On April 17, a video titled “Everything About Lee Suhyun’s Flowering Project” was uploaded to her YouTube channel.

Speaking about the beginning of her slump, Lee Suhyun shared, “Rather than a specific moment or trigger, there was accumulated damage from working nonstop since K-pop Star.” She continued, “After my brother enlisted in the military, I prepared a solo album on my own, but even after completing everything internally, it never got released. That was the first time I felt a huge sense of frustration.”

She added, “I felt guilty about disappointing the people I worked with, and at the same time, I felt powerless, wondering if I just lacked ability. That’s when I started to become depressed.” She also revealed, “I said I wanted to rest, but I was told that was ‘being ungrateful.’ I realized that even though it was something I loved, I couldn’t just take a break whenever I wanted, and that shocked me deeply.”

Her condition gradually worsened. “While continuing to work, I felt like I was being worn down,” she recalled. “By the time I felt completely drained, I mentally collapsed.” She added, “It was already too late, but only when it became visible on the outside did people finally tell me to take a break.”

Even after stopping her activities, recovery was not easy. She confessed, “I gained freedom, but instead I lived like a hikikomori. I relied on binge eating for comfort and gained 20 to 30 kilograms rapidly.” She continued, “When I looked in the mirror, I hated how I looked. My self-esteem hit rock bottom.”

The turning point came through her family especially her brother Lee Chanhyuk. “It was unusual for my brother to come home, but he came to talk to me,” she said. “At that time, I was distancing myself from my family because I was so sensitive, and they didn’t know how to approach me. My mom cried every day.”

She continued, “At my brother’s recommendation, I went to a hospital (psychiatry). There, I was diagnosed with insomnia, depression, lethargy, social anxiety, and panic disorder.” She added, “I had thought something was wrong with me as a person, but realizing these were illnesses gave me relief for the first time.”

She also shared, “When the doctor told me it was treatable, it felt like I was saved. That’s when I decided I needed to get better.” As part of her healing journey, she later revealed that she set off on the Camino de Santiago pilgrimage.

Sources: Daum