The entertainment industry is known for being cutthroat, raising the bar on beauty standards.

Korean celebrities, even the most talented and loved ones, have dealt with cruel comments about their looks.

Let's take a more complex look at some of the actresses and idols who have been shamefully fat-shamed—and how they reacted to it.

1. Song Hye Kyo

While Song Hye Kyo is celebrated for her jaw-dropping beauty and exceptional acting prowess, the actress was not spared criticism during the early stages of her career.

Despite her natural physical charms and lovely features (her skin was as smooth as glass), netizens often called her rookie days her "chubby period."

In her initial roles, most notably Autumn in My Heart, she was vilified for putting on weight, as her face was described as chubbier and her limbs fatter than other actresses.

At the time, she was said to have weighed approximately 70 kilos—something that had become a point of contention among viewers.

Song Hye Kyo lost 17 kilograms through strict diet and exercise over the years. Still, the poking and prodding wasn't over.

She also received criticism for being "too skinny" after her extreme weight loss drop for her character in The Glory.

2. Kim Tae Hee

Even for Kim Tae Hee, who has been recognized as one of Korea's most good-looking ladies, body shaming came as well.

When she starred opposite Song Seung Heon in My Princess, she was criticized for being "too round," and her shoulders 'looked wider' than Song Seung Heon's.

Kim Tae Hee, however, was not fazed by the hate. She answered smoothly, "I like the chubby type more. Women who look like that are often more cheerful and happy."

However, some statements from her brother about losing weight remind us that pressure on women always exists—even at the familial level.

3. Kang Sora

And yet another face of cruelty from the beauty standards—actress Kang Sora. At her heaviest, she'd tipped the scales at 72 kilograms and talked before about being a "big eater" who could finish off a chicken, a pizza, and a cake in one sitting.

As her career blossomed, her diet changed drastically. Kang Sora shared that she lost almost 20 kg using crash diets, but also through yoga, ballet, and weight lifting.

While her transformation came with a downside, she confessed to not eating a lot during her time to lose pounds.

4. Kim Sun Ah

Kim Sun Ah's story is unique. In order to play the role of Kim Sam Soon, a woman who was insecure about her weight in My Name is Kim Sam Soon, she put on 7 kilograms.

Even though her performance received critical acclaim, her gain caused countless inquiries into her size and eclipsed her success as an actress.

After the show, Kim Sun Ah lost the extra pounds she had gained for the role, but the actress felt upset with the lasting image of her character.

"People forgot I was a person apart from my character," she said.

8. Ha Jae Sook

One of the actresses who has faced weight criticism the most is Ha Jae Sook.

The cutthroat comments came after the star posted a video of her doing Pilates on Instagram, with netizens asking cruelly why she was still fat if she was exercising so much.

Seo replied with certainty, explaining that she works out for her health, not for weight loss. She stated, "My body is the best when I meet my standards."

Seo also condemned that people tend to think that overweight individuals simply live on the sofa. Thus, her story serves to teach others to love themselves and resist all kinds of bias.

6. IU

IU debuted at the age of 15, and since that time, she has been in a growing spotlight. The weight of the idol became a target of constant discussion, and every minor change engaged her more.

On one occasion, she unveiled her awful diet, which included one apple, two sweet potatoes, and a protein shake per day.

In a matter of five days, since she took on this unconscionable regimen, IU lost 5 kilograms. This inevitably led the idol to an unhealthy relationship with food.

Nevertheless, the starlet recognized the problem by seeking professional advice and gradually progressing towards a better life.

7. UEE

UAEE performed in crop tops for the first time during the Bang promotions of After School. However, she instantly became a target of those who scolded the idol by calling her "belly fat."

This term left the starlet in agony for years, and she always had to endure it since she had felt delighted by the low-calorie diet. In particular, UEE took in food only once in 24 hours for almost eight years.

During that time, she was convinced that the only way to save one's career was to remain slim. Fortunately, the idol has recovered now and has realized the importance of staying healthy.

One of the dark sides of the phenomenon of fat shaming in Korea is that the standards of beauty are unforgiving, no matter how attractive you are.

These celebrities were constantly under the spotlight but managed to rise above the hate and show us that one should always love themselves.

Tell us what you think in the comments!