Former K-Pop Trainee Shares The Cost of Stardom: 'I Could Have Died'

In the glittering world of K-Pop, where stars shine bright and dreams seem within reach, there lurks a shadowy underbelly that often goes unseen.

Behind the scenes, away from the dazzling performances and infectious beats, lies a dark reality that former idols and trainees are increasingly shedding light on.

Judy Kim, a former trainee who participated in the survival series "My Teenage Girl," recently took to social media to reveal the harrowing reasons behind her departure from the industry, sending shockwaves through fans and observers alike.

Kim, also known as Dasom Kim, captured the hearts of viewers during the airing of "My Teenage Girl," a competition seeking to form a seven-membered group.

However, despite her talent and dedication, she did not make it into the final lineup.

Following the competition, she migrated to another company in pursuit of her dreams but eventually made the difficult decision to step away from K-Pop entirely.

On June 7, Kim posted a series of videos detailing her tumultuous journey within the industry, laying bare the grim realities she faced behind the scenes.

Central to her revelations was the relentless pressure and grueling demands imposed upon trainees, leading to severe mental and physical tolls.

Kim confessed to enduring anxiety and depression throughout her two years of training, a silent struggle that often goes unnoticed amidst the glitz and glamour of the K-Pop world.

"The stress that you go through is insanely different than anything I've ever experienced. Like, the amount of anxiety, depression, like solitude that I had to go through at that time was horrible."

Perhaps most alarming were Kim's accounts of the extreme dietary measures she was subjected to in order to meet the unattainable beauty standards imposed by companies.

These measures, she revealed, led to debilitating health issues, including a throat tumor, head injury, and torn ligaments in her legs.

The culmination of these physical traumas ultimately forced Kim to reassess her priorities and walk away from the industry that exacted such a heavy toll on her well-being.

"I was extremely sick throughout my entirety in Korea because I was putting myself through extreme diets that no one should ever go through.

I had like a tumor in the back of my throat, I cracked my head open.

I think the injury that made me quit this industry altogether was I tore six different ligaments, which caused me to not be able to walk properly without a limp for almost six months."

In the aftermath of her departure, Kim continues to grapple with the physical repercussions of her time in the industry, with lingering health issues serving as a stark reminder of the sacrifices she made in pursuit of her dreams.

KpopStarz owns this article.
Written by Cassidy Jones.