Some call her a fallen angel, others a plastic monster. Love her or hate her, Park Bom’s journey in K-pop has been filled with pain, misunderstanding, and being blamed for things beyond her control. So what really happened to her in the past, and does she have any psychological struggles now?

A Traumatic Past

Park Bom, born March 24, 1984, is a South Korean K-pop artist known for her powerhouse vocals and a career filled with highs and lows. She was born in Seoul but moved to the U.S. during middle school. While there, she witnessed a close friend pass away right in front of her – a traumatic event that led to her diagnosis of PTSD. On top of that, she was also diagnosed with ADHD and started seeing specialists for support.

Despite her love for music, her parents weren’t exactly on board with her dream. But thankfully, she had her aunt – the one person in her family who truly supported her. Bom once shared on Strong Heart show that after moving to the U.S. at 8 years old, her aunt took care of her like a second mom. She was the one who encouraged Bom to chase music, but sadly, she passed away right before 2NE1’s debut. Losing her biggest cheerleader was devastating.

The Harsh Scrutiny Over Her Appearance

Since the start of her career, Park Bom has faced relentless criticism about her looks. People have called her “ugly” both before and after her plastic surgery. But what a lot of people don’t realize is that her procedures weren’t just for aesthetics – she had to undergo surgery due to a lymph node condition, which causes painful swelling. If she hadn’t had the procedure, her face could have been permanently swollen or asymmetrical.

Even now, she still has a swollen face due to lymph node issues – not because of a failed surgery or plastic surgery addiction. However, she is constantly body-shamed, with people calling her “overweight” or a “plastic monster.”

The Amphetamine Scandal That Shook K-Pop

In 2014, Park Bom got caught up in a controversy over importing Amphetamine from the U.S. to South Korea. Amphetamine is a common prescription drug in the States for treating ADHD, but it’s completely banned in Korea. She had been legally prescribed the medication by her U.S. doctor, but because she didn’t know the legal restrictions in Korea, she got into trouble for bringing it in.

She was never charged after providing medical proof of her long-term prescription and ongoing treatment from the U.S., but the incident still wrecked her reputation. Many believe it played a part in 2NE1’s disbandment in 2016, and netizens continued to speculate that YG’s explanation was just a cover-up for an alleged drug scandal.

Recent Struggles: Concert Incidents & Social Media Concerns

It’s clear that in recent months, Park Bom has been actively working on losing weight. She looks noticeably slimmer in 2NE1’s recent concerts across Asia.

However, at the same time, she has been facing a rough patch in her career. In November 2024, during a concert in the Philippines, she fainted and had to miss her second performance.

Then, a few days ago, at a 2NE1 concert in Vietnam, fans criticized her for a lackluster performance, often making her teammates look like backup dancers. Even worse, during the concert, she made headlines again after calling actor Lee Min Ho her “husband” for the third time on social media, sparking concerns about her mental well-being. This time, it made Lee Min Ho quite uncomfortable, and he had to speak up to deny it.

After learning about her past and her condition, you might feel more empathy or concern for her health and mental well-being rather than criticizing her, right?

Fans Are Divided – Where Do You Stand?

Some fans, understanding her struggles, stand by her no matter what – even joking about bringing a bed on stage so she can sing while lying down. After all, her voice is just as powerful as ever. Gotta admit, her live vocals are incredible – almost indistinguishable from the studio version! Others, without knowing her full story, feel that her low-energy performances show a lack of respect for the audience and aren’t worth the ticket price.

What’s your take on Park Bom’s journey? Do you still believe it’s just a cover-up by a powerful force for someone with an unhealthy lifestyle, or do you think she’s truly being unfairly criticized?