Many fans have enjoyed K-pop girl group Secret's hits since its rise to fame in 2009. But it wasn't always enjoyable moments for member Han Sun-hwa.
After working tirelessly alongside the group for seven years, she left in 2016 to pursue acting.
In a recent interview with The Korea Times, Han expressed that she had suffered from high levels of anxiety leading an idol's lifestyle.
"As a member of the girl group, I was always so busy. I didn't have any time for relationships," she shared.
"There was no time to step back and ask myself, “How do I actually feel?” I was too hard on myself, believing that my skills would deteriorate if I were to take a break."
Her biggest fear was falling behind her competitors, which exhausted the South Korean artiste both physically and mentally. She admitted even feeling guilty for taking time off to meet up with friends for a cup of coffee and would often times cancel on the plans.
Things began to change for the better when Han turned to acting.
The star, who turns 31 in October, has since made appearances in 15 television shows.
"When I was working as a singer, everything was happening so fast. As an actor, I feel more relaxed. I try to take breaks between jobs, and I love to travel during my free time," she mentioned.
Han finally landed her first lead role in the film Cinema Street which was released on Sept 16 in South Korea.
She plays a film scout whose job is to find suitable locations to shoot in Busan. Along the way, her character bumps into an ex-lover and becomes emotionally attached to him again.
One of the locations featured in Cinema Street is the very theatre that Han, who was born in Busan, had her first audition to become a singer at the age of 13.
"In my memory, the stage seemed big, but when I visited the place again, I realised that it's a small venue. It made me realise how time really flies so fast," she said.
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