Lee Ji-hye reveals she dropped to 45kg during failed solo era, credits Baek Ji-young for comeback

Lee Ji-hye sat down with MCs Lee Young-ja and Park Se-ri on tvN STORY's 남겨서 뭐하게 on June 8. The full picture of her solo years emerged. It was rough.

She debuted in 1998 as a member of co-ed group Shop (샵). Four years of group activity left her with less than 100 million won in total earnings, managed by her mother. After the group disbanded, she called the aftermath "the worst situation" — too young, no transferable skills, no clear path back into the industry. Her 2005 solo album landed with almost no response. Any plans for a follow-up froze. "When things kept not working out, they didn't give me an album," she said. "Investors invest in places that will make money."

Variety shows were next. She appeared on 안녕하세요, a show Lee Young-ja herself MC'd, but froze on camera. "I couldn't speak and just laughed. Since I had never played the role of being funny, I cried a lot when I got home."

The one breakthrough came through Baek Ji-young, who personally persuaded investors to back a new release — the single 아니 그거 말고. That song also flopped. "It can't fail like this," Lee Ji-hye said. The stress pushed her weight from her usual 50kg down to 45kg. "My bones were showing."

Recently she watched footage from that period. "My eyes looked so sad. I was so lonely and sang sadly alone." She left a comment on the video from her present-day self: "You suffered so much." (Her words, to herself — not a fan, not a friend.)

"I wanted to heal my past self," she said. "To the me who was anxious about the future — 'I'm here now, so you don't have to worry.'"

Eventually she let go of the singer identity and found her footing in variety, taking every offer that came in, including documentaries. Her mother-in-law reportedly approved of her marriage after watching her on 사람이 좋다.