In a recent YouTube video, Minami, a member of the K-pop group Rescene, discussed the psychological effects of extreme weight loss she experienced to meet the aesthetic known as 뼈말라, which can be transliterated as "Pyeomalla" and roughly translates to "maigre jusqu’aux os" in French, meaning "thin to the bone." This ideal of extreme thinness has gained significant traction in South Korean society and is often pursued by celebrities who are seen as role models. According to The Korea Times, Minami described feeling intense trauma due to strict dietary restrictions and grueling training schedules. Similarly, Seola, a member of the group WJSN (also known as Cosmic Girls), revealed that she attempted to reach this ideal during an album promotion, which led to her being taken to the emergency room twice a week. "I only got up to go on stage. The rest of the time, I was lying down," she said. Actress Han So-hee also shared her struggles with rapid weight loss, telling Hankuk Kyungje, an economic daily, that she "nearly died several times" while trying to lose weight too quickly. Despite these warnings, the pursuit of the Pyeomalla ideal continues among some celebrities. Actress Lee Joo-yeon was reportedly trying to achieve this look, according to Health Chosun, while superstar IU recently told her fans that "two hard-boiled eggs in the morning were enough to satisfy her for the day," as reported by Maeil Kyungje. These statements have raised concerns among local media about the impact of this trend on adolescents and young adults. Medical professionals have described the phenomenon as "as dangerous as obesity," according to Hankook Ilbo, a daily newspaper. The paper warns that in Seoul, "8.2% of women are underweight," some of whom continue to try to lose more weight, driven by the "false belief that being thin equates to beauty." The testimonies of celebrities speaking out about these issues have been viewed positively by The Korea Times. In January, columnist Wi Geun-woo of Kyunghyang Shinmun called for "banning this term from people pages," criticizing the "glamorization" of a term that originally came from the pro-ana movement, which promotes mental anorexia. In the magazine Hankyoreh 21, Japanese psychiatrist Yamazaki Tadahiro warned that the "social ideal of thinness" contributes to the development of "eating disorders" in South Korea, where "there is no real treatment system dedicated" to such issues. The widespread use of obesity medications like Wegovy and Mounjaro in the country is also concerning, as they "are experiencing great success" among people with normal weight, or even those "already underweight, who are trying to achieve the Pyeomalla goal," according to MBC News. Deputy Heo Jong-sik has called for "strengthening the regulation of prescriptions," according to Hankook Ilbo, highlighting the growing concern over the misuse of these drugs in pursuit of an unrealistic beauty standard.