Tony An, a former member of H.O.T, recalled a time when he struggled with severe depression in the past.
On the 29th, the tvN STORY special for the 10th anniversary of 'How Did You Become an Adult' featured former World Bank President Jim Yong Kim, who made a grants presentation.
On that day, former President Kim shared insights about the chronic issue of depression in Korea. He said, "Anxiety and loneliness are closely related to suffering. This is a problem that can be adequately treated. The only way to address this issue is for the Korean people to collectively demand a solution."
He stated, "In the United States, many celebrities openly talk about their depression," mentioning Hollywood stars such as Dwayne Johnson, Lady Gaga, and Emma Thompson.
Tony An, who attended the panel and listened to the lecture, shared, "I also suffered from severe depression in my mid-20s. There was a time when I relied heavily on alcohol and drugs, to the point of thinking about death every day, and it was really difficult."
He revealed, "I later thought about it deeply. Why did I feel that way? I think it has to do with comparison. While you mentioned social media, there are so many people living better than me and more successful than me, and I felt a compulsion to do better, which made me feel increasingly unhappy rather than happy, and I think that worsened my depression."
In response to the question, "Did you ever feel pushed to an extreme when you had depression?" he revealed, "I lived on a high floor. I looked down and had many bad thoughts. I even held a knife at one point," shocking those present.
He conveyed his honest thoughts, stating, "There were indeed many dangerous moments, but later I reflected that my obsession with comparing myself to others and trying to be more successful was the real problem."
Meanwhile, the special for the 10th anniversary of 'How Did You Become an Adult' airs every Tuesday at 8:20 p.m.
[Photo] OSEN DB, tvN STORY
[OSEN]