In a heartfelt confession, singer Jeon Somi shed tears as she revealed her experience of being bullied during her school days. The video, titled “Boosting Channel Views with Auntie | Song Yoon Ah by PDC [Ep.20 Artist Somi],” was posted on the YouTube channel ‘by PDC’ on the 13th.
Somi’s Journey:
During the video, Somi shared the story of how she became friends with Song Yoon Ah through her father, actor Matthew Douma, who had acted alongside actor Seol Kyung-gu in a movie.
As a member of the project girl group I.O.I seven years ago, Somi enjoyed a year of activities and received immense love from fans, being referred to as the “Nation’s Center.” Somi recalled, “I wanted to be number one. Being biracial, I didn’t think I could earn the title ‘Nation’s Center’ even if I became a celebrity. So, when I debuted, I was happiest when I became the ‘Nation’s Center.’ It felt like I had obtained the title ‘Nation’s’ and it made me happy.”
Facing Bullying:
During her elementary school years, Somi, who grew up in a multicultural family, confessed that she had been a victim of bullying. She said, “I transferred to a Korean elementary school. When my classmates saw a multicultural child for the first time, they treated me harshly, saying I looked like a doll. For a day or two, I became popular.” Somi then shared a memory, saying, “The day after transferring, there was a class president election. Many pressured me to go out without knowing what it meant, and I became the class president with an overwhelming number of votes.” However, she continued, “But then, there was this girl who prepared so hard, and I think she got really frustrated about the result. All her work went to waste because of a newcomer like me. She began to bully me along with her friends. They would take advantage of me when they needed me, then remove my desk elsewhere when they were done. They even ripped up my library card or throw my shoes in the trash and it got worse by the day From the third grade until the first semester of the sixth grade, I experienced bullying.”
Coping with Bullying:
Somi revealed that she wrote a journal during that time, expressing her honest thoughts in the messages she shared with her teacher. She remembered, “Every time I wrote, my teacher would listen to me and offer advice. But I felt like there was no solution.” Somi confessed, “I just lived day by day. I told my mom I didn’t want to go to school and asked her to make me look more like a Korean through plastic surgery. I thought it would be fine, but when I mentioned it, she was slightly hurt. I was really upset at that time. It was truly miserable.”
From the second semester of the sixth grade, Somi made efforts to change her situation. She said, “Fortunately, I didn’t graduate as a victim of bullying.” However, recalling those times brought tears to Somi’s eyes, evoking a sense of sympathy for her.
Watch Somi’s Full Interview below:
