- J from girl group Stayc raised eyebrows after looking fuller in recent months
- She apologized to fans and promised to diet and exercise more
- READ MORE: K-Pop star dropped from boy band after fans ‘bullied’ manager
A major K-pop star has publicly apologized to her fans after being criticized for her weight gain.
Jang Ye Eun, best known by her stage name J as a member of South Korean girl group Stayc, has sparked a lot of discussion online in recent months after appearing slightly curvier during a number of live performances.
The 19-year-old addressed the speculation surrounding her weight in a post to fans this week, in which she admitted she had started exercising and dieting to lose weight.
“Honestly I saw the fancam and I’m sorry I didn’t keep my figure well,” she wrote, according EverythingKPop.
‘I’m going on a bit of a diet. I take it slowly while eating well. Hehe.’
K-pop star J (pictured) has publicly apologized to her fans after being criticized for her weight gain
J from South Korean girl group Stayc has sparked some debate online in recent months after appearing curvier during a number of live performances
Her apology provoked a strong response both domestically and internationally, with most people claiming that her weight gain was not only minimal, but also flattering.
‘I feel so bad for her. The apology culture is terrible. Poor girl apologizes for being healthy…,” one fan wrote.
“I should be on a diet, not her. She’s already very skinny!!!’ another wrote.
A third added: ‘That’s so unnecessary. She’s perfect the way she is, you don’t have to apologize.”
“You don’t look fat at all and you look prettier than when you were skinny,” chimed in a fourth fan.
Stayc debuted in 2020 and quickly established themselves as one of South Korea’s most popular girl groups thanks to top 10 hits like ASAP and Teddy Bear.
South Korea is known for having some of the strictest beauty standards in the world, and is revered for its advanced plastic surgery procedures and skin care.
“I’m sorry I haven’t maintained my figure properly,” she wrote to fans in a post online this week
Stayc debuted in 2020 and quickly established themselves as one of South Korea’s most popular girl groups thanks to top 10 hits like ASAP and Teddy Bear
Some of the most common physical features considered beautiful in the country include a V-line jaw, pale skin, double eyelids, a thin high nose and a small face.
According to statistics, almost 25 percent of women between the ages of 19 and 29 in South Korea have undergone plastic surgery.
The country’s unrealistic beauty standards have since sparked a backlash, especially from feminist groups.
In 2022, a popular reality series about cosmetic surgery was canceled after growing criticism from the public.
The show, titled Let Me In, saw people come in and advocate for a plastic surgery makeover so they could improve their lives.
Last year, K-pop star Hyuna admitted that she only ate one piece of Korean food a day to maintain her slim physique.
The K-pop veteran, who was just 15 when she debuted on the music scene, said she survived on sushi so she could keep her weight at 40kg.
“Back then, I was surviving on one piece of kimbap, going through all the planned activities. And that destroyed me. When I was 26, I was so unhealthy,” she revealed on B-Season.