Chae Yeon Reveals the Story Behind Her Viral ‘Tear Selfie’: What Happened Next?

[TV Daily reporter Hwang Seo-yeon] Singer Chaeyeon has finally spoken about the backstory behind a once-viral \"tear selfie.\"

On the evening of May 9, KBS2’s variety show Immortal Songs — Joo Young-hoon: Lyricist & Composer (Part 2) showcased five acts, including members of the musical Lempicka, Son Seung-yeon and Jo Hyung-kyun, Aiki and Rihei, Hyojin Choi, Chaeyeon, NEXZ, and D82.

The episode shifted to Chaeyeon's recent resurgence on YouTube. She said many people appreciate nostalgic aesthetics and that younger viewers — the so-called MZ generation — find vintage fashion and culture entertaining. \"The timing has worked out well,\" she added. \"I'm really grateful.\"

Host Lee Chan-won then raised the subject of Chaeyeon's once widely discussed \"tear selfie.\" Chaeyeon recalled, \"That was an especially difficult time for me. I might have looked fine on the outside, but I wasn't okay inside. I couldn't find a way to bridge the gap that came with suddenly receiving so much love.\"

She went on, \"It started when I opened my mini homepage at dawn. I was actually crying, and then I suddenly thought, 'Should I take a picture?' If I'd taken just one, it wouldn't have become such a thing — but I took 300 photos. Even while I was taking those 300 shots, I kept crying,\" she said candidly, drawing laughter from the audience.

Chaeyeon said she even used that photo as inspiration for a ballad. \"I released a novelty single titled 'I Sometimes Shed Tears,'\" she explained, \"and I used the mini homepage photo for the jacket.\" She then sang a short a cappella line from the song.

[TV Daily reporter Hwang Seo-yeon news@tvdaily.co.kr / Photo = KBS]