Jae

The K-pop industry may seem like an unlikely place for mental health activism to begin—K-pop idols are often held to perfect, angelic standards, and although they may take breaks to “recover” their mental health, very few details are ever shared about the experience. However, Jae of Day6 and a few other K-pop idols have recently started promoting the importance of recognizing mental health issues and seeking help if necessary.

The general perception in many Asian cultures, including South Korea, regarding common mental illnesses like depression and anxiety is that recovery is a matter of mental willpower and simply “pushing through” so you can continue on with your life. Jae shared this view until a panic attack in April of 2020 that was so severe that he was convinced that he was on the verge of dying. This was the first time he realized that mental health could physically impact your life, and this incident is what led him to be clinically diagnosed with a panic disorder. 

During his recovery process, which included taking a break from Day6 promotional activities, Jae was particularly vocal—over Twitter, Twitch, and through various interviews—about his experience and his journey. In his interview with Allure, he describes his experience taking medication for his anxiety, including his mistaken belief that it was a magic pill that could instantly cure him and return him to normal, as well as the misconception that medication would stifle his creativity and “turn him into a zombie.” “It just levels things off,” he explains. “You're never too sad. No super highs, no super lows, and you kind of get the middle of everything.” He also points to the eaJ Project, started during Day6’s hiatus, as proof that his creativity remains unhindered even while under medication.

Overall, Jae is working hard to be as transparent as possible with his fans about his mental health journey and to dismantle the perception that K-pop idols are perfect. “I realized if we're supposed to be role models, what kind are we if we're only personifying perfect people?” he asks. In being open about his experience and his struggles, he hopes that he can encourage others to seek the help that they need, as soon as they need it.