Weight is definitely one of the most sensitive topics among Kpop idols.
Most of them have to follow strict diets and exercise vigorously to stay in shape and appear
as thin as they can.
However, there are some Kpop stars who once stirred up controversy with their shocking
weight gain within a short period of time.
Nancy (Momoland)
Being hailed as the half-blood goddess of Kpop, Nancy once shocked netizens with her
strange appearance after the promotion of the song “I’m so hot” in 2019.
Things started when the female idol was filming for a reality show with her groupmates.
During the trip, Nancy appeared fresh and youthful in a bright red hoodie and jeans.
The selfies that she uploaded also received praises from netizens for her gorgeous look.
Nevertheless, looking from another camera angle of the passer-by, netizens found out
that something went wrong with her physique.
In contrast to the dazzling look in the photos posted by Nancy, the female idol seems to
be showing signs of gaining weight uncontrollably in fantake photos.
Some said that they could no longer see her firm abs and slender figure that often appear
on music programs previously.
Later on, her supporters defended that the wrong angle was to blame and Nancy was still
in a good shape.
Whether it was true or not, the truth remains that Nancy still could not avoid the scrutiny
from netizens who have always been strict about idols’ appearance.
This is not the first time Nancy sparked debate surrounding her appearance.
In the same year, Nancy once again got criticized for her appearance on several stages as netizens
noticed how she was seriously out of shape, and her tight stage outfits were said to even
make things worse as they emphasized Nancy’s features like belly and thighs.
Though having been famous for her curvy physique that differs from most other female Kpop idols,
Nancy has never let herself appear in public with this image before.
Netizens were extremely confused and they questioned what is the reason behind this
negative transformation.
While some harshly criticize Nancy for not checking on her weight regularly and paying
attention to her appearance, which is said to be the responsibilities of Kpop idols,
some make allowances for her, saying that netizens should stop putting pressure on female
Kpop idols to appear as thinly as they could, otherwise these artists are the ones to suffer.
Some also speculated that Nancy was probably suffering from pressure and severe illnesses
such as eating disorders and stress.
Nancy herself then confessed that she belonged to the body type that could gain weight easily
so she has always been hard on herself to fit the Korean beauty standards.
In one interview back in 2019, Nancy shared that in her trainee days, she was constantly
demanded by the company to lose weight and even challenged to lose 10 pounds in just
1 week - a seemingly impossible mission.
She then went extreme to starving herself and followed the lemon detox diet, which might
lead to serious health problems in the long run.
Now that Nancy had built an appropriate diet and workout schedule, she has gone back to
her prime beauty days and appeared as gorgeous as ever.
Although she did not have a slender figure or extremely thin legs like netizens expect,
Nancy still makes many people jealous of her toned and healthy body, which is the result
of her hard work and tireless efforts.
Taeha (Momoland)
Taeha, the former member of MOMOLAND, recently shocked Kpop fans with her drastic transformation
after leaving the group for years.
As a member of a Kpop girl group, Taeha used to maintain her slim physique during promotions
with Momoland.
Like the other members, she maintained a strict diet and hours of exercise to ensure that
she could have the best image of an idol.
Nevertheless, her recent appearance came as a surprise to many.
Specifically, in a video of Taeha dancing to the hit "BBoom BBoom" which went viral
on the internet in January 2022, the female idol was barely recognizable due to her drastic
weight gain.
Back in time when she was still promoting as a part of MOMOLAND, Teaha was known for
her slim physique and bursting energy.
However, as can be seen from the video, netizens can notice that she has lost her slender figure,
and her legs and waist have become way chubbier.
Fans speculated that Taeha gained weight because she no longer had to stick to a K-pop diet,
and since she is no longer under the control of her old agency, Taeha does not need to
go the extra mile to look skinny anymore.
Additionally, just like Nancy, Taeha belongs to the body type that gains weight easily.
In order to achieve the ideal Kpop idol physique, she had to suffer from harsh diets and vigorous
workout schedules.
Taking a look at her current photos, though people could not help feeling regretful for
her body in the past since she used to make a lot of efforts to maintain her slender figure,
they understand Taeha’s pressure and believe that it’s time for her to go easy on herself
a little bit.
Some also commented that as long as she feels happy with her body, weight does not really
matter.
After a long period of working hard to maintain a slim body, Taeha deserves to do what she
wants now that she has left the group.
Seeun (STAYC)
When STAYC’s teasers started dropping in 2020, many Korean netizens were stunned by
the members’ gorgeous visuals, especially Seeun’s.
At that time, she was even hailed as the next generation of Kpop beauty queens.
However, only a few months after her debut, many were slightly let down during the promotion
of the song “ASAP”, since Seeun appeared to gain weight promptly.
Her calf, leg and belly were said to become way heavier than before.
Netizens noticed that she also switched to the hime hairstyle to partially hide her chubby
face and double chin.
Seeun’s insecurities showed more clearly when she smiled, as it was said to make her
face look even rounder.
Because of the drastic weight gain, Seeun was criticized as netizens noticed that her
dance movements were not as captivating as other members and they believed it was her
heavy body that was to blame.
While some scrutinized Seeun for not taking good care of her weight despite working in
the Kpop industry, others pointed out that she was still in her teenage years and it’s
normal for her to gain weight.
They believed that there was no need for Seeun to lose weight unhealthily and suffer from
dire consequences like many other female idols had to do.
Besides, many also said that they find her healthy and toned body really attractive,
exuding an energetic and dynamic aura.
Sehun (EXO)
Kpop fans are no stranger to Sehun who has always been going viral for his handsome visual
and ice-cold vibe.
In February 2021, Sehun’s appearance again became one of the most popular topics on Weibo,
but this time the reaction was not quite positive.
The reason behind this was his strange appearance on a livestream with fans after he finished
his military duty
Specifically, Sehun shocked fans with several images showing signs of gaining weight.
His face seemed quite chubbier and he also looked quite worn out, which was completely
different from his casual image.
Immediately, the hashtag “Sehun is too fat” rose to the top of the Weibo search, kicking
off the Korean-Vietnamese social network.
Taking a look at his photos, many internet users were taken aback and even commented
that Sehun resembled a middle-aged uncle.
While some found this version of him unacceptable, Sehun’s fans explained that he has gained
weight due to the demands of his role in the new drama and some people should chill as
well as stop babbling about Sehun’s weight which has nothing to do with them.
After receiving negative feedback from netizens, Sehun probably went back to his former diets
and exercise schedule to regain his ideal body.
In his later photoshoots for GQ Korea x DIOR April Issue 2022, Sehun still looked as gorgeous
as ever before with good proportions and a sharp face.
Although appearance is one of the most important factors for Kpop idols, we should make allowances
for them when they show signs of gaining weight instead of heavily pouring hatred on them
because after all, they are still humans.
So, what are your thoughts on this?
Do you know any other similar cases of Kpop idols shocking fans with their weight gain?