Way, a former member of the K-pop girl group Crayon Pop, has spoken out against the dangerous crash dieting culture prevalent in the Korean entertainment industry. In a recent YouTube video, she specifically expressed concern about singers HyunA and WJSN's Dayoung, citing them as examples of harmful weight-loss practices that have become all too common among K-pop idols.
Way uploaded a video titled "Why K-pop diets fail & how to succeed" on her YouTube channel Thursday, where she drew from her extensive personal experience to discuss the serious health risks associated with extreme dieting methods. "I've basically been dieting since my teens," Way explained in the video. "Because I worked in front of cameras, I've seen every kind of diet – successes and failures. The K-pop industry contains every extreme form of dieting you can imagine."
According to Way, the problem stems from structural issues within the entertainment industry itself. She pointed out that most K-pop contracts typically last about seven years, creating pressure for quick results. "Because idols are valued as short-term products, agencies often force harmful crash diets," she said. "The moment people hear an idol lost weight this way, everyone copies it. You should never follow these methods."
Way identified the yo-yo effect as one of the most serious long-term consequences of crash dieting. She specifically mentioned HyunA, the former 4Minute member and solo artist, as an example of someone experiencing these negative effects. "HyunA always had an incredible figure, but recently she and even Seo In-young have gained weight," Way observed. "When you hear the reasons, it's usually the same – burnout, a reward mentality or health problems. We're seeing the side effects now. Crash dieting should never be imitated."
The former Crayon Pop member also expressed concern about WJSN's Dayoung, who recently attracted attention for her dramatic weight transformation. "Dayoung built beautiful abs and looked amazing, so I looked into it," Way said. "She reportedly lost 12 kilograms in a short time. But unfortunately, she did it by starving. In a YouTube video, she struggled to do even one squat. When you lose weight like that, the yo-yo effect is inevitable. I wish she would focus more on exercise."
Way was particularly troubled by HyunA's recent social media posts, which she felt revealed a concerning mindset about weight and self-image. "After uploading her photos, HyunA blamed herself, saying things like 'You used to be so skinny, you can do it again,'" Way recounted. "It was heartbreaking. She later wrote, 'HyunA, you messed up a lot,' which shocked me. Why would she use those words?"
She attributed this type of self-criticism to what she called a "reward mentality" that perpetuates unhealthy cycles. "It's the reward mentality. That mindset leads back to starving, then regaining weight, over and over," Way explained. "And as you get older, starving doesn't work because your metabolism breaks down."
Through her video, Way hopes to educate both fans and industry professionals about the importance of sustainable, healthy approaches to weight management. Her message comes at a time when discussions about mental health and body image in the K-pop industry are gaining increased attention, highlighting the need for systemic changes in how the entertainment world approaches idol wellness and body standards.
