Jeon So Mi shared her inspiring life journey as she tried to prove herself as a person of mixed descent in South Korea.
Just like any other idol, Jeon So Mi became subject to bullying long before her debut. She is a mix of Korean, Dutch, and Canadian, and her appearance in South Korea led her to suffer from extreme bullying.
As a result, she dyed her hair black and even underwent plastic surgery for her eyes and nose.
Her fate changed soon after seeing Rihanna's Don't Stop The Music, causing her to dream of becoming a singer.
Jeon So Mi's Journey As K-pop Idol Was Not Easy
When she reached her fourth year in elementary school, Jeon So Mi auditioned in different entertainment companies before finally getting cast in several films. However, things turned worst when she won Produce 101 and became part of the girl group, IOI.
Speaking in a new interview with MMTG, the K-pop idol spoke candidly about catching celebrity disease when she debuted in a group. Korean fans describe celebrity disease as a state where celebrities take their fame and fans' attention for granted.
Several famous K-pop idols and groups also experienced the same, including 2PM, Lee Joon, Lee Jin Hyuk, and Kang Seung Yoon.
Jeon So Mi said during the interview (as translated by AllKpop):
"You become used to the idea of always being taken care of. I always thought that I was supposed to look perfect without a day of rest all throughout the 365 days a year. And, so I thought it was natural for other people to take care of me. I didn't know that there would be a difference between asking for favors and saying 'do this for me~'. I think I was subconsciously acting that way."
The solo artist then detailed when she realized that she had the disease. She told the MC that, when she debuted, she was also bombarded with rumors like she failed to "bow" to people whenever she was in public.
As a taekwondo player, she reportedly realized it immediately and said she probably lost her mind when she behaved that way.
Fans Applauded Jeon So Mi After Celebrity Disease
In 2016, Jeon So Mi finally got her break after losing her chance during Mnet reality survival program Sixteen (the show that made TWICE). That year, she represented JYP Entertainment in Produce 101 and ended up securing first place with 853,333 votes.
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Fortunately, her celebrity disease did not take too long to be cured, especially before joining YG Entertainment's The Black Label. After Jeon So Mi admitted her mistakes, her fans quickly lauded her for being honest and learning from what she did.
Jeon So Mi recently released her first full-length album, XOXO, sharing its lead single of the same name in October.
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