Why Did Park Min-young Lose 37kg? The Shocking Transformation for Her Role Revealed!

Translation result

Do You Know? TenAsia reporter Lee So-jung will spotlight compelling stories from the broadcast world that excite the public’s dopamine.

Leading actresses are making headlines by undergoing dramatic weight loss to inhabit demanding roles. While some industry observers see these transformations as a commitment to a project’s artistic integrity, others worry about the actors’ health. After Park Min-young revealed she slimmed down to 37 kg (about 81.6 lbs) to portray a cancer patient, Ha Ji-won has drawn attention for a striking physical shift in ENA’s Climax.

Ha Ji-won lost weight for ‘Climax,’ transforming into a gaunt image

Ha Ji-won, the lead of ENA’s Climax, which premiered on the 16th, appeared noticeably thinner at the production press conference on the 10th. She told a talk show she deliberately cut weight to convey her character’s tense, sharp mood and described the preparation she undertook to fully inhabit the role.

Ha plays Chu Sang-ah, a top actress who announces her marriage to Bang Tae-seop, a prosecutor from a modest background (played by Joo Ji-hoon). Behind the glamour, Chu becomes entangled in a string of incidents that leave her progressively exhausted and frail. The role requires the character’s psychological unraveling to register physically, so Ha set aside her usual healthy, resilient image in favor of a leaner, more edged look.

Her more pronounced cheekbones, intensified gaze, and visibly slimmer frame have been praised for conveying the character’s fragile mental state. As the plot advances and the character deteriorates, viewers say the physical transformation convincingly mirrors that descent. While some applauded Ha’s focused, veteran performance, others expressed concern about how thin she appears.

Why did Park Min-young slim down to 37 kg?

Radical weight loss for a role is not unprecedented in the industry. Park Min-young attracted attention for her thin appearance in tvN’s Siren, where she played the show’s chief auctioneer. She shed weight to cultivate a cold, razor-sharp image for the character — a significant shift following another drastic diet after her role in Marry My Husband two years earlier.

At the production press conference, Park explained that because her character rarely eats, she drank about 3 liters of water a day to approximate those habits and the character’s psychological state. Some viewers suggested the rapid weight loss affected her diction and vocal strength, while others defended the choice as a serious commitment to character authenticity. The reaction was mixed.

Both actresses share a key profile: they are lead actresses in their 40s with roughly two decades in the business. Rather than resting on familiar images, they keep reinventing themselves physically and artistically with each project, demonstrating sustained competitiveness. Ha Ji-won has built a versatile career across action, romance, and historical dramas since her late-1990s debut, and Park Min-young, who debuted in 2005, has compiled a wide-ranging filmography from romance to thriller.

Why does the professionalism of veteran actresses draw attention?

This pattern isn’t limited to a few names. Kim Hee-ae and Um Ji-won have also adjusted their physiques to deepen portrayals. Kim sharpened her features and pared-down presence to capture Ji Sun-woo’s disintegration in JTBC’s The World of the Married, and Um Ji-won managed her physicality to bring realism to roles in The Birthcare Center and The Uncanny Counter, among others.

Staying active as a lead in your 40s is no small feat. Amid fast-changing production conditions and market pressures, these actresses continue to expand their role choices and accept demanding physical transformations — a dedication that has earned respect within the industry.

Increasingly, actors’ weight changes are woven into promotional narratives. Productions highlight the lengths performers go to — citing weight-loss numbers and diet regimens — which draws public interest. At the same time, concerns grow that extreme physical changes can jeopardize health.

The resolve of performers like Ha Ji-won and Park Min-young, who rigorously prepare for roles, continues to leave a strong impression on viewers. Audiences are watching to see whether these extreme diets translate into notable acting achievements. As the industry seeks a better balance between artistic rigor and performer health, these actresses’ choices may well spark the next wave of transformative performances.

Lee So-jung, TenAsia reporter forusojung@tenasia.co.kr