‘Too thin?’ Extreme weight loss trend among K-drama stars sparks concern

From left, Kim Ji-won, Ha Ji-won, and Park Min-young / Captured from Vogue, Xportsnews

A growing trend of “extremely thin” appearances among top Korean actresses is drawing mixed reactions online, with some praising their professionalism while others say they miss their healthier past looks.

Actresses such as Kim Ji-won, Ha Ji-won and Park Min-young have recently gone viral for noticeably slimmer physiques — fueling debate over body image standards in the entertainment industry.

Kim Ji-won recently attended Bulgari’s “2026 Eclettica High Jewelry Collection” launch event in Milan as an ambassador, where her significantly slimmer figure drew attention. While her signature visuals remained striking, some viewers said they “barely recognized her,” pointing to what they saw as a dramatic change.

Kim Ji-won / Captured from Vogue, Xportsnews

Others, however, suggested the difference could be due to styling or camera angles, noting that she appeared closer to her usual look during her airport departure.

Ha Ji-won, long known for her athletic and healthy image, also revealed she intentionally altered her physique for her role in the ENA drama “Climax.” Speaking on a YouTube channel hosted by Sung Si-kyung, she said, "When people think of me, they think of a healthy image. I changed my body on purpose. I did intense workouts and reduced muscle mass to look more fragile and sensitive."

She added, "Erasing myself was harder than acting," referring to the physical transformation required for the role.

Ha Ji-won / Xportsnews

The results were evident during the drama’s press conference March 10, where her leaner, elongated silhouette drew attention.

Meanwhile, Park Min-young — often cited as a representative example of the “extremely thin” trend — previously revealed she dropped to 37 kilograms while filming “Marry My Husband” by consuming only sports drinks to portray a terminally ill character.

Park Min-young / Courtesy of tvN

For her new drama “Siren,” she maintained a similarly thin figure to match a character who survives primarily on water and alcohol. She said, "If I gained weight, it would feel strange for the role, so I ended up only consuming water and alcohol. During filming, I drank about 3 liters of water a day."

She added that she returned to her normal routine after filming ended.

While such transformations are often seen as part of actors’ dedication to their craft, the increasingly extreme nature of these changes has sparked concern among viewers. Online reactions have included comments expressing nostalgia for the actresses’ earlier, healthier appearances.

This article from Xportsnews is adapted by a generative AI system and edited by The Korea Times.