Oh Yoona: 'I gained 6kg to protect my health' — prioritizing balance over body image

Actress Oh Yoona has shared how her daily life has changed following her remarriage, revealing that she intentionally increased her weight to protect her health. Long recognized by the public as an "icon of management" and a "wannabe body" standard, she is drawing attention by choosing physical stability and a sustainable lifestyle over her external image.

On the 24th, a video titled "Oh Yoona's Professional Moment (Feat. Yun Jin-sol)" was released on Oh Yoona's YouTube channel. In the video, Oh Yoona visits a broadcasting station to film for the tvN variety program "The Secret," sharing the reality of balancing a busy acting career with her life as a mother.

While eating in the waiting room before filming, Oh Yoona confessed, "I don't know why I'm so tired," adding, "I only ever get about 5 to 6 hours of sleep."

She continued, "I have to make sure Min-i has something to eat before he goes to work in the morning," showing how she continues to fulfill her responsibilities while caring for her son.

Oh Yoona also spoke candidly about how her eating habits have changed.

"In the past, I hardly ate anything before filming a drama or a broadcast," she explained, noting that she often restricted meals to maintain her physique.

However, she said that as she aged, she could no longer ignore the signals her body was sending.

"Now, I have to eat at least a little. Otherwise, my brain won't function," Oh Yoona said. "I realized that proper nutritional intake is absolutely necessary to maintain my physical strength and concentration."

The most striking part of her confession was regarding her weight change.

"I am currently about 6kg heavier," Oh Yoona revealed. "It was so difficult that I intentionally gained weight."

She explained that while she had maintained strict self-discipline and a slim physique due to the nature of her profession, excessive weight loss had actually led to deteriorating health.

She recalled the health issues she faced, saying, "When I lost a lot of weight, I developed chronic illnesses," and "My eyes would twitch and my arms would dislocate."

"I think because I lost weight and wasn't exercising, I lost the muscles that hold my body together," she added. "I felt my body getting progressively worse."

Oh Yoona subsequently focused on maintaining muscle mass and recovering her health rather than simple weight loss.

"My health has improved a lot by eating protein-centered meals and exercising," she said, adding with a laugh, "But now, the weight doesn't come off easily."

This shift aligns with recent wellness trends where bodily function and quality of life are considered more important than a number on a scale. While a thin physique was once seen as the ultimate symbol of self-discipline, recent values place more importance on appropriate weight, muscle mass, and sustainable lifestyle habits.

Having spent years in the public eye, Oh Yoona has constantly faced external beauty standards, but she is now defining a new standard of self-care through choices that serve her own needs.

Oh Yoona married in 2007 and had a son, Min, but has been raising him alone since her divorce in 2015. She has received significant public support for her dedicated parenting of her son, who has a developmental disability.

Recently, she began a new chapter of her life by announcing her remarriage to a non-celebrity through her YouTube channel. The couple has completed their marriage registration and is living together, though a formal wedding ceremony has not yet taken place.

Having navigated the various ups and downs of life as a single mother, an actress, and a woman, Oh Yoona's transformation conveys a powerful message: a healthy life is far more important than a perfect image.