MAMAMOO's Hwasa has shared a deeply emotional story about her difficult battle with anorexia during her trainee days.

On December 29th, SBS aired a special program titled Bodymentary: Confessions About Weight, where iconic female stars from different generations—Kim Wan Sun, Soyou, Jun Hyo Seong, Han Seung Yeon, and Hwasa—talked openly about the harsh realities of being judged for their weight and looks in the entertainment industry.

Stylist Jung Seol, who has worked in the industry for 22 years, also appeared on the show, shedding light on how idols face immense pressure to meet unrealistic weight standards.

"It breaks my heart how obsessed idol culture is with the number on the scale," she said. "Everyone has a different body, so how can one number define beauty? Weight isn't like measuring meat where '41 kg' equals a specific size."

Hwasa, known for her fierce stage presence and confidence, revealed how dark and painful her trainee years were. "Back then, I didn’t know what was right. I thought the only way to debut was to starve myself. So I completely stopped eating," she admitted.

The singer also recalled how weigh-in days became a nightmare. "We all felt the pressure to show lower numbers on the scale. My members and I would go to the pharmacy and buy laxatives, hoping it would help us weigh less before stepping on the scale."

Hwasa shared a heartbreaking moment when she broke her strict diet by eating black sesame rice cakes. "I felt so guilty," she said.

"I had worked so hard to lose weight, and the thought of eating made me furious at myself. All that guilt and anger just poured out. I cried and ended up vomiting everything I had eaten. That was when my anorexia started."

Her emotional confession highlights the struggles many idols face behind the scenes, even as they appear confident and glamorous in the spotlight. Fans have since expressed their support for Hwasa, praising her for her bravery in sharing such a personal story.

This eye-opening discussion is a reminder of the challenges idols endure in their pursuit of success, and Hwasa’s courage continues to inspire many.

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Actor Song Kang Ho shocked fans by revealing the surprising reason he initially turned down the iconic role in Joint Security Area (JSA).

On February 4, the movie JSA was celebrated as a "Visionary" work at a special GV (Guest Visit) event for CJ ENM’s 30th anniversary at CGV Yongsan I'Park Mall in Seoul. The event was attended by director Park Chan-wook and stars like Song Kang Ho, Lee Byung Hun, Lee Young Ae, Kim Tae Woo, and Ko Kyung Beom, who shared stories from the making of the film.

Joint Security Area, a groundbreaking film by director Park Chan-wook, tells the story of North and South Korean soldiers caught in a tragic incident at the border, highlighting the human side of the divided nations. The film has been widely praised for changing the perception of inter-Korean relations and is seen as a key moment in Korean cinema.

During the event, Song Kang Ho admitted that he turned down the JSA script at first, saying, "The script was just too perfect. It was so well-written and tightly woven that I couldn’t believe it. I thought, ‘Is this really Korean cinema at this level?’ I felt it was too good, and I figured the movie wouldn’t live up to the script."

He also mentioned that at the time, Park Chan-wook’s previous films hadn’t done well, which made him even more doubtful. "But after meeting the director, I started to trust him," Song Kang Ho added.

Reflecting on the film 20 years later, Song Kang Ho joked, "I was flipping through channels and watched JSA again. I thought, ‘There was a time when I wasn’t envious of Lee Byung Hun,’ but he looked so handsome and cool back then." He continued, laughing, "One thing about Park Chan-wook's films is that they have a depth and elegance that you just can’t forget. It’s probably why his new movie is called I Can’t Help It."

Song Kang Ho also spoke fondly of reuniting with his JSA co-stars after 25 years. He shared, "We didn’t watch the film together, but we had a cozy two-hour dinner. After all this time, it felt nostalgic. It was heartwarming to sit together again and reminisce about the past. It really made me realize how meaningful these moments are."

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