During a recent reunion, former LOONA members talked about how, during a particular group schedule, all the members were practically forced to starve themselves.
Former LOONA members | @loonatheworld/Twitter
Vivi, Hyunjin, Yeojin, Gowon, and Hyeju, who have re-debuted as LOOSSEMBLE got reunited with Chuu for a fun new episode of LOOSSEMBLE ASSEMBLE, where these six out of the twelve LOONA members reminisced about their previous experiences of working together.
(From L to R) Vivi, Yeojin, Chuu, Hyunjin, Gowon, and Hyeju | @LOOSSEMBLEASSEMBLE/YouTube
During the conversation, the members brought up their shooting schedule in Hungary nearly six years ago. Hyeju recalled that while shooting a music video, she had a scene where she had to eat. Since she was so hungry after being on a restrictive diet, she took the opportunity and ate a lot under the pretext of getting the scene right.
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Chuu added that Hyeju was directed to spit out the food off-camera, but she refused.
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Gowon also shared a similar anecdote from Hungary. During a photo shoot for the album cover, the members had to get changed inside a bus. Gowon used the excuse of getting changed and stole some of the food on the bus that was meant for the staff members.
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Chuu also recalled Hyeju sneaking an entire watermelon into her bag, which not only ripped her bag apart but also wounded her shoulders.
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While these incidents remind us of the toxic standards most idols have to meet to be successful, they also remind the LOONA members of their strong bond and teamwork. As Gowon pointed out, whenever they could get their hands on food, they would always share it with one another, though they could have easily kept it for themselves.
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Though the members are in better positions now, their reminiscing of a traumatic past like this left many fans upset at how much all of them must have struggled. The criticism also extended to the entirety K-Pop industry, which still imposes such inhumane restrictions on its idols.
I’m glad they’re able to laugh and talk about it normally but this is excruciating to watch, it’s so fucking painful https://t.co/SZQHg2a5iY
— alive girl bday edition (@sensitiveorbit) April 12, 2024
i find it more difficult to praise k-pop (even other celebs but u get my point) looks as time passes because this is the process of getting there it’s dehumanising https://t.co/HRbOaKtXir
— huge butt disorder (@nugu_cult) April 12, 2024
This makes me so sad… so glad they left that horrible company https://t.co/SvFILZw3xU
— roro (@haewonburger) April 12, 2024
im glad they can talk abt this now freely (as it is ofc their own experience) but i also understand the fans as well that find it so crazy that after so many generations of kpop this is still a norm https://t.co/mJvvKxVtVF
— M ; (@y12ngi) April 11, 2024
