Returning to the public spotlight requires a lot of preparation for Korea's female celebrities. People evaluate the stars' appearance from head to toe, and there is nothing worse than to hear "looks chubbier than before." That explains why some celebs turn to extreme diets before they return.
Five top Korean female celebrities have unveiled their severe meal plans for weight loss.
| Lee Tae-im / Korea Times file |
1. Actress Lee Tae-im, 30
Lee said on talk show "Video Star" on MBC Everyone on Tuesday that she eats "only three spoons of food a day." "To stay in good shape, I eat once a day," she said. "I kept to this diet for the past six months. I will start eating six spoons of food a day from now on for my health." Lee noticeably lost a lot of weight when she made her comeback in 2015. Some netizens suggested she might be suffering from anorexia.
| Ailee / Korea Times file |
2. Singer Ailee, 27
Ailee was the epitome of a healthy body and had an explosive singing style when she debuted in 2012. But last year, she returned amazingly skinny. She said the secret to losing 10 kilograms in a month was eating nothing but 500 grams of protein, two cups of vegetables and one piece of fruit a day. "I wanted to know how much weight I can lose," Ailee said.
| IU / Korea Times file |
3. Singer IU, 24
IU also has lost weight. "One apple for breakfast, then two sweet potatoes or bananas and a cup of protein drink for lunch is what I ate each day," she said on the radio program "Noon Song of Hope" on MBC FM4U in 2013. "After five days of hard exercise and strict diet, I lost five kilograms."
| Soyou / Korea Times file |
4. Singer Soyou, 25
Soyou of Korean girl band Sistar is renowned for her flawless body. She revealed her secret to losing eight kilograms on the TV show "Get It Beauty 2015" on OnStyle. She said she ate the whites of four quail eggs and a cup of milk a day. Soyou shocked viewers by saying her workout routine combined with the diet was hot yoga, weight training, cardio exercises and dance practice.
| Luna / Korea Times file |
5. Singer Luna, 23
Korean girl band f(x)'s lead vocalist Luna returned to the public eye skinnier in 2015. Last December, in a YouTube video, she released her weight-loss meal plan. She usually enjoys a light breakfast, such as two slices of cheese, two boiled eggs or calamansi fruit, and eats a bigger lunch. But before the comeback she said: "My daily diet plans are strawberries, tomatoes, one pack of apple juice, a few dried persimmon and two sweet potatoes a day." Fans were shocked when Luna said: "Right before an important showcase or camera shoot, I only eat lemon or drink green tea and water."