I.O.I Member Choi Yoo-jung Reflects on Career Struggles

Choi Yoo-jung, a former member of K-POP girl groups I.O.I and Weki Meki, is opening up about her doubts over life in the entertainment industry. She appears on the July 13 episode of SBS Plus talk show "Mysterious Story 2," where guests discuss the Korean idea of "aekttaem," a small misfortune believed to ward off a bigger one.

On the show, Choi looks back on a fire that broke out at her dorm during her Weki Meki days. "We had just re-debuted as Weki Meki and were preparing for our second album when the dorm caught fire," she said. "I was sleeping in the living room, and when I opened my eyes, the whole place was red."

She was wearing a full-body bear onesie at the time. "I had the hood on, and the bear's face had burned through with a big hole in it. But my hair wasn't scorched at all," she recalled. Choi added with a laugh, "After that, fans really loved the album. We joked that maybe the fire was our aekttaem."

Choi also spoke about the difficult stretch before she joined the audition program that launched her career. "Right before going on the show, I was in a really hard place mentally," she said. "I decided to give it one last shot, and it ended up leading to my debut. Looking back, I sometimes wonder if being 17 and hurting so much was itself my aekttaem."

She then shared broader concerns about her career. "My personality feels a little far from what this job requires," she said. "I wasn't mentally strong. I think I've gotten a lot stronger now. But I still wonder whether this work suits me, whether I belong in the entertainment industry, and whether there's a calling out there that fits me better."

A shaman on the program offered her reassurance. "You've been hurt by people so much that it's no surprise your heart feels fragile," the shaman said. "Starting this year, helpful people will come into your life. You worry about falling or failing, but you'll succeed, so you don't need to worry." Choi thanked the shaman as her eyes welled up.

"Mysterious Story 2" airs July 13 at 10:30 p.m. KST on SBS Plus.