Yejin, a founding member of BB GIRLS (formerly Brave Girls), recently reflected on her time as an idol and the challenges that led to her departure.
On September 4, YouTube channel 1ma2c released a video titled 'The Original Brave Girls Member Who Left the Group, Retired From Entertainment, and Found a New Career.'
Yejin debuted with Brave Girls in 2011 and left the group in 2014. Looking back, she shared, “The question I hear the most is, ‘BBGIRLS became successful later, don’t you regret leaving?’ But I’ve never once regretted my decision. Even when they rose to fame with "Rollin." I felt, ‘They endured much longer than I did, so of course, this day has come for them.’ I was genuinely happy for them and thankful they continued to mention my name as part of the original lineup.”
Explaining her decision to step away, Yejin pointed to a mix of factors including strict management, isolation from peers, and financial struggles. “Our agency was handling their first girl group at the time, so they were very strict. At music shows, we weren’t allowed to socialize with other artists and sometimes even had staff following us to the restroom. The hardest part was being cut off from my family for years. On top of that, we weren’t making money, so it felt like there was no sense of achievement.”
She also spoke candidly about her mental health during that period.“I really wanted to be an idol, but I was too young to handle it all. I struggled with depression. Because it was my lifelong dream, after I left, I couldn’t even watch music shows. Even now, I don’t really follow idol groups since it still brings up feelings of envy and frustration.”
After leaving the entertainment industry, Yejin began a new career as a show host. “Miss Korea seniors helped me, but just as I was preparing, COVID-19 hit and exams kept getting postponed. I failed for a year straight, which was difficult. But when BBGIRLS finally went viral with "Rollin," I managed to pass and started my new career. Now, I am in my fourth year as a show host, and I am happy with where I am.”
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