AKMU's LEE SUHYUN rejects "skinny-bone" label after losing 30kg

During a YouTube appearance on the 29th, AKMU's LEE SUHYUN expressed discomfort with the "skinny-bone" label used by the public, stating she aims for a healthy physique in the mid-50kg range instead.

AKMU's LEE SUHYUN has expressed discomfort with the term "skinny-bone" (pyeomalla) that has followed her after losing 30kg. She clarified that her goal was not weight loss itself, but rather the process of self-care and building a healthy body, stating clearly that her desired physique is in the mid-50kg range rather than being extremely thin. Her remarks highlight how expressions consumed as public praise can be unwelcome to the person they are directed toward.

On the 29th, a video featuring LEE SUHYUN was released on the YouTube channel Charles Enter. During the appearance, YouTuber Charles Enter (Kim Chan-mi) asked LEE SUHYUN about her recent dieting progress. LEE SUHYUN shared her honest feelings, saying, "I try to do it, but it's not easy. I'm so tired of dieting and exercising." It was a realistic confession that consistent management is not as easy as it sounds.

She also explained her perspective on weight loss. "It wasn't about losing weight; I needed the process of grooming myself through my own will," LEE SUHYUN said. She emphasized, "That was the process I worked hard for, and the result was losing 30kg. It was a reward for the time I spent working hard." She explained that she placed meaning on the process of practicing self-set goals and taking care of herself, rather than a diet simply to reduce numbers.

In particular, LEE SUHYUN expressed clear rejection of the modifier "skinny-bone" that has been attached to her since her weight loss. "I really do not like the term 'skinny-bone'," she said. "My ideal look is not 'skinny-bone,' and I don't want to become that." However, she added that she is not denying the tastes of people who prefer a certain body type, saying, "I'm not saying 'skinny-bone' isn't pretty."

She specifically mentioned the healthy and satisfying physique she envisions for herself. "I think I look healthy when I am in the mid-50kg range," LEE SUHYUN stated. This indicates that even after losing weight, she does not aim for an even thinner body, but pursues a physique that feels healthy and natural to her.

The reason for her discomfort was not just due to a single word. "The keyword 'skinny-bone' is being attached to Instagram posts or articles," LEE SUHYUN said. "People think it's a compliment, but it isn't to me." She drew a line, adding, "I never even wanted to be that in the first place." She pointed out that beauty standards she never desired are being unilaterally imposed by the public eye.

She explained that she actually focused on strength training to avoid looking that way. "I worked hard on strength training so that wouldn't happen," LEE SUHYUN said firmly. "I am working hard to look healthy, so I hate it when that keyword keeps being attached to me." It appears she feels unpleasant because the gaze of those who overlay an ideal of an even thinner body onto someone who has succeeded in losing weight interprets her efforts in a different direction.

LEE SUHYUN's remarks reflect the reality where language evaluating appearance is consumed regardless of the individual's intention. Idealizing a specific body type or defining someone by it as a reason to praise their weight loss can become another burden. Her message—that the process of finding a healthy body she desires is more important than the result of a 30kg weight loss—poses a question to uniform standards regarding appearance.

Read the original (Korean)