[Sportschosun Jeong Yu-na] Yulhee, formerly of LABOUM, candidly opened up about the career break and depression she experienced after her divorce.
On the 20th, the YouTube channel ENA Entertainment released a video titled "First confession about life after a career break: Yulhee speaks out for the first time."
In the video, Yulhee talked about what led her to start TikTok Live and shared the worries she had been carrying.
That day, Yulhee addressed how some articles had described her as a "BJ" and a "live streamer" after she recently began broadcasting on TikTok Live. She said, "When I started broadcasting on TikTok, I also wanted to change those kinds of prejudices and perceptions," adding, "I was only doing a show where I could communicate with fans, but the headlines were so sensational that people misunderstood me."
She continued, "I do broadcasts where I chat with fans and play games with them," and added, "People around me were actually very supportive, but I think I felt the prejudice when I saw those articles."
Yulhee also spoke frankly about the difficult period she went through after her divorce. She said, "I turned 30 this year, and I have a lot of worries about the future. I started training as a trainee when I was 14, so I had never even worked part-time, and after my divorce at the end of 2023, I was completely out of work for about one to two years."
She added, "I became anxious and my worries about the future grew. I also wanted to prepare well for old age, but the stress from things not going the way I wanted built up all at once." She also said, "When I am struggling, I completely retreat into a cave," and added, "I barely check KakaoTalk and cut off contact with people."
Yulhee said she later realized her condition was more serious than she had thought. She explained, "The company CEO suggested counseling. During our conversations, I apparently sat blankly for 20 to 30 minutes at a time," adding, "After getting counseling, I learned my condition was serious, and I also took antidepressants."
She went on to say, "I had depression, anxiety, and even symptoms of social avoidance," and recalled, "I went through a really hard time and think I made myself very lonely."
She said she has now recovered significantly. Yulhee stated, "I met a good program and got to know many people through it, and thanks to that, I stopped taking medication and no longer go to the hospital," adding, "My inner self is gradually becoming healthier."
Meanwhile, Yulhee married Choi Min-hwan of FT Island in 2018 and had three children, but the couple divorced in 2023.
jyn2011@sportschosun.com
