For Ateez's Seonghwa and Jongho, success begins with eating right. And a bit of tofu.

This article is by Hwang Jeong-ok, Song Jeong and read by an artificial voice.

Some say dynamic performances and overseas activities targeting the global market are hallmarks of fourth-generation idols - then what about their health management and diets? Boy band Ateez has the answer.
Perhaps once a symbol of suffering, idol diets are different now. When management is needed, they eat systematically, and when healing is needed, they eat deliciously. If they're tired, they rest, and when it's time to run, they charge ahead.
Artists themselves know better than anyone that only by steadily building healthy habits can they aim for longevity. For members of Ateez, a K-pop boy band sweeping the global stage with intense performances and vocal power, this means menus based on the healthiest and most humble staple ingredient of Asian cuisine - tofu.
"For me, the team comes first - If I can't do my part properly in the team, I think there's nothing I can do even if I go on stage alone," Ateez member Seonghwa said during a cooking session with the JoongAng Ilbo in which he and fellow member Jongho demonstrated their tofu-based recipes. "I exist because our team exists. I want to work as Ateez for as long as I can."
This year marks the seventh anniversary of Ateez's debut. They have passed the so-called "seven-year curse" - when members often leave or groups disband - with a full lineup. There's more good news. The title track "Lemon Drop" from their 12th EP, released this June, entered the U.S. Billboard Hot 100.
With much still they want to do, the voyage must continue, Seonghwa and Jongho said in an interview during the cooking session.

"I get nervous when going on stage with a song that didn't have much preparation time," said Jongho. "That's when I realized - no matter how well you sing or dance, if you're underprepared and not ready, there's just no way to cover for that."
Seonghwa is very versatile - he takes on both rap and vocals, while also showing a commanding presence in performances and acting skills that suit each character. Ateez without main vocalist Jongho's voice is also unimaginable. His rich volume and clear high notes elevate the quality of every Ateez song.
Both approach their work seriously and meticulously, but their methods of achieving this meticulousness differ. In the ruthless world of competition, what do they think, and how have they lived? We sat down with the two members to find out, the first pair to be interviewed by the JoongAng Ilbo in this series, which will feature the remaining members - Wooyoung, San, Hongjoong, Yeosang, Mingi and Yunho - in follow-up interviews.
The following is an excerpt from the interview, edited for length and clarity.

Q. Do you have a personal health routine?
Seonghwa: Honestly, three to four years ago, I often went on extreme diets. It was like I was almost giving up food entirely. But after realizing that I was in a state of harming my health, I started to find my own routine. I think I came to understand that it's not about simply not eating, but about "what kind of food and how you eat it."
I recently went on a diet again, but this time it was different. I lost a bit of weight for the Isabel Marant runway at Paris Fashion Week and also for concert outfits that had some exposure, but I didn't feel stressed and lost the weight healthily. I managed it in a pretty fun way.
We're curious how you lost weight healthily. Could you tell us?
Seonghwa: Actually, I used to binge eat a lot. To fix that, I gradually trained myself to eat healthy meals without skipping them, but in moderate portions. For example, even the day before a concert, I eat what I want. I eat deliciously with the mindset of enjoying that one meal. Instead, I avoid eating late at night and limit my snacks. I also eat on concert days, but I eat a smaller portion then. I'm naturally slim, so fans often worry I don't eat, but in reality, I eat very well. (laughs)
It's not just me - all the members eat well. I...