In a video titled “Sunmi and shoes off EP.80 | Deep emotions that I can finally talk about“, uploaded to SPNS TV’s YouTube channel on November 20, Sunmi revealed that she often felt invisible and inadequate during her idol days.
“During mine Wonder Girls “Days, my nickname was ‘Delivery-mi,’” she recalled. “Compared to the other members, I didn’t stand out. I wasn’t particularly good at singing or dancing, nor was I particularly pretty or had a good figure. I always felt like I was the least noticeable.”
Sunmi shared a specific memory from when she was just 16 years old. “Fans would gather in front of the company and pass me gifts to give to other members. They would say, ‘Sunmi, I’m sorry, but can you give this to so-and-so?’ It was disheartening. I wasn’t even the recipient: I was the messenger.
He added that the disparity in attention during performances also had a negative impact. “At college festivals, you can really hear the difference in the applause when each member waves to the audience. That difference hurts. Maybe some might ignore it, but when I was 16, it hurt. I was in sixth grade and I became quite withdrawn. I didn’t show it, but inside I thought, ‘Why should I smile and wave when no one will cheer for me anyway?'”
Now a successful solo artist, Sunmi noted that she no longer carries the same burden but admitted, “Even though I’ve freed myself from those feelings, if I went back to that time, I think I would still hurt myself.”
She concluded with an in-depth reflection on teamwork, saying, “I think the most important thing in group activities is concession. You have to give in. That’s why I’m so grateful to Wonder Girls there were many moments where we could have clashed over some things, but we often gave in to each other. I truly think that compromise is the most essential virtue in any group activity.
Sources: Daum
