Singer Lee Hyori reminisced about her peak popularity.
On the broadcast of tvN’s ‘Yoo Quiz on the Block’ on the 2nd, Lee Hyori appeared as a guest.
On this day, Yoo Jae-suk opened by saying, “For the 300th episode special, this person is coming. This person is the celebrity of celebrities, the superstar of superstars.”
Yoo Jae-suk said, “When I was active wearing a grasshopper costume, Fin.K.L started gaining popularity. I can’t forget the look in Lee Hyori’s eyes during our first meeting.”
Lee Hyori responded, “I heard a famous MC was coming, so I went, but Yoo Jae-suk came walking with a grasshopper costume crumpled in his bag without a manager. At that time, Yoo Jae-suk felt even skinnier than now. Now he has a more sophisticated vibe,” she said. She continued, “I tend to have a lot of sympathy. From that moment, I thought, ‘I should treat that person well.’”
However, Yoo Jae-suk revealed that Lee Hyori whispered to herself when she saw him. To this, Lee Hyori joked, “Actually, I said, ‘What’s up with that guy?’” causing laughter.
On the other hand, regarding her solo debut song ‘Ten Minutes’ that swept the nation, Lee Hyori said, “The company didn’t like it because they thought it wasn’t mainstream. But I was confident.” She added, “Looking back at the lyrics, I was really a bad girl. At that time, it felt hip and confident. The lyrics from Fin.K.L were so pure. It’s completely different content from when I was in Fin.K.L.”
Yoo Jae-suk explained about Lee Hyori’s records at that time, saying, “She appeared 891 times on the front page of newspapers and was the first singer to be listed in the Guinness Book of Records, the first celebrity to receive a tribute advertisement in the industry, and the first entertainer to win both music and entertainment awards.”
When Yoo Jae-suk mentioned that headlines in entertainment news at the time often included phrases like “Lee Hyori, step aside” and “surpassing Lee Hyori,” Lee Hyori responded, “They always told me to step aside. But I still haven’t stepped aside,” which made everyone laugh.
She continued, “I didn’t feel bad about it. I felt really good. When newcomers use my name for promotion, it makes me think, ‘My place is still solid.’”
Lee Hyori talked about her items becoming trendy, saying, “It was like Jennie now. Before me, there was Um Jung-hwa.” She added, “I feel grateful and it’s amazing. It’s a bit surprising that when I do something, people follow it.”
[Lee Se-bin, Star Today Guest Reporter]
