Yoona of Girls' Generation Opens Up About Her Break and Personal Growth

Yoona, former member of Girls' Generation and now an actress, candidly shared her thoughts on taking a break.

On the 18th, the YouTube channel 'Hyoyeon's Level Up' featured a 'Bapsayo' content video titled 'Day Drinking with My Sister Yoona.' In the video, Yoona appeared as a guest and engaged in various conversations.

Hyoyeon remarked to Yoona, "This is the first time you've taken such a long break since debuting. But it seems like you weren't really resting. You did something every month, like fan meetings, attending the Cannes Film Festival, and hosting the 'Blue Dragon Series Awards.' Did you really rest?"

Yoona responded, "It's our 18th year since debut, and this is the first time I've taken such a long break. Although I say I rested, I kept doing things, so others might wonder if I really rested. But by my standards, I rested a lot. I just took it easy."

Hyoyeon then asked, "During your break, did you try something new or do things you wanted to but couldn't before?" Yoona replied, "I've always talked about it, but I tried to exercise. A teacher recommended running, so I tried it a few times."

Noticing Yoona's busy demeanor, Hyoyeon commented, "People who have rested know what to do during downtime, but even if we take a month off, we feel anxious if we're not working. It feels like we need to learn something. Resting is also a practice." Yoona agreed, nodding, "It really requires practice."

Reflecting on Yoona's past fan meeting, Hyoyeon said, "It seemed like you were going through a tough time emotionally. I realized you're a perfectionist. You're so used to following a perfectly planned schedule that it seemed emotionally challenging. Everyone experiences slumps while working, and it felt like you were struggling."

Yoona calmly stated, "I think the only way is to build strength on my own." She added, "When I was younger, I used to talk to people about my worries, but as time goes by, I think the best way is to develop the strength to endure on my own." Finally, Yoona concluded, "I have to go back. I've rested a lot," sparking curiosity.

By Min-Kyung Lee, Ten Asia Reporter 2min_ror@tenasia.co.kr