A Korean model opened up about her days as a basketball player when she suffered from injuries and depression.
On November 4th, a video titled “The Season of Night Games! A Turbulent Life Talk While Eating Pig Tails” was posted on Lee Hye Jung‘s YouTube channel. A former professional basketball player, she shared the reasons why she had to end her career early.
Lee recalled, “When I entered high school, I faced hardships. My ankle was twisted, so I had to rest for six months. Then I developed hyperthyroidism and couldn’t train, but I still went pro. I lived a short career like that.”
Raised by her grandmother, she said it was difficult even to talk about how hard things were due to her family’s financial situation. She said, “When I said I was struggling, everyone told me, ‘Think about your grandmother,’ or ‘Think about your younger siblings.’ But it was really hard for me. I was the head of the household, so I felt I couldn’t quit.”
She confessed, “While going through rehabilitation and training, I looked out the window. The depression was so severe, I felt like jumping out of it.”
Her professional team life, which she began while physically and mentally exhausted, was no easier. Lee shared, “The manager took me to a traditional medicine clinic, and when the doctor checked my pulse, he said I looked like a daughter-in-law being mistreated in the Joseon Dynasty.”
Though she was a standout youth national player and highly regarded as a prospect joining the pro team, she joined late and was unable to train properly due to illness, so she had to be mindful of senior players.
Lee said, “The older players kept me awake, made me do laundry, and enforced strict discipline. That was tough.” She added, “I thought, ‘I can’t keep living like this,’ so for the first time, I ran away from the team. I ran away to Gangwon Province, but after a little more than a month, my uncle caught me, and I ran away to Busan,” surprising many.
After quitting basketball and switching to modeling, Lee Hye Jung married actor Lee Hee Joon in 2016. Previously, she revealed on a broadcast that she disappeared due to depression just three weeks before her wedding, and credited her husband for standing by her and helping her overcome it.
If you or someone you know is struggling with depression or has had self-harming thoughts, do not hesitate to reach out to your local confidential support for people in distress or to call the Lifeline. The Lifeline provides free and confidential support for people in distress, prevention and crisis resources for you or your loved ones, and best practices for professionals. If you’re thinking about suicide, are worried about a friend or loved one, or would like emotional support, the Lifeline network is available 24/7. In the US, the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline’s # is 988, OR you can call 1-800-273-8255. Crisis Text Line can be reached by texting HOME to 741741 (US), 686868 (Canada), or 85258 (UK).