Minzy opens up about her mental health, particularly the struggles she had battling with depression during her 2NE1 years, and leaving the girl group formed by YG Entertainment in 2009. Minzy, who is now a solo artist, shared her story to help others who are experiencing similar issues.
Billboard released an interview with Minzy on December 18, where she talked about her days when she's still a 2NE1 member. The 24-year-old South Korean singer shared how she had been recruited to YG Entertainment after videos of her dancing went viral. At first, the agency wanted to debut her as a solo artist, but she was later on added as the last member of the 2NE1 group as it needed a dancer.
Minzy, whose real name is Gong Min-Ji, said her social skills had been affected after debuting at the age of 15. The singer said she didn't know how to have relationships with other people, and since she debuted at a young age, she never learned how to socialize. She said she never really had a normal childhood, like playing outside with other kids.
Even though her debut was a success, Minzy said the comments of some Korean netizens about the appearance of 2NE1 affected her mental health. She said people talked about them not being the prettiest, or referring to them as "ugly group." The singer shared she didn't know how to process those remarks, and it was tough. At that time, she and other members of 2NE1 pretended like it was never a big deal, but they can't forget about it.
Minzy added she tried to be more matured like other girls in her group, but she felt like she's still different. Her lowest points, she revealed, were during the age of 16 and 17 - when 2NE1 was promoting "Ugly," "Can't Nobody," and "I Am the Best." She opened up that a lack of a support system and pressures being a celebrity trigger depression and suicidal thoughts - which leads to confusion and asking herself what she wanted to do.
She said everyone loves and supports her when she's at the stage, but she felt alone and empty when the show was done. Minzy felt her life was just like a stage and she can't figure out what's her life was all about. She's uncertain if life is better being a performer or it would be better if she'll be alone. She was confused and never had the time to figure out how to balance the life of stage and to be alone.
Minzy also called her fellow 2NE1 members as "sisters," saying they were all homebodies. For her, their memories were very cozy and warm, and the moments she spent with them were close to her heart. She said the feeling of having a family is more important than fame, but when everyone started doing their things, all of them spent less time with each other.
Minzy noted lack of communication on mental health had made her unable to find help and support, but she added YG Entertainment producer Teddy became her support system who encouraged her as she was youngest in the group. The producer often said to her that if she's depressed or struggling with depression, she should believe in God and she'll get through with her struggles.
She said religion helped her with her mental health, wherein she basically met God at the age of 17 and 18, and then she had finally found her faith. Minzy said that's the point when major changes happened to her life; she met people with the same faith. She learned other people have similar struggles and she began to understand that it's all right to struggle and feel bad. As long as you have faith, you'll get through it.
Talking about leaving 2NE1 and YG Entertainment, Minzy explained she needed some time to deal with her depression, so she needed to find out what she wanted to do with her life. She needed to find her direction, and the only way to do that is to leave the group and fight for her own will.
The singer explained leaving 2NE1 is not breaking the group, but it's about fighting for herself, for her future, and for the things she wanted to do. Minzy said she felt the pressure and the burden going on to her solo career, but she said it was a good burden to feel. As she reflected with the changes in her life, she said she's a different person now. Looking back at her old self, Minzy said: "I want to help that woman."
