“I Live Alone” Star’s Weight Gain Over 4 Years Sparks Divided Reactions
Actor Lee Jang Woo is now a beloved star on MBC‘s I Live Alone—and a member of the show’s “Palm Oil Family.”
When he first appeared on the show on December 6, 2019, he was on the leaner side. He received quite a bit of love and attention for his good looks.
Over the span of 2019 through 2023, though, he gained weight. The transformation was largely due to his developing friendships with TV personalities Park Na Rae and Jun Hyun Moo. The three “foodies” have been on trips together, exploring and eating their way around.
When a viral online post highlighted his weight gain, comparing his looks between his 2019 appearances vs. his 2023 ones, Koreans found themselves divided in reactions.
Some commented on how content he looked and reminded him not to care about the criticism about his size.
- “Aw, haha.”
- “He must be the type to gain it all back as soon as he slips.”
- “People have no problem criticizing other people’s appearances. I wonder how gorgeous and flawless you all are. Doesn’t it matter more that he’s happy and healthy?”
- “Just a hairstyle difference, IMO.”
- “[Criticizing other people about weight] isn’t good for you, either.”
- “It’s OK as long as he’s happy.”
- “TBH, I don’t think he’s all that big and that it’s hard to watch him. Haha. I think he looks cute, so I like him big.”
- “I prefer him this way. LOL.”
- “Wow. You have to agree that he’s good-looking regardless. And it’s hilarious how some people think they have a say in his life. He’s content, and he’s taking care of himself. He’s giving himself a sabbatical, so I wish him the best time ever. Watching him live life makes me happy, too.”
- “I mean, he’s still good-looking AF… The bigger Lee Jang Woo is actually my ideal type.”
- “He himself has said that he’s the happiest right now. So it’s not up to us to talk about his weight.”
Others suggested he should shed some pounds, citing health concerns as reasons.
- “He did gain quite a bit of weight. You can tell when he’s standing up. But I’m sure he’ll lose it when he has to take on an acting role again.”
- “I don’t think he looks bad with the weight. It must be because he has a small face, compared to the rest of his body. And he has well-defined facial features.”
- “He looks happier. Haha.”
- “When he takes on a role, he loses the weight and maintains it. He looked great in The Heavenly Idol. Haha. His acting was also better than I remembered, so I enjoyed watching that.”
- “It does seem he prefers spending time with his Palm Oil Family on I Live Alone because he gets to be happy.”
- “Well… He did gain a lot of weight. No? At that size, he should be worried about his cholesterol and blood sugar stats. I want him to be happy, but I also want him to be healthy. Hopefully, he’ll find a good balance.”
- “I don’t know if it’s still the case, but I’ve heard that cameras make you look 1.5 times bigger than you actually are. So, he’s probably not as big as the screen makes him look, and certainly not big enough to worry about his health going south.”
- “He used to be a good-looking 30-year-old man. Now he’s just an ahjussi.”
- “He’ll lose it when he picks up a role. Haha. He seems to love eating, but also is the type to gain weight very quickly and easily. That being said, I hope he gets to enjoy his time right now. And when he has to start restricting his diet again, those moments will help him get through.”
- “It’s impressive how quickly he can shed pounds, though.”
In the past, Lee Jang Woo asked viewers to refrain from criticizing him for the weight gain.
I’m not taking on roles at the moment, and I’m resting. To continue acting for the next decades to come, I’m focusing on finding happiness right now. I’m thinking of it as a sabbatical…
…I know a lot of people don’t like how much I’ve been eating. I get a lot of DMs on social media, telling me to stop eating. But food is how I relieve stress. I don’t have other obsessions. I don’t have other desires. I am the happiest when I eat, so I’m doing that. Please don’t criticize me for it.
— Lee Jang Woo
Following, he has claimed that in 2024, he’s planning to go on a diet and surprise the viewers with another transformation. In a previous episode of I Live Alone, he shared that he’s ending his “sabbatical.”
I started running. I’ve been fed too well, especially by Jun Hyun Moo and Park Na Rae. But my sabbatical ends with 2023. So I’m working on myself again. Kian84 [completing a full marathon] has been a huge inspiration, too.
I’ve also had K-Drama production companies reach out to me and ask how much longer I’m going to stay a part of the Palm Oil Family. They’ve demanded that I come back to work.
— Lee Jang Woo
Watch Lee Jang Woo visiting Taiwan with his Palm Oil Family.
