Yuju Reveals Severe Health Issues During Album Preparations, Says She Dropped to 45kg (99.2 lbs)

Singer Yuju, formerly of GFriend, opened up about suffering serious health problems while preparing albums.

On the May 11 broadcast of KBS Joy’s 'Ask Us Anything Fortune Teller' episode 364, Yuju appeared as a guest and candidly shared the health struggles she has experienced since beginning her solo career.

Yuju said, “Whenever I prepare an album, I become extremely sensitive and lose my appetite. At first, I thought losing weight would make me look prettier on camera, so I took it lightly.”

However, the situation gradually worsened. She revealed, “I would collapse alone at home and reach the point where I couldn’t eat more than three spoonfuls of food. I even underwent an endoscopy, but the hospital recommended psychiatric treatment instead. There was nothing wrong with my digestive system, and they said it could be psychological.”

She added, “That was when I first realized, ‘This is a serious problem.’”

Yuju also shared that during her activities with GFriend, she weighed 52kg (114.6 lbs) at 169cm tall, but her weight has since dropped to 45kg (99.2 lbs). When comedian Lee Soo Geun asked if she tends to avoid meeting people, Yuju replied, “Even after just chatting with friends, I come back having lost more weight.”

She explained that she developed a habit of avoiding food for three hours before sleeping to take care of her voice, and now even stops eating midway through meals when meeting friends.

Yuju also recalled visiting the hospital after experiencing unusual symptoms in her ears during a recording session. She said, “There’s supposed to be a certain amount of fat around the eardrum, but I was diagnosed as having lost all of it. The doctor told me to eat before taking medicine,” drawing shock from viewers.

After hearing her story, Lee Soo Geun gave her some tough love, saying, “You’re still an amateur. You can’t become a professional like this. How are you going to comfort the public with this attitude?”

When Seo Jang Hoon handed Yuju some chocolate, and she immediately ate it, Lee Soo Geun jokingly remarked, “I get it now. You need a man in your life. You ate it right away,” causing laughter on set.

Seo Jang Hoon then reflected on his own experience as a professional basketball player, saying, “If you skip meals before a game because you have no appetite, you won’t have the energy to play. Professionals must maintain their best condition for the fans, no matter the circumstances.”

He added, “Which voice would sound better — a voice that sounds like it’s about to collapse from not eating, or a healthy voice from someone who eats well and is in good condition?” Yuju agreed with his point.

Meanwhile, Lee Soo Geun also mentioned a past encounter with Yuju during her GFriend days. Yuju recalled, “Do you remember giving me spending money when we ran into each other on the street before?” Seo Jang Hoon jokingly responded, “Now it’s your turn to give him some,” drawing more laughter.

Yuju also explained that since starting her solo career, she has personally participated not only in songwriting and composing, but also in the overall album production process. She shared, “When someone asks, ‘What’s this album about?’ I wanted to have a lot to say about it.”

She admitted that she initially thought the process was only enjoyable, but she only realized the emotional burden after physical symptoms began appearing.

Lastly, Seo Jang Hoon offered heartfelt advice, saying, “At 28, this is the most beautiful time in your life. Singer Yuju is important, but human Yuju is important too. I hope you work hard while also enjoying and appreciating this beautiful stage of your life.”