Junhyung of Highlight and Choi Jong Hoon of F.T.ISLAND Quits Showbiz after the Scandal

This week of March saw shocking revelations and announcements following the Kakao Talk chat group with members from entertainment industry being involved in sharing discreet videos of women without their consent. By the end of the week the third person to have put down his paper on entertainment industry is Junhyung of Highlight followed by Choi Jong Hoon of F.T.ISLAND on the same day.

The first person to come to light was Seungri, ex-member of Big Bang, who announced his retirement on Monday, 11th March after being charged with bribing investors with prostitutes and sharing indecent videos of women on a chat group without consent.

Jung Joon Young, singer of Drug Restaurant, was the second one to come to light in relation with the incident. The singer admitted to the charges of sharing over 10 videos of women he had sexual relations with. He posted an apology to the victims and declared his exit from all activities of showbiz that he was involved in on Wednesday, 13th March. He underwent questioning by police and was asked to submit his cell phone on Wednesday.

The day following witnessed Highlight Junhyung’s agency, Around US Entertainment, putting out a statement to inform the fan’s his exit from the group. The fans kept questioning on Junhyung’s involvement in the scandal after his name went out in public. 

Junhyung has admitted to viewing the videos uploaded by Jung Joon Young and appeared as a witness during the questioning on Wednesday. His agency had first denied the claims but later put out a well phrased statement saying, “Some time at the end of 2015, Yong Junhyung met Jung Joon Young at a drinking gathering. The next day, while contacting each other 1:1 via Kakao Talk, he was informed that Jung Joon Young filmed illegal, hidden camera footage. Afterward, Junhyung admitted that he viewed this hidden camera footage, and he and Jung Joon Young went on to exchange inappropriate remarks about the footage.

We learned of the facts stated (above) through Yong Junhyung's witness questioning. After realizing the severity of this situation, Junhyung took part in his questioning diligently, and he is now in a deep state of reflection for his past inappropriate actions, as well as for the disappointment that he undoubtedly caused many due to his immorality.

He is also aware that this incident is not one that can be forgiven, and he feels greatly apologetic toward fans of Highlight for breaking their trust and repaying their love with disappointment. In order to take responsibility for his actions and prevent further damage to the group's image, Junhyung will leave Highlight as of March 14, 2019.

Even when Junhyung became involved in an unfavorable scandal, we were unable to obtain the clear facts right away and released a hasty statement, causing confusion; for this, we apologize. We will take caution so that such incidents do not occur again. We apologize one more time to fans who cherish Highlight.”

As for Choi Jong Hoon of F.T.ISLAND, he name was mentioned by SBS FunE as Mr. Choi of the chat group. He has been charged with spreading illicit image of a women and having a lewd conversation regarding the videos with Jung Joon. His agency, FNC Entertainment, released a statement on 14th March saying, “Choi Jong-Hoon, who has aroused criticism due to his involvement in recent scandals, has decided to depart from FT Island as of today. Choi Jong-Hoon will faithfully participate with police investigations within this week. He will permanently leave the team and retire from the entertainment industry.

We bow our heads in sincere apology for neglecting proper management and character education of our artists and for worrying many people through unpleasant events. We strongly feel the severity and responsibility towards the matter and will do our best to cooperate so that the facts will clearly be uncovered during police investigations.”

He is also facing accusation of bribing the police to cover up a DUI that happened in 2016. There were text conversations regarding the same between the members of the scandalous Kakao Talk chat group.

Jung Joon said, “Jong Hoon could have made it to the front page of news.”

Choi Jong Hoon replied, “Why would I make it to the news. I took care of it quietly.”

Seungri answered, “Don’t expect to get help next time you get involved in drunk driving incident. 000 hyung shut everyone up using his own money.”

We fans surely didn’t expect such a scandal to blow out taking down people whom we once admired. This only calls for caution to all the members of idol groups (male and female) and solo artists, whose actions are closely monitored by a great number of people who support their act, to not take advantage of the position that they are in to do any defame-able and derogatory actions that may lead to a uproar.

Jung Joon Young Admits to Uploading Videos without Consent, Quits the Entertainment Industry

In the latest from the Kakao Talk Chat group controversy pertaining to Seungri and other renowned names of entertainment industry, Jung Joon Young (JJY) who was said to be a suspect in participating in uploading discreet videos of women without consent, has admitted to the allegations.

JJY flew in from USA on 12th March for questioning. He admitted to have filmed women without their knowledge during the period 2015-16. He then shared those videos in a chat group on Kakao. In his statement to Korean Herald, he said, “I admit to all my crimes. I filmed women without their consent and shared it on social media chat room, and while I did so I didn’t feel a great sense of guilt”.

The 30-year-old apologised stating, “I kneel down to apologise to the women who appeared in the videos and all those who might be disappointed and upset at this shocking incident.

I will faithfully cooperate with the investigation by the police that will start on Thursday and I will readily accept whatever punishment is in store for me”.

JJY is the second artist to have quit the industry following Seungri who announced his retirement on 11th March. Will this scandal grow any bigger with other prominent faces involved as it is claimed that the chat group had 8 members? Only time can tell.

Big Bang Seungri’s Big Bang Story

No crime stays hidden for long, especially if you live a public life. The latest one to hit the headlines and take Kpop fans by a storm is the scandal surrounding Kpop’s renowned band Big Bang’s youngest member Seungri.

Before EXO or BTS became sensational, Big Bang was the top dog of Kpop. Seungri, the maknae of the group, was always seen  being playful and lightening up the mood. The vocalist is now caught in allegations of illegal prostitution and circulation of pornography. After the news spread on social media, the Singer announced his retirement from the Entertainment industry.

Where It All Began:

From all the investigation that I could do based on the information available in the white web, the misfortunes began with a complained about an assault on a customer by the staff of the “Burning Sun” club.

During the investigation, footage surfaced of use of drugs and sexual misconduct on female customers of the club. Even though Seungri claimed that he was just an Executive Director and was involved only in the publicity of the club but not in day-to-day operations, he still posted a formal apology regarding the matter. This matter spanning from early January 2019 to February and if the singer had thought his sufferings were over, he was mighty mistaken.

March began with news of investigation of a KaKao Chat group formed by Seungri with artists of other boy band and solo artists. This revelation was made by SBS FunE. Neither the police nor the netizens would have bothered if it was just a group of guys talking about how stressful it is to live a celebrity life. Instead, the group was said to be formed in order to share inappropriate images and videos of women whom the members fraternised with. Also, these images were shared without the consent of the involved women. Seungri is also said to be involved in supplying prostitutes to businessmen in Seoul night clubs.

About the controversial Kakao Talk Chat Group:

It is said that there were 8 members in this group including the singer and an employee of club ARENA. Other celebrities names connected to this group are Jung Joon Young, Junhyung (Member of Highlight), Choi Jong Hoon (member of F.T. Island) and Kang Daniel. The agencies of all these artists have denied the claims, while assuring to get clarification regarding the matter from the respective artists. After police confirmed the legitimacy of claims against Seungri regarding the chatroom, the Big Bang member took on the social media to announce his retirement in order to preserve the integrity of the band members and his agency, YG Entertainment.

YG Entertainment:

Yang Hyun Suk, the CEO of YG Entertainment, has held his peace but the agency put out a statement saying that the retirement comments were entirely the singer’s own choice and that he did not consult the agency regarding the same. The agency clarified that it is yet to make a decision regarding the future of the artist with them. Following this, YG Entertainment’s stock fell by 14% on 11th March.

How did Media Know about the Chat Group?

The twist in this story doesn’t end here. Apparently, there are reports stating that the existence of this group came into light when one of the members of this chatroom was getting his cell phone repaired. The repairing servicemen leaked it to media which surely raises questions of privacy amidst this shocking exposé.

Other Major Contributors in this Controversy:

A) Jung Joon Young (JJY)

Jung Joon Young caught his fame through MNET’s Superstar K4 (2012). Even though the singer took third position in the finals, his cover of Sympathy made an impression on all. Following which he released mini-albums, became a part of 2 Days 1 Night TV show and lead vocalist to rock band- Drug Restaurant. The singer took a break from his TV show following the investigation on claims made by his ex-girlfriend of sexual abuse in 2016. The same was withdrawn a few days later and JJY returned to the show.

In the recent controversy involving the Kakao chat room, the year 2016 is dragged again in relation to JJY. Dating back to 27th January 2016, when Zico (Member of Block B) and JJY appeared on MBC’s Radio Star and Zico mentioned about the “Golden Phone” owned by JJY. Zico made it very specific that it was unlike the regular phones and that the phone was used only for Kakao Talk. When Zico asked him if he still owned the phone, JJY got shy and replied that he did have it.

JJY also added that Zico would come to his house and ask for the golden phone and lay on his bed while going through the phone. During that time netizens didn’t ponder much on this golden phone but now it makes more sense.

Reports have it that JJY has shared more than 8 hidden camera videos of women in the group made by Seungri and in 1-to-1 conversation with other celebrities friends starting from late 2015 to late 2016. He also shared discreet images of a female employee during the same period.

B) Choi Jong Hoon (CJH)

The F.T. Island guitarist was brought into light with regards to this controversy by Channel A News. They published blurred images of two artists whom netizens identified as JJY and CJH. CJH is said to be a very close friend of Seungri and the two have been business partners in multiple ventures.

There has not been any explicit evidence to his participation in sharing any videos but the channel claims of him to be a member of the chat group. This wouldn’t be his first encounter with such an issue. Like his friend JJY, CJH has been accused by a woman of sexual assault. She was threatened and forced to send him discreet images of herself back when she was in sixth grade and the guitarist was in middle school. This allegation was made during the recent ‘Me Too’ drive.

What lies ahead for Seungri, JJY and CJH?

Seungri has been prohibited from leaving the country and the upcoming Big Bang concerts have been cancelled. The singer said that he was retiring from the entertainment industry as this controversy is too much to handle. He is being investigated by the police with regards to the allegations.

As of now, JJY is in USA with regards to his work and has been asked to come back to South Korea at the earliest for investigation. He had tours lined up for coming months which have been cancelled and 2 Days 1 Night TV show producers have confirmed the exit of the singer from the show and any footage regarding him will be edited out.

And for CJH, there has not been any statement from his agency as this discovery is the latest in this scandal.

If any of the above mentioned artists are found to be guilty of supplying indecent images and videos of women without consent then they could face jail time of 3-5 years and a penalty fee upto 30 million won. Not to state the obvious, their music career is buried. 

Top 20 Absurd Delicacies from Around the World

Hi Readers, I’m back with another Top 20 list and this time it is food. If there is anything in this world I don’t think twice before spending money on, it’s food! This girl loves to eat delicious food. I believe the eating process begins with my eyes; unless the food looks appetizing, it won’t invoke an urge to consume. The next step is my nose; being from the country of spices, I surely love the fragrance of the perfect mix of spices that activates my brain cells to give me the sensation of hunger. The second last step involves an organ that is not parallel to mouth, none other than ears. If it is something crunchy, it should produce a sweet lullaby when crushed or cut through. The last and the best is mouth, where finally the tasting happens. 

While just writing the steps has invigorated the hunger in my belly, by the end of this list (if you could survive till the end) you’ll probably be judging peoples’ eating habits. I’m not talking about chewing loudly or half the food stuck around the mouth, but about what goes into their mouths. Here a list of Top 20 most absurd food from around the world. Bon Appetite!

1. Haggis (Scotland)

We all have heard of minced meat sold in different forms, but how would you like having minced liver, heart and lung of animals like sheep along with some beef and seasoning vegetable, mixed and stuffed like sausage into the stomach of sheep and boiled only to be turned into a pudding. That is exactly what Haggis is and it is also the national dish of Scotland. 

2. Khash (Middle East, East Europe, Turkey)

I, anyway, am not a big fan of soups and this gives me even more reason to. Khash is a non-typical soup made with the head and legs of cow or sheep as a whole. Imagine that skull staring at you from the bowl. Sometimes other parts like the brain or stomach are also added. As if it’s going to make us feel any better. 

3. Black sausage (Worldwide)

There is another name which is more appropriate- Blood sausage. As the name suggest, it’s made from blood and fat mixed with beef, vegetables or starch to make it thick enough to be stuffed into a sausage sack. It might not be erring for most people as it is consumed across the globe, but I just happen to be in the country that doesn’t have black sausage, nor am I into blood.

4. Wasp Crackers (Japan)

What is your usual reaction when you see ants or insects on your biscuit, you throw it away. But since we are in the world of the weird, Japan has a snack of crackers with wasps in it. Talk about finding better replacements for chocochip in cookies.

5. A-ping (Cambodia)

Spiders, yes people, this regional delicacy of Cambodia is, to be put simply, fried spider. I can’t tolerate seeing spider the size of my pinky fingernail and here is a whole community of people eating tarantula species of spider. This goes back to history of when king Khmer Rouge rule, due to lack of food and out of desperation, the people started eating spiders. I will I feel sorry for those people, I wonder if there is still a need for this.

6. Worms 

During my internet expedition for unimaginable delicacies there were a couple of worm varieties that cropped up. I thought I’d better club them as even though they may be different worms, they were consumed in the same form, either raw or fried.

a) Beondegi (South Korea)- If you are a Korean you know what this is or if you are someone who understands Hangul, you would know the literal meaning of the term which is “Pupa”. This dish is actually a snack sold on the streets of South Korea in a cup with a toothpick for spoon and what you will be picking are boiled and spice coated Silkworm pupa. Good luck.

b) Sago Delight (Southeast Asia)- Sago an insect when eaten raw is chewy and meaty and when cooked takes on a bacon-y taste. I vote for regular bacon. 

c) Escamol (Mexico)- The Mexican mix in English songs are often a hit but I wonder how you would feel about this Mexican dish. Escamol is a mix of larva and pupa of a species of Ant called as Liometopum Apiculatum. A fancy way of saying it, is Ant Caviar.

d) Mopane (South Africa)-  Mopane worms are traditional dried or smoked and cooked with tomato or chili sauce. It is said to be high on protein.

e) Witchetty Grub (Australia)- Also called as Bush tuckers goes back to culinary history of Aborigines of Australia. They are usually cooked over a coal fire. People say that it tastes like a cross between chicken and crab, then why don’t you stick to chicken or crab, though I understand insects don’t price as much and the cooking time is less. 

7. Cherry Blossom Meat (Japan)

We have all been mesmerized by how majestic a black horse looks, will you be mesmerised if you were presented with horse meat? Not me! Cherry Blossom meat is the raw meat of horse and its Japanese name is “Sakuraniku”; where in, Sakura stands for cherry blossom and Niku is for meat. This name is due to the pink color of the raw meat. I’ll pass.

8. Crocodile Meat (Australia, Africa, Southeast Asia)

My grandfather had a farm and we had cows, goats, chickens and such homely animals. But imagine raising crocodiles for food. Since this meat has low fat and low cholesterol, atleast we know they won’t be dying of a heart attack (If you know what I mean).

9. Shirako (Japan)

I’ll give this one to you straight, fish reproductive organ uncooked. This milt is harvested from Salmon, Monkfish, cod and few others. As the list progresses, I’m judging the appetite of human race. I understand that God made all creatures for human consumption, but my brain is turning into scrambled egg.

10. Cobra Heart (Vietnam)

The analogy of “he ripped out my heart” is literally true for all the victim Cobra snakes. If you want to understand the extent of cruelty, here’s the perfect example. The person holds a living cobra and rips open the flesh near the heart area and plucks the beating heat and puts it into a bowl or glass and empties the snake’s blood into the same vessel. Guess what… That’s the dish. 

11. Yin-Yang Fish (Taiwan, China)

Since we are on human cruelty on living creatures, here’s another alive-example. Also called as dead and alive fish, is cooked in oil. While the carp fish’s body is cooked, its head is still alive and kept out of the oil. When it is presented before the diners too, the eyes and mouth are still moving. The fish is very much alive as its flesh is ripped of its body by eaters.

12. Sannakji (South Korea)

Another food that’s moving on your plate is octopus. Nakji, a species of octopus which is smaller in size but has long tentacles is served either whole or cut into small pieces while its tentacles are still moving and very much alive.  This dish is widely consumed throughout South Korea.

13. Jellied Moose Nose (Canada)

Before you start gagging, let’s mellow it down with some jelly. Squishy and bouncy, who doesn’t like jelly. So how about some Moose nose turned into jelly? Yes people, it’s exactly as the name suggests. A delicacy favoured in Alaska and Northern Canada, the snout of Moose is cooked with spices and vegetables such as onion after the fur has been entirely removed. It is put into a loaf pan and kept in the refrigerator to cool down and you know what comes next… the end product. I’ll remember this every time I see a pack of jelly.

14. Locus (Israel)

We all have heard the story from The Bible, where God sent plagues on Egyptians, one of them was locus. So they eat away your crops and leave you without food, make them your food. Deep-fry or steer fry, what would you prefer?

15. Dog Meat (Korea, China and Vietnam)

Dogs are man’s best friends. They listen to you, they fetch, they howl and we all love to have them as pet. Imagine yourself biting on a chicken leg and replace that leg with dog leg. I’ll probably pass out. But not in some countries of Asia, where dog meat is traded in the black market extensively and they don’t fall short of customers, even though the government has forbidden this age old practise. Being a dog lover, with a long list of dog breeds that I want to have as pets, I’d rather starve than eat them.

16. Rocky Mountain Oysters (U.S.A., Canada)

Name could be deceiving. Unlike what came to your mind when you first heard the name, this dish is made of something that wouldn’t have even remotely come to you in your wildest dream. This dish is made of bull testicles after they are peeled and coated in flour, deep fried thoroughly. I’ll leave you at that.

17. Ikizikuri (Japan)

Japan is quite renowned for raw sushi, which is an expensive and extensively enjoyed delicacy. Ikizikuri is in similar lines, prepared with fish, octopus, shrimp, squid and other sea creatures. These creatures are dissected or heated while still alive and presented for consumption while still alive and moving. Find your humanity people!

18. Puffin Heart (Iceland)

Remember the cute creature from ‘Happy Feet’ movie? No, I’m not speaking about penguins, the one that disguises like a penguin and can fly short distance. That is what a Puffin is. But prepare yourself for what’s coming next. People in Iceland hunt them, break their necks, skin them and eat the raw heart before it gets cold. It is said to be a traditional Icelandic delicacy. One that would turn me into a vegetarian.

19. Fried Brain Sandwich (U.S.A)

Before any of my crazy adventurous readers put this delicacy (gagging as I say it) on their must-have list, let me inform you that this dish no longer makes to the menu cards of restaurants. Famous during early 1900’s till 1970’s, this dish was just a huge brain patty between burger breads. However, this dish disappeared as soon as the mad cow disease hit U.S.A and U.K. in the late 1990’s. Something to be thankful about!

20. Virgin Boy Egg (China)

We are NOT talking about human eggs for consumption here, let’s clear that out of our heads. This centuries old tradition is still in practise in China. This dish, practically, is eggs soaked in the urine of prepubescent boys, probably 10 year old or so. It is said to have medicinal effects of helping to prevent from heart attacks or curing asthma. I’ll suffer the disease. Period.  

So this was a short overview of highly unappetizing food for thought. How do you feel now about all the things that go into a human mouth? I’m highly picky and adventurous but within limits when it comes to food. Let me know if any of my reads have tried one of these delicacies. 

(P.S. The writer has no intention of hurting any personal sentiments and the images use in this article are taken from the Internet, hence they belong to the rightful owner. )

What’s up with Ex-Cube Entertainment couple- HyunA and E’Dawn?

I was looking through all the Kpop news and wondering what else was buzz other than BTS preparing for another album, EXO messing up our tempo with their Tempo, Blackpink members’ dating news, Wanna One disbanding (I cried on this one) and bam! There it was! HyunA shared a video clip of her and E’Dawn recording a duet. Rumour has it that HyunA wants to indicate their engagement with the highly intriguing lyrics of the song.

In August last year, E’Dwan and HyunA opened up about their relationship and the fans did not respond well. The fans totally cool with the couple as they looked adorable together, but were furious about the fact that the couples “secretly” dated for two years. Following all the fuss, the two left Cube Entertainment and E’Dawn also left his group Pentagon (I’ll never get to see Pentagon perform Shine live, more crying).

Post their exit from their Agency, both posted ample of photos of themselves, showcasing the beautiful relationship they shared. E’Dawn also posted a heartfelt letter apologising to his ex-band mates for leaving the group. Pentagon fans stood divided on whether the decision of throwing the artist out is a correct one indeed. The shares of the agency also took a dip as an after effect of the controversy. 

Her & His story:

Before we go any further and reveal the latest in this life story. I would like to drag you back to the debut days of the two artists. 

Her:

HyunA was first signed up with JYP Entertainment where she debuted as the main rapper with Wonder Girls in 2007. She saw a busy year ahead and hectic schedule lead to fainting spells and physical ailment due to which she departed from the group and the agency. 

The following year she joined Cube Entertainment and became a part of 4Minute girl group. They debuted in 2009. In 2010, she released her first solo single “Change” that saw good reception and also released a couple more singles the same year. The year 2011 marked the beginning of the solo career of HyunA with the release of Bubble Pop. The mini album’s title track saw global success and also appeared on Billboard’s 21 under 21.

HyunA’s agency paired her with Beast’s Hyunseung to form a co-ed group Trouble Maker. They released a self-titled mini album in 2011. She also made her appearance in Psy’s “Gangnam style” being personally chosen by the singer himself. This brought her global attention along with the success of the song. Her second mini album was released in the same year under the title Melting. This album saw lyrical contribution by HyunA and a cameo by Psy. 

In 2014, A Talk, the third album was released and its lead single “Red” was listed on the Rolling stone’s Top Ten Music Videos of 2014. The following year she released her fourth album A+. On june 2016, 4Minutes was officially disbanded and only HyunA continued with the agency. Her fifth album A’wesome was released in August of the same year and the next year, her sixth mini album Following was released.  HyunA and E’Dawn became members of a new unit “Triple H” under the agency in 2017. 

His:

E’Dawn was under JYP Entertainment during his Trainee days. In 2012, he left JYP Entertainment and joined Cube Entertainment. His first screen sharing with HyunA was in 2015, while performing Roll deep song. Pentagon, a 10-member boy band was formed under Cube Entertainment with E’Dawn as a rapper in it. The group debuted in 2016. The next year, E’Dwan became a part of Triple H group along with HyunA and Hui.

Their Story:

On August 2018, images of E’Dawn and HyunA hit the internet and speculations of them being in a relationship caught fire. Their then agency, Cube Entertainment, were quick to respond and denied all allegations. Later that day, the duo held a press conference and spoke out the truth. They were seeing each other for the past two years (as if fans hadn’t already picked up the hints). A month later and after a lot of behind the camera talks, their agency came to the conclusion of letting the two artists go. In October 2018, the representatives of Cube Entertainment expressed their lack of faith on the two artists due to the recent events. To the artists’ dismay, they got to know of their expulsion via media. 

Latest Story: 

After all the tough times of keeping the relationship under wrap and when it came out, to face the opposition of their agency, E’Dawn and HyunA seem happier than ever. They often take on twitter to share pictures with each other. In the latest of this saga was a short video shared by HyunA on twitter dated 04th January 2019, of the duo listening to a song recording written by them. Apparently the lyrics, as interpreted by the fans, states HyunA calling E‘Dawn fiancée.

HyunA: I promise everything, fiancée, A batch of Peony flowers have bloomed.

E’Dawn: You and I walk the same path, we walk the remaining time together every day. Our relationship shines brighter than the 100-carat diamond.

If these lyrics doesn’t fuel the fire, I’ll be damned. What are ya’ll doing? E’Dawn and HyunA… Show us the bling-bling already. 

Never Another Jonghyun (In His Remembrance)

On this day last year, the Kpop world lost one of its most loved and promising musician- Kim Jonghyun. The Shinee singer and songwriter had a long and struggle filled battle against depression. He was found unconscious in a rented apartment by paramedics after his sister called the cops on receiving text messages from the singer with clear indication of possible suicide. He was later pronounced dead at the hospital. This news hit the entire industry and Kpop fans like a thunderbolt but also brought to light the increasing encroachment of depression and anxiety amongst idols.

Jonghyun left behind noteworthy songs like ‘Dejá-Boo’, ‘Breath’ and ‘Pretty Boy’ other than the twelve albums that he released along with the members of Shinee under the label of SM Entertainment. He was always involved in the production of the music of the band and also wrote and produced songs for his fellow singers such as IU, Lee Hi, Taemin and many more. He had started his solo career in 2015 with the release of his first solo album called ‘She Is’ and the second album ‘Poet | Artist’ was released posthumously in 2018.

The loss of such a talent makes us deliberate on the severe topic of depression and its tumorous growth amongst the idols we love and support so much. Depression is a condition where the person feels emotional burdened or down. Millions across the world are suffering from this condition which is the result of the stressful and demanding functioning of today’s society.

Idol group members have to go through strenuous physical regime and diet pre and post debut. This physical stress and psychological pressure could result in a vocal outburst or a depressive outburst. Here are nine other idols that opened up about suffering from psychological illness such as depression and anxiety.

1. G-Dragon (Big Bang)

G-dragon’s career is a national and international hit, bringing Kpop to the rest of the world. He is the lead rapper and songwriter of 'Big Bang' under YG Entertainment. His onscreen and onstage personality reflects a playful and sweet idol but GD has admitted to suffering from depression for a long time after allegations of plagiarism rose on his solo album ‘Heartbreaker’.

2.  Heechul (Super Junior)

We see Heechul laughing and pulling legs of the guests at Knowing Brothers show. But the singer had confessed to feeling depressed after Hankyung left Super Junior. Heechul missed out on all promotional activities for the next three months due to his depressive state. He was believed to be closest to Hankyung.

3. Suzy (Miss A)

Suzy opened up about depression on a live show, stating that she had to silently bear through depression as she could not speak out about it to anyone else. The sweet and cute Suzy renown for her singing and acting career had such a personal struggle too.

4. Baro (B14A)

Baro starred in Reply 1992 and grew so fond of the cast that after the filming was done and the cast had parted ways, he would feel melancholic and depressed without meeting them regularly.

5. Jinwoon (2AM)

In an interview for ‘Law of the Jungle’ aired by SBS, Jinwoon confessed that he felt extremely depressed and unmotivated after the group’s US tour in 2016. He spent a whole month without getting any sleep after coming back.

6. Taeyeon (Girl Generation)

The singer’s band members have often spoken about the singer’s quick change in mood and her exceeding interest in sad songs. The singer has accepted the fact that she indeed suffered from depression and found her escape through getting multiple piercing.

7. T.O.P (Big Bang)

The Big Bang rapper was seen frequently visiting the hospital in 2008. He suffered from anxiety and depression. The fans felt that it was due to overwork.

8. Lizzy (After School)

Stress caused due to rising rumours on her position in the running man show led Lizzy from After School girl group to face depression. It’s easy to crop up a rumour but we need to understand that people’s lives get affected by it.

9. Suga (BTS) 

The BTS rapper has admitted to suffering from social anxiety and depression. His song lyrics often spoke of this internal strife. In a radio interview in 2014, the rapper cum producer mentioned that he had to work extensively to lose weight pre-debut and suffered through depression due to the body standards set by the industry. His solo mixtape ‘Agust D’ also has lyrics that connoted his war with depression.

There is no question that today’s society is a hard place to survive. These idols go through so much hardship to make a mark in the industry, if we can’t support them, then don’t blame them either. It’s good to have expectations from our favourite band or our bias but we should also remember that they are human too and that they have their limits to just like us. Let’s make sure that there is never another Jonghyun.

As for us regular people, we need to stop setting the standards that are beyond reality. Instead, we should learn to appreciate what we have and love ourselves with our flaw. Because even the most beautiful person has flaws, maybe not visible ones. Above all, STOP judging others and STOP judging yourself by other’s standards. We are all different and our uniqueness makes us who we are. Let’s not lose anyone around us to depression.

“Please don’t forget about Jonghyun hyung until the end and forever…” – Minho, Shinee

#NeverAnotherJonghyun 

(I thoroughly enjoy Jonghyun’s songs, here are some of them I always have on my playlist- Breath (Written for Lee Hi), End of the day, Shinin’, Y Si Fuera Ella (cover of Alejandro Sanz), Playboy (written for EXO), Diphylleia Grayi and Cocktail)