Stop draining yourself over relationships: Lee Youngji’s words to 20-year-old ILLIT’s Wonhee might actually make you cry

Key highlights

• In Episode 39 of “Not Much Prepared,” Lee Youngji shared her perspective on dealing with online reactions with 20-year-old ILLIT member Wonhee. Within just three days of its release, the video had surpassed 2.3 million views.
• She said frankly that public affection and dislike can often arise suddenly, yet they are 100% not because you’ve done anything wrong. The reason doesn’t lie with you at all.
• Lee Youngji believes that once you face a second or further round of baseless criticism, thousands of people will instead step forward to protect you, making you stronger.
• POPBEE editors’ observation: These wise words not only awakened a newcomer in South Korea’s high-pressure entertainment industry, but also healed countless women ages 20 to 35 who are emotionally drained by relationships in their daily lives.

Do other people’s opinions always leave you emotionally drained? In Episode 39 of “Not Much Prepared” in May 2026, Lee Youngji offered 20-year-old ILLIT member Wonhee heartfelt advice on facing hate and criticism. This interview, which has surpassed 2.3 million views, tells us that other people’s likes and dislikes really have nothing to do with you. Her words are survival rules from an entertainment-industry senior, as well as a psychology lesson every woman needs.

• You may also like: Lee Youngji openly admits to eye surgery! She explains why she wore sunglasses onstage at her concert: “This is a decision I considered for four years.”

Online likes and dislikes really have nothing to do with you

Since her debut, 20-year-old ILLIT member Wonhee has received intense attention and the magnified scrutiny that comes with it. For a newcomer, that kind of pressure is surely hard to imagine. On the show, she admitted that even watching a replay can sometimes feel difficult, and that she keeps looking within herself for the reasons behind the criticism. Lee Youngji immediately interrupted that cycle of self-doubt. She directly called out the absurdity of online culture. She told Wonhee that the public may suddenly like you, then suddenly dislike you, yet none of it is because you’ve done anything wrong. Other people’s likes and dislikes are often just a one-sided outlet for their emotions; the reasons for their criticism have nothing to do with you.

Criticism can bring you even more people who will protect you

 

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Rather than fobbing her off with empty reassurance, Lee Youngji offered an extremely realistic yet powerful perspective. She told Wonhee that every baseless accusation helps you gain supporters who truly understand you. When people start criticizing you again, thousands of people will appear to protect you. The more often it happens, the more firmly you will stand. This isn’t blind optimism. It’s a philosophy of survival distilled from the personal experience of an industry senior who has weathered many storms in entertainment. Unexpectedly, the best defense against malice is to calmly accept that it exists.

Why do we always tend to look for the reason in ourselves?

In everyday life, many women who encounter setbacks in relationships or criticism at work first turn to self-examination. We repeatedly wonder whether we said the wrong thing or didn’t behave appropriately, taking all the responsibility onto ourselves. Often, other people’s emotional projections only reflect their own state of mind and have nothing to do with us. Lee Youngji’s words speak directly to this blind spot. She reminds us to bring the focus back to ourselves. Don’t use someone else’s unexplained anger as a reason to punish yourself.

After watching this episode, the POPBEE editorial team felt it went beyond an idol interview for fans and became a psychology lesson for all modern women. Social media is full of noise these days, and it’s all too easy to lose ourselves in other people’s eyes. The video surpassed 2.3 million views in just a few days and resonated so widely because it breaks the misconception that we have to please everyone. The next time you encounter unprovoked dislike, remember Lee Youngji’s words: You’re not the one at fault. Protect your inner self, and time will prove everything.

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