On April 17, 2026, Lee Suhyun, one half of the acclaimed sibling duo AKMU, opened up about her deeply personal journey of overcoming a two-year slump, marked by significant weight gain and mental health struggles, culminating in a remarkable 30kg weight loss. Her candid revelations, shared in a YouTube video titled 'All About Lee Suhyun's Blooming Project,' and further echoed during a live appearance on KBS2's 'The Seasons – Sung Si Kyung's Ear Boyfriend,' have resonated with fans and the wider public, sparking conversations about self-care, resilience, and the realities behind celebrity transformations.
According to multiple Korean news outlets, Lee Suhyun’s story began with a period of intense personal and professional pressure. After years of non-stop activity since her breakout on 'K-pop Star,' she found herself craving rest during her brother Lee Chanhyuk’s military service and her own solo album preparations. However, as Suhyun recounted in her video, her requests for a break were misunderstood or dismissed by those around her. "Because I was young, I think I threw tantrums instead of expressing myself seriously. So people didn’t take me seriously and refused to let me rest. I was told, 'That’s just being ungrateful,'" she explained, according to Newsen.
This lack of understanding led her to a "deeper place" of frustration and burnout. As her mental health deteriorated, Suhyun withdrew socially, even from her family, and turned to binge eating for comfort. Over one to two years, she gained nearly 40kg, which triggered social anxiety and a profound drop in self-esteem. "I didn’t even meet my family," she admitted, describing her isolation. Eventually, at her brother’s urging, she sought medical help and was diagnosed with insomnia, depression, lethargy, social anxiety, and panic disorder.
Yet, it was at this low point that Suhyun began to find hope. Drawing strength from her family and medical professionals, she set out on a recovery journey that included a transformative pilgrimage along the Santiago trail. Recalling the experience on KBS2, she said, "I went on the Santiago pilgrimage to overcome the difficulties I was facing. I realized how much I had damaged my body during the pilgrimage, feeling like my feet were breaking because of my own actions. I came back realizing, 'I really destroyed myself.'" This moment of reckoning fueled her determination to change.
Her initial steps toward health were gradual. With help from her mother, she lost 10kg over a year simply by eating home-cooked meals, without exercise. But the real turning point came when her brother suggested a detox as they prepared to move. What started as a casual three-day challenge quickly evolved into a structured routine, complete with a coach who visited her home and eventually a full-scale training camp.
Describing the intensity of her new lifestyle, Suhyun shared, "Every morning at 7, I would go swimming on an empty stomach. I ate very little and exercised a lot. If I couldn’t finish my swimming laps in time, I’d have to do extra PT sets. At the gym, I played badminton and did penalty games that involved running. I gritted my teeth and did this for 22 days straight." She also recalled a particularly grueling experience at a fasting center with her brother and trainer, calling it "so terrible I never want to do it again."
Despite moments when she wanted to give up, Suhyun’s resolve only strengthened. "I want to give up, but I won’t," she said in her video, as reported by OSEN. Her approach to food changed as well; she adapted to a mostly vegetable-based diet, eating delivery food only once during the third week. Her initial goal was to lose 25kg, with a final aim of shedding 40kg. Ultimately, she succeeded in losing about 30kg from her highest weight.
But the transformation wasn’t just physical. Suhyun emphasized that the real victory was learning to care for and control herself, not just watching the scale drop. "There are probably many people like me two years ago. I was convinced my life wouldn’t change and that I’d have to live like that forever. It’s not about losing weight or exercising. I learned to take care of myself and control myself," she reflected. She also spoke of her decision to "atone for lost time and never waste my life or youth again." Through daily struggles, her mindset and life changed, and she now looks forward to the future with excitement. "It’s amazing to see myself looking forward to my future. I truly think my life is going to be more fun than anyone else’s," she said.
Her journey inspired AKMU’s latest music, as revealed on their KBS2 appearance. The Santiago pilgrimage, in particular, informed the worldview of their new song. Performing tracks like 'Rumored Paradise,' 'Bug Out,' and the chart-topping 'Joy, Sorrow, Beautiful Heart,' AKMU connected deeply with their audience. Lee Chanhyuk expressed, "We didn’t aim for number one, but the joy of our story being loved is indescribable." Suhyun was moved by a fan’s comment about their music bringing sunlight into a dark room, saying, "I’m glad I released this album." Some audience members were even brought to tears during their live performance.
Now, Suhyun is focused on maintaining her health, aiming to lose weight more slowly through the summer of 2026 and building the self-discipline required for long-term success. She’s not overly concerned with her appearance, declaring, "I’m not as sensitive about looks as others, and I think I’m very pretty now." She also cautioned against online misinformation about her dieting methods, reminding fans that there’s no one-size-fits-all solution.
Perhaps most powerfully, Suhyun’s message to others is one of hope and solidarity. "There are definitely people watching this who are in the same place I was two years ago. I was convinced my life wouldn’t change, that I’d have to live like that forever, and that I’d never have a vibrant future. But it’s not about losing weight. If I could do it, you can too. Let’s keep going," she encouraged.
Lee Suhyun’s story is a reminder that transformation is rarely straightforward or glamorous. It’s a journey of self-discovery, hard choices, and daily battles. Her openness has given voice to many facing similar struggles, and her future, by her own account, has never looked brighter.