Park Min Young is once again drawing attention not for her acting, but for her alarming physical condition. Recent reports revealed that the actress adopted an extreme weight-loss method for her upcoming drama “Siren’s Kiss”. According to online discussions, Park Min Young reportedly consumed only 3 liters of water per day and barely ate any solid food in order to maintain an extremely slender figure so slender that it has left many fans deeply worried. Promotional materials for the drama show her looking gaunt, frail, and visibly exhausted.
To be fair, her appearance perfectly reflects her character Han Seol Ah a lonely woman haunted by her past and trapped in a cycle of painful events. Park Min Young described Seol Ah as someone who has endured severe emotional trauma, gradually losing connection with the world and even her basic appetite. The character survives mostly on water and occasionally turns to alcohol during her lowest moments. In an effort to portray the role authentically, Park Min Young reportedly mirrored that lifestyle by relying heavily on water intake.
This is not the first time the actress has put her health at risk for a role. During “Marry My Husband”, she shocked the public by reducing her weight to just 37kg to convincingly portray a cancer patient. She drastically restricted her diet and reportedly sustained herself primarily on ion beverages during filming.
The production team arranged to shoot the most physically demanding scenes first including the character’s death scene so she would not have to maintain such a dangerously low weight for long. After completing those scenes, she was given approximately two weeks to rest and regain around 5kg to help her body recover.
While dedication to one’s craft is admirable, many viewers believe that repeatedly pushing her body to such extremes may lead to long-term physical and mental consequences. Park Min Young’s increasingly fragile appearance has prompted a pressing question: does an actor truly need to “punish” their body to prove commitment to a role?
Unfortunately, she is not the only celebrity facing such scrutiny. Chinese actress Wu Jinyan became the subject of concern after viewers noticed facial asymmetry during close-up scenes in a drama. Speculation intensified during a livestream when audiences observed a noticeable swelling under her jawline. Some online users even suggested the possibility of unhealthy weight-loss interventions, including controversial methods that have previously been banned in China due to serious health risks.
Actor Huang Xiaoming also admitted to undergoing extreme dieting for the film “The Wig.” He revealed that he lost nearly 15kg in just one month by surviving mainly on vegetable juices, including carrot juice, bitter melon juice, cucumber with spinach juice, and pure cucumber juice. Drinking roughly a bowl of each daily, he reduced his weight to under 65kg. However, he later confessed that the rapid weight loss led to malnutrition and placed significant strain on his heart.
Similarly, Luo Yunxi sparked concern in 2021 when photos showed him in a wheelchair, appearing excessively thin and fatigued. The actor had reportedly begun losing weight in 2020 to fit the aesthetic of historical drama roles, believing a slimmer physique would look better under heavy costumes and makeup. Yet prolonged restrictive dieting was said to have weakened his health, reigniting debates about body standards in the entertainment industry.
Artistic dedication deserves respect. But when the price paid is one’s physical and mental well-being, the conversation must shift.
Perhaps it is time for actresses like Park Min Young to pause and for the industry to reconsider the harsh beauty expectations that silently pressure performers into extreme measures. Talent and longevity are built on a healthy foundation. No role, no matter how meaningful, should require sacrificing one’s body to this extent.
Sources: K14