Shocking reveal: Former SISTAR member Bora opened up about the psychological pain and deep self-reflection she faced during her roughly three-year hiatus — admitting the bubbly image fans knew wasn’t the whole truth.
On May 14, a new video featuring Bora was posted on Urban Zakapa member Jo Hyun Ah’s YouTube channel. Looking back on the period when her activities slowed, Bora confessed, "At first, I didn’t even realize how much I was struggling. Ironically, when I wasn’t busy, it was mentally even harder."
She explained, "It’s not like I completely stopped working, but I wasn’t as active as before. I even chose not to sign with an agency on purpose." She added, "I felt a huge sense of guilt about the act of resting itself. I kept telling myself, 'It’s okay to rest right now,' just to get through it."
Bora said the hiatus forced her to look inward. "I always thought I was just a bright person. The energetic side people saw during SISTAR days was definitely real," she said, "but it turns out I had a darker side than anyone. I realized, much later, that I’d been wrapping myself in a bright image." She continued, "The first step was admitting my mental health wasn’t great. I accepted it and decided I had to overcome it myself." She concluded calmly, "Now, I want to show myself as I am — no filter, no facade."
Jo Hyun Ah empathized with Bora’s story, saying, "Even taking a few days off makes you worry, 'What if I never get to work again?'" She then encouraged Bora, calling her "a much stronger person than you think."
Meanwhile, Bora debuted with SISTAR in 2010 and earned massive love with hits like 'Push Push' and 'Touch My Body.' After the group disbanded in 2017, she expanded into acting and recently signed an exclusive contract with a new agency, hinting at a fresh chapter ahead.