On June 16, Girls’ Generation members Hyoyeon and Seohyun appeared on the popular YouTube channel ‘Zzanbro’ hosted by Shin Dong Yup, where they shared candid stories about relationships, mental health, and dealing with harsh criticism early in their careers.
When asked about what she looks for in a partner, Seohyun emphasized the importance of mental health, saying,
“Someone who is mentally healthy.”
Hyoyeon revealed a past experience dating someone emotionally challenging, describing how he would say things like,
“I’m just watching to see how long you can keep pretending to be nice.”
Reflecting on it, she recognized how emotionally entangled she had been. Despite this, she maintained a balanced perspective, stating,
“Yes. Everyone can be lame sometimes. But I’d rather deal with someone cool who’s lame once in a while than someone who’s just uncool all the time.”
The conversation then turned to their early days in the industry. Shin Dong Yup noted how tough it must have been for Hyoyeon to debut so young and face negative feedback.
Hyoyeon admitted feeling sad over criticism, especially about her looks, despite her popularity. She explained,
“I admit I had a strong look, but it still hurt to be judged on appearance.”
Seohyun supported her, adding that the hate was less about looks and more about fans fixating on moments where she wasn’t perfect during performances. Hyoyeon shared her empowering approach to criticism:
“I can’t control how people judge appearances. So I told myself, ‘Fine. I’ll beat them with my talent. They just don’t have an eye for greatness.’”
Shin Dong Yup praised Hyoyeon for her resilience, calling her “seriously cool,” with Seohyun echoing,
“Unnie, you’re amazing.”
Their heartfelt discussion shines a light on the challenges idols face behind the scenes, and how Hyoyeon and Seohyun continue to inspire with their honesty and strength.
