Korean Celebrities Embrace Body Positivity, Breaking Free from Diet Obsession

From Moon Geun-young to Kim Shin-young and Lee Su-hyun, several female celebrities in Korea are making headlines by openly sharing their journey of breaking free from the pressures of extreme dieting. These stars are now advocating for a healthier body and mind, resonating with audiences and garnering widespread support.

Actress Moon Geun-young recently appeared on tvN's 'You Quiz on the Block' on the 22nd, where she candidly discussed the struggles she faced due to prolonged dieting. She revealed, "I was pressured to diet because having a slim face was considered more mature. However, baby fat doesn't just disappear with dieting." Moon shared the pressures she faced from her agency during her child actor days.

Her 18-year-long diet came to a halt in 2017 after being diagnosed with a rare disease. Medical professionals advised her to eat whatever she wanted to recover quickly, and the first thing she craved was 'movie theater popcorn.' Her story of not being able to enjoy even simple snacks due to diet obsession touched viewers deeply.

Comedian Kim Shin-young is experiencing a resurgence in her career with her 'yo-yo' concept. Previously, she had lost weight from 88kg to 44kg through rigorous dieting. However, she humorously shared her current state of regaining weight on JTBC's 'Knowing Bros' in February, ending her 13-year journey of strict weight maintenance. Her past dedication was admirable, but her newfound freedom from dieting has resonated more with audiences, drawing greater empathy and support.

Kim Shin-young attributes her change in attitude to her late mentor Jeon Yoo-sung. Appearing on MBC's 'I Live Alone' on the 10th, she shared that she decided to love herself as she is, following her mentor's advice to "eat well and live happily." Her joy in enjoying healthy home-cooked meals moved viewers, and the episode achieved a 6.1% viewership rating, the highest for the show this year according to Nielsen Korea.

Lee Su-hyun of AKMU opened up about her struggles with diet obsession and burnout, leading to a long slump. On the 1st, she appeared on tvN's 'You Quiz on the Block' and shared her past experiences of reclusive living and binge eating, which caused severe physical and mental distress. She confessed, "I was exhausted by others constantly scrutinizing me. At music shows, everyone was so thin, and I always felt the need to lose weight."

Her brother, Lee Chan-hyuk, was instrumental in helping her overcome this slump. Fearing for his sister's well-being, he lived with her and provided active support for her recovery. Thanks to his efforts, Lee Su-hyun was able to regain her physical and mental health. This journey was documented in a video uploaded to AKMU's official YouTube channel, touching many viewers.

The public is warmly encouraging these celebrities for their courageous decision to love themselves as they are. Netizens have expressed their support, saying, "It's refreshing to see them free from diet obsession," "They look much more comfortable and natural," and "Looking forward to their future endeavors."

By Juwon Park, TenAsia Reporter pjw00@tenasia.co.kr