On December 17, actress Hwang Jung Eum spoke publicly for the first time about her insomnia and sleep aid dependence that she was diagnosed with in the recent episode of the variety show "Because I'm Solo."

The 39-year-old star explained that her insomnia started after her divorce from former pro golfer Lee Young-don, who she married in 2016.

After Hwang discovered that her husband was cheating, she reportedly said that led her to rely on pills to numb the loneliness.

"I never took sleeping pills during my 20 years of filming, but my candle was burning so short in early mega fall 2023 that my sleep quality plummeted to the point that I thought I would lose my mind," she said.

Hwang explained her own sleeplessness in the podcast episode. "I used to also sleep really well.

But these days, even though I can fall asleep, I more frequently wake up in the middle of the night. And this went on and it was really exhausting and traumatic.

Even after a full night of sleep, she said she still often felt unrefreshed and unfocused.

Other guests, including Chae Rim, sympathized with Hwang's ordeal, with Chae Rim recalling that she also suffered from insomnia but once went to sleep for 10 days and mentioned that when suffering from sleepless nights, she used foam cleanser instead of toothpaste, saying that her fatigue was so severe that her consciousness disappeared.

Hwang reassured viewers that she has found a healthier sleep routine. "I sleep so well these days, my head barely hits the pillow before I'm asleep," she said.

Hwang Jung Eum also opened a divorce mediation case from Lee Young-don in 2020. The couple briefly got back together, but in February 2024, they revealed they were going through the divorce process again.

Hwang had previously accused Lee of cheating on social media, which resulted in a series of legal warfare and public drama.