was shut down following growing criticism from the public.
The show, titled Let Me In, saw people come in and plead their case to receive a plastic surgery makeover so that they could improve their lives.
