It’s no secret that idols are held to strict weight standards, and KARA’s Seungyeon is known for being open about her body image and experience as an idol.
In the SBS documentary SBS Special: Bodymentary – Confessions about weight, the idol revealed her struggle with body image and weight as part of a cast of five female stars on the show, including Kim Wan Sun, Seungyeon, Jeon Hyo Sung, Soyou and Hwa Sa.
Seungyeon explained that she became obsessed with numbers, something encouraged by the “standard idol” look, which insisted that stars follow the “height-minus-weight-must-equal-120” rule (height in cm minus weight in kg).
The unhealthy ideology, he added, became a habit that he carried forward even after KARA disbanded in 2016, reuniting in 2022 for an anniversary comeback.
Reflecting on her obsession with weight, Seungyeon detailed how far her obsession went, to the point where she feared that even intravenous fluids in the emergency room would make her gain weight.
Normal food consumption, of course, was completely out of the question.
“The company set my target weight at 48kg (105.8lbs). With a height of 168cm (5’5″), the only way to reach it was to not eat,” he said.
The other female idols, stars of their generation, contributed similar experiences.
Jeon Hyo Sung, a singer and actress, explained that she viewed her body as intrinsic to her public image and identity.
“When people think of Jeon Hyo Sung, they think of my figure. My life goal became: ‘I don’t want to lose this love,'” she said.
To maintain her figure, the actress wore tight shapewear and wore 15 cm (6 inch) heels, which caused pain in her flat feet and cut off her blood circulation.
Seungyeon backed her experience with painful sacrifices, especially when it came to idol fashion.
“Removing low-waisted pants and crop tops… Even a little bit of belly was unacceptable,” she said.
The idol revealed that she once fainted after losing weight and that her determination to stay slim led to a chronic health condition.
Kim Wan Sun, a 1980s singer nicknamed the “Korean Madonna” at the time, recalled the demands of the job, where she had to take the stage just days after a serious car accident.
“Sometimes I only had time to fill myself with a cookie or ice cream before going on stage,” Sun said.
“I missed so many meals that my coworkers were like, ‘I just want to see her eat a meal.’”
The cast aired their complaints on SBS Bodymentary – Confessions about weight, which will debut on December 8th.
