In the latest episode of the YouTube channel By PDC‘s “Way Back Home” series, successful idol-turned-actress Uee (also known as Uie) guested to talk about the traumatizing experience she had early on in her career—and how the CEO helped her navigate through it all.
Uee made a double debut in 2009 as an idol with After School and as an actress with The Great Queen Seondeok. Given her model-like height, OG “honey thighs” figure, and gorgeous looks, Uee became an overnight sensation.
With such a quick rise to stardom came a heartbreaking price. Three months into her debut, Uee found herself in an appalling scandal. Korean media outlets reported on a “Girl Group Member A” having taken a nude photo…
There was a period when it was tough for me [to be around a lot of people]… I would wear a mask, hiding my face, feeling so uncomfortable even when I’d be dining out with my own family. There were times like that.
Not too long after I debuted, there was an article on the front page of the portal sites that said something like ‘Girl Group A’s Nude Leaked.’
— Uee
…and soon, Uee’s name was associated with the scandal. While the photo was soon debunked to be photoshopped, the scandal left a deep scar in Uee’s heart.
I was only 21 years old. I was going about my packed schedule, and suddenly I was called in to the office. It was really scary. I was shown the picture, and anyone could tell it was fake. It was in a cheap motel-looking setting with just my face poorly edited onto it.
— Uee
The experience left her wondering if she wasn’t cut out for the entertainment business…
It happened when I had just debuted and hadn’t even been active for three months. I think it really hurt me deeply. All my life, I’d tried to live by the words, ‘Do not cause harm to anyone else.’ But as my name became more well-known, these incidents kept happening. I felt like I was causing harm to After School and even to the company. That was just how it felt during that time. Back then, honestly, just hearing the sound of a camera would make me think, ‘Are they taking pictures of me?!’
I started wondering, ‘Am I not cut out to be a celebrity?’ Like, I thought I should be able to brush things like that off. But it became so traumatic. Even though it was revealed to be a fake photo, I was so young. I feel like now, I could disregard it a lot easier. But back then, it was impossible.
— Uee
…but with the help of the CEO of Pledis Entertainment (Uee’s agency at the time), she was able to move past it. Looking back, Uee said she was grateful for how gentle the CEO was in handling the scandal!
Looking back now, I’m so grateful to the CEO of my management agency. He spoke in such a considerate way to keep me from getting hurt. When he was trying to explain the scandal to me, he was like, ‘Listen, Uee. We all believe you. I know you wouldn’t have been in any photos or videos of such nature. But right now, all the rumors are pointing to you. So, look at the photo and tell me if it’s real.’
— Uee
Uee previously revealed that the culprits behind the malicious edits and circulation were identified—baffling her as they turned out to be “ordinary people” like housewives, younger students, and office workers.
Watch the full episode here: