Lizzy / Captured from Lizzy’s social media
Lizzy, a former member of the K-pop group After School, revealed during a recent livestream that she has been struggling with severe depression.
On Wednesday, Lizzy went live on her personal social media account.
During the broadcast, she appeared visibly distressed as she faced malicious comments and questions about her appearance. She explained that she underwent corrective surgery because of a past medical error.
Lizzy also opened up about the emotional exhaustion hidden behind the glamor of celebrity life.
“Being a celebrity means your whole life is out in the open,” she said. “If someone told me they wanted to do this job, I’d try to talk them out of it. It’s just so much tougher for female idols.”
“I don’t regret choosing this job, but I really blame myself for what I did. My depression got so bad that I was talking about life and death … which actually got my old account suspended, so I came here,” she added. “What good is a wonderful world if I am suffering?”
Fans, alarmed by her emotional state, filled the chat with messages begging her to stay safe and not give up.
Before ending the stream, Lizzy tried to offer comfort to viewers as an acquaintance stepped in to check on her.
“It’s okay to struggle when things are hard,” she said. “All I can say is thank you for enduring another day.”
Lizzy debuted with After School in 2010 and gained significant popularity with the sub-unit Orange Caramel. After receiving a fine for a drunk-driving incident in 2021, she withdrew from the public eye for a long period. She recently signaled a return to activities by holding a fan meeting in Japan.
While drunk driving is a serious offense with social consequences, many are now expressing hope that Lizzy receives the professional support and rest she needs.
This article from the Hankook Ilbo, the sister publication of The Korea Times, is translated by a generative AI system and edited by The Korea Times.