TWICE's leader Jihyo opened up about her struggles with self-esteem, touching the hearts of many fans.

On July 1st, a video featuring Jihyo in "My Private Art Museum" was uploaded on the YouTube channel "14F Il Sa F."

In the video, Jihyo talked about her debut after 11 years as a trainee. She said, "We cried in the waiting room with the members. I especially remember crying a lot with Nayeon and Jeongyeon, as we had been trainees for a long time."

She shared, "I was a trainee for so long, with many ups and downs. I even ran away from home and stopped going to the company, thinking, 'Maybe this isn’t the right job for me.' I gained a lot of weight during that time. Eventually, the company suggested I appear on Mnet’s 'SIXTEEN' (2015), which led to my debut. It felt like I had finally reached my goal after 11 years."

When asked why she chose TWICE’s hit song "Feel Special" as the theme, she explained, "Since it will be my 10th anniversary next year and I spent 11 years as a trainee, I thought it would be nice to look back at my shining moments."

Jihyo wanted to discuss self-esteem, saying, "Since my job requires constant evaluation, I always think a lot about self-esteem."

When asked if she ever felt her self-esteem drop, she replied, "During my trainee days and the first 8-9 years after debut, I had low self-esteem. I was constantly being evaluated and told to fix things, so I began to only see my flaws. Even when looking in the mirror, I thought, 'This isn’t pretty, how can I make it pretty?' Watching monitors, I would think, 'Why am I dancing like that? Why am I singing like this?' I evaluated myself like others did."

One day, she looked in the mirror and thought, "Why do I hate myself? I need to love myself to be loved by others." She started saying out loud, "I love you, Jihyo," before going to bed. At first, it felt awkward, but doing it daily helped her genuinely love herself. She began to find positive aspects when watching monitors and turned her traits into strengths.

She shared, "I realized that what’s inside is more important than what’s outside. Focusing too much on appearances can lead to missing out on understanding who I am. Instead, I filled myself with things I love, which made me feel less critical of myself and more loving."

When asked how she protected herself from others' views, she admitted, "I got hurt a lot and couldn't avoid seeing malicious comments. These comments made me feel inadequate. When I realized the importance of self-esteem, I focused on nurturing myself. I engaged in hobbies I enjoyed, met friends, ate good food, and cherished every day. I became so busy with my own life that others' opinions no longer mattered. I didn't have time to care about others' views. It wasn’t about thinking, 'I’ll do this instead,' but more about realizing, 'I need to live for myself.'"

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Director Kim Hyung Joo of The Match has finally shared his thoughts on Yoo Ah In’s involvement in a drug scandal, calling it a major disappointment, especially considering the actor’s role as the lead in the film.

On March 19th, the director attended a press screening and briefing for The Match at CGV Yongsan I'Park Mall in Seoul. Alongside Kim, actors Lee Byung Hun, Ko Chang Seok, Hyun Bong Sik, Moon Jung Hee, and Jo Woo Jin were present to discuss the film.

The Match revolves around the legendary Go player Cho Hun Hyun (played by Lee Byung Hun), who, after a loss to his disciple, decides to challenge the top players again, driven by his competitive spirit. The movie is directed by Kim Hyung Joo.

Lee Byung Hun plays the iconic Go champion Cho Hun Hyun, while Yoo Ah In portrays his disciple, Lee Chang Ho.

During the event, Kim recalled the casting process, saying, "When we were casting, Lee Byung Hun was cast first. Just having him felt like we had the world, and then, getting Yoo Ah In as a bonus made me even happier."

Although filming wrapped up in 2021, Yoo Ah In's drug scandal led to the indefinite postponement of the film’s release. Now, nearly four years later, The Match is finally set to hit theaters on March 26th.

Reflecting on Yoo Ah In's scandal, Director Kim openly shared his frustration, calling it "irresponsible and disappointing" for the actor to make such a mistake as the lead.

He added, “Before being an actor, he made a mistake as a member of society and was punished, so I don’t think there’s much more to say.” Kim smiled bitterly as he spoke.

Describing the challenges he faced due to the scandal, Kim compared the experience to being trapped in "a hellish tunnel."

He said, "There was nothing I could do inside, so it was overwhelming. But now that we have the light of release, it feels like I can breathe. I’m deeply moved."

The director also shared that because Yoo Ah In was the lead actor, the film had to be released as it was, without editing. This has led some people to feel uneasy about watching the film, given the actor’s scandal.

When asked about this, Director Kim said, "Choosing and judging is up to the audience, so I can't force anything. But I hope they watch the movie as it is. I unintentionally got hurt before the release, so I hope people watch the movie warmly, as if applying ointment to a wound."

The Match will officially be released on March 26th.

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