The trade-off after a daring performance

In episode 361 of the entertainment program Point of Omniscient Interference aired on August 23, Kwon Eun Bi - former member of IZ*ONE - shared about the behind-the-scenes preparation for Waterbomb Seoul 2025 .

Her performance took social media by storm thanks to her meticulous preparation for her sexy bikini outfit. "I wanted to bring a new image to the stage and the audience received it positively," Eun Bi admitted.

Kwon Eun Bi follows a strict diet and exercise regimen to have a beautiful body to perform at the water music festival. Photo: X.

Behind the fame at the water music festival is a huge health trade-off. To prepare for the event, the singer applied a strict diet consisting only of yogurt and quail eggs. "Normally I weigh 47-48 kg, but now I only weigh 41-42 kg. I have lost a lot of weight and am eating again to recover," Eun Bi said.

High intensity training combined with a poor diet forced her to cancel her performance schedule. Waterbomb Busan 2025. The manager said that two days before the show, Eun Bi fainted during choreography practice. "The doctor ordered absolute rest, so we were forced to cancel the schedule," he added.

Kwon Eun Bi's case exposes the dark side of the Korean entertainment industry, where idols are often required to maintain a low weight to meet strict appearance standards.

The pressure to look good in Kpop reflects the dieting culture that is deeply ingrained in Korean society.

In the world , “diet” usually refers to a daily diet, but in Korea, the word is associated with cutting down on food intake and fasting completely to lose weight. It also includes many other weight-loss activities, from high-intensity exercise to applying word-of-mouth weight-loss tips.

Three international students in Seoul share on Korea JoongAng Daily that dieting in South Korea is so common that it’s hard to avoid. Adelina Korganbek, 19, from Kazakhstan, says that thanks to the wide variety of menus and convenience, losing weight here is much easier than in her home country. Many cafes and restaurants are ready to serve low-sugar, low-calorie meals, and even e-commerce platforms like Kurly, Coupang and B Mart sell “healthy” meal packages delivered to your door.

Diet culture is fueled by the media, not just food. “Fast food” diets are often spread on social media. Amber Harris, 21, an American student, mentioned the famous diet after a rumor that a K-pop star lost nearly 2 pounds a day by eating… apples in the morning, sweet potatoes at noon, and a protein shake at night. “A lot of people tried it and posted the results online, which made it even more popular. But that’s a typical manifestation of the toxicity of diet culture,” Harris said.

IU's diet menu with only apples, sweet potatoes and protein once caused a fever in Korea. Photo: Instagram.

Even calorie counting has become so common that many restaurants list the calories for each dish. Some international students say it is a useful tool for portion control, but warn that it can contribute to an obsession with appearance.

Cultural differences also play a role. “Dieting is not as common where I come from,” says Nicole Bedia, 19, from the Philippines. “Even though fruits and vegetables are cheaper, few people have the time to prepare their own meals.”

Many international opinions say that in Korea, giving weight loss advice is not considered harmful but is almost considered normal by society. One audience commented: "I was shocked to see idols' weight and height publicly displayed on their profiles, and even asked directly about their weight in interviews. In such an environment, it is understandable that idols do not realize that there is a problem."

This person emphasized that idols are not the culprits but the victims of harsh beauty standards. “What bothers me the most is that fans always claim that idols are ‘naturally thin’, while many look like they are about to faint. Signs of sudden weight loss due to fasting are clearly visible in the skin, hair and body shape.”

Despite criticism, dieting culture in Korea is not entirely negative. Some young internationals believe that this lifestyle helps Koreans focus on health, maintaining a diet rich in green vegetables, fermented foods such as kimchi and lean meat, which are rarely seen in many other cuisines .

Source: https://baoquangninh.vn/danh-doi-sau-man-trinh-dien-tao-bao-3373328.html