Shocking confession: Actress Ko So-young looked inward through mental health counseling and candidly shared where her mind has been lately.
On May 5, Ko uploaded a video to her YouTube channel showing her meeting psychiatrist Lee Gwang-min for a one-on-one session. Citing her recent health checkup, Ko revealed, "Even though I don't do physically demanding work, I was told I burn a lot of energy," adding that she's been feeling unusually drained. She continued, "I was diagnosed with being in a burnout state because I overthink too much."
Ko admitted that her thoughts rarely stop. "It starts with worrying about my kids, then spirals into the future and my health. My mind never gets a break," she said. Dr. Lee analyzed, "Perfectionist tendencies and an excessive sense of responsibility can fuel anxiety and fatigue," noting that as her children grow and she gains more free time, that very space may be amplifying her unease.
During the session, Ko became emotional and teared up while speaking about her family. Asked how she wants to be remembered by her children, she confessed, "I want to be a mom who supports them comfortably, like a friend. I don't want to be remembered as someone who only sacrificed." But when asked if she could record a video message for their future weddings, she admitted, "I don't think I can do that yet," her eyes welling up.
Ko also reflected on her past parenting style. "I wanted to do everything perfectly—so much that I insisted on breastfeeding to the very end. I believed that was love," she said. "Now, I want to enjoy things for myself, but I feel like I'm the one holding myself back."
Wrapping up the counseling, Ko shared, "It became a chance to really look at myself. The heaviness I felt has lifted a lot," adding, "From now on, I want to understand myself more and try to be braver."
Ko So-young debuted in 1992. She married actor Jang Dong-gun in 2010, and they have one son and one daughter.