Ex-I.O.I Member Choi Yoo-jung Reveals Secret Diet Pill Use and Side Effects

Choi Yoo-jung, a former member of the popular K-pop group I.O.I, has disclosed that she secretly took diet pills during her time as a trainee. The revelation came during an appearance on comedian Park Se-mi's YouTube channel.

“

I've heard people say I look so thin when they see me in person, but when I'm next to an idol, I don't look that way.

Park Se-mi initiated the discussion by commenting on the difference between her appearance on camera and in person, noting how idol group members often appear much slimmer. She then shared her own past experience with diet pills, acknowledging that their dangers were not as widely known then and that she saw them as beneficial for appetite suppression.

“

I tried taking diet pills when I was in my 20s. Back then, the dangers of the pills weren't as well-known as they are now. I thought it was beneficial because the pills suppressed my appetite.

Park described experiencing disturbing side effects, including feeling as though someone was trying to harm her while she was in a hotel bathroom, attributing it to a paranoid delusion caused by the medication. Choi Yoo-jung related her own experience, stating that her agency pressured her to lose weight even though she was already within the normal weight range. Driven by her strong desire to debut, she secretly took the pills.

“

I felt like someone was watching me from the door, trying to harm me. That was a side effect. I was hallucinating on my own.

Choi detailed the adverse effects she suffered, including dry mouth, bad breath, heart palpitations, nausea, and dizziness. Her candid account sheds light on the intense pressures faced by aspiring K-pop artists regarding weight management.

“

When I was a trainee, the company told me to lose weight, so I tried taking pills.