i’ve been quietly worried about this one rookie idol lately.

he was scouted at a bus stop back in middle school, right after swim practice. (before becoming a trainee, he was a top-ranked competitive swimmer. he once proudly shared at a fansign that he had won first place in his hometown.)

in one interview, he talked about how hard it was to leave swimming behind. he said it made him really sad at first, but he chose to become an idol because his family—especially his sister—encouraged him to follow this path.

since debut, i’ve noticed that his hand often looks injured. his middle knuckle always seems red and swollen, and it never really seems to heal. (i remember him saying that when he was younger, he played all kinds of sports like soccer and taekwondo, but since those were “land sports,” he used to get hurt a lot—until his mom suggested he try swimming instead. it was safer, and he said he had fun and really enjoyed it.)

recently, he’s also been dealing with stomach issues, and even had to miss a stage because of it. on top of that, he’s been recommending songs with pretty heavy, somewhat concerning lyrics, like:

high and dry – radiohead

two jumps in a week / i bet you think that’s pretty clever, don’t you boy? / flying on your motorcycle / watching all the ground beneath you drop / you’d kill yourself for recognition / kill yourself to never ever stop / you broke another mirror / you’re turning into something you are not

where is my mind? – pixies

with your feet on the air and your head on the ground / try this trick and spin it / your head will collapse if there’s nothing in it / and you’ll ask yourself: where is my mind? / where is my mind? / where is my mind? / way out in the water, see it swimmin’

of course, i don’t want to jump to conclusions. this could all be a coincidence—or just part of his music taste. but still, there’s something about all of this that feels… quietly concerning.

i just hope he’s okay.

it’s hard to watch someone shine so brightly and wonder if they might be hurting in silence.

🫧 (this is just a personal thought—not a diagnosis or assumption—just a fan hoping he’s truly doing well.)