Girls' Generation's Hyoyeon Opens Up About Facing Criticism and Rivalry Within the Group

Hyoyeon from Girls' Generation candidly shared her feelings about facing criticism regarding her appearance.

On the 16th, the YouTube channel 'Jjanhyung Shindongyeop' featured Girls' Generation members Seohyun and Hyoyeon.

During the episode, Hyoyeon reflected on the negative comments and anti-fans she encountered during her debut, saying, "When I was young, I was really sad because of the negative comments about my looks. But I was actually very popular, even if I looked tough."

Seohyun added, "Back then, we had a lot of anti-fans, and people would capture Hyoyeon unflatteringly while she was dancing passionately."

Hyoyeon expressed her resilience, stating, "Judgments based on appearance are inevitable. I decided to win with my skills and thought, 'You just don't have an eye for talent.'"

The two also discussed their time in Girls' Generation and the sense of rivalry among members. Hyoyeon shared, "SM invested a lot in Girls' Generation. I started as a trainee at 12, learning acting, languages, dance, and more."

Hyoyeon, who learned Chinese in Beijing, confessed, "Seohyun was good at languages and was always studying Chinese. I felt a sense of rivalry, wondering why she always carried books around." She emphasized that this rivalry helped her grow.

Unlike other members who carried makeup pouches, Seohyun filled her bag with Chinese books, self-improvement books, and English books. Hyoyeon admired her, saying, "I told Seohyun, 'You're really amazing.' She recommended reading a book seven times."

When Seohyun advised, "You shouldn't take life too easily," Hyoyeon responded with a relaxed attitude, "I want to take it easy. I used to believe you get back what you put in, but now everything feels like a hassle. I worked hard in my 20s."

Reported by Kim Eun-jung, TenAsia