Lee Su-hyun YouTube

Lee Su-hyun of AKMU, who recently confessed to a slump, recalled in detail the difficult circumstances she faced at the time.

On the 17th, a video titled ‘All About the Lee Su-hyun Blossoming Project.’ was released on the YouTube channel of Lee Su-hyun.

That day, speaking about the start of her slump, Lee Su-hyun began, “Rather than it being about exactly when it started or a specific trigger, there was accumulated damage from working without a break since ‘K-pop Star’.” She went on, “My older brother enlisted in the military, and I prepared a solo album on my own, but even after completing everything internally, it ultimately did not come out,” confessing, “That was the first time I felt a major sense of frustration.”

In particular, she revealed, “A sense of guilt about having to disappoint the people I worked with and a feeling of helplessness of ‘Am I lacking in ability?’ hit me all at once,” adding, “From that point, I became depressed.” She continued, “I said I wanted to rest, but I was told ‘You are talking like someone who has it too easy,’” and, “It was work I did because I loved it, but I realized it was not a structure where I could rest just because I wanted to, and I was deeply shocked.”

Lee Su-hyun YouTube

Her condition worsened over time. Lee recalled, “As I kept working, it felt like I was being chipped away,” adding, “By the time I felt my energy was completely drained, I collapsed mentally.” She added, “By then it was already too late, but because there were visible signs on the outside, only then did those around me tell me to rest.”

Even after she stopped activities, a healthy recovery was not easy. She said, “I gained freedom like that, but I actually lived like a hikikomori,” and, “I filled pleasure only through binge eating, and my weight increased rapidly by 20~30kg.” She added, “When I looked in the mirror, I hated what I saw. My self-esteem was at rock bottom.”

The turning point was her family. In particular, she said she went to the hospital at the recommendation of her older brother, Lee Chan-hyuk. Lee said, “It was unusual for my brother to come home, but he came to talk. At that time, I was keeping all of my family at a distance. Because I was so sensitive, my family did not know how to treat me. My mother cried every day.”

She continued, “Then, at my brother’s suggestion, I went to the hospital (psychiatry). When I went, I received several diagnoses, including insomnia, depression, lethargy, social phobia, and panic disorder,” and said, “I was only able to feel relief for the first time after realizing that the things I thought were just because I was strange were actually illnesses.”

She added, “When the doctor at the hospital told me ‘It can be cured,’ I felt saved,” and, “From then on, I resolved ‘I should get better.’” She later drew attention by revealing that she set off on the Camino de Santiago as a method for recovery.