Lee Hyori, one of South Korea’s most iconic entertainers, recently opened up about the challenges of returning to television after a decade-long hiatus and the culture shock that came with it.
In particularly, on June 28, Hyori appeared for the first time on the popular YouTube show “Pinggyego”, which is hosted by longtime friend Yoo Jae-suk and comedian Yang Se-chan. Her episode offered a candid, humorous, and at times eye-opening conversation about how drastically Korean variety shows have changed since her heyday.
Reflecting on her long absence from the industry, including her retreat to Jeju Island after marrying musician Lee Sang-soon in 2013, Hyori admitted, “The world really has changed so much in just over a decade.”
She continued, “I wasn’t in the broadcasting scene while all these changes happened, so now when I film something, I feel really nervous and confused.”
In a surprising moment of honesty, Hyori recalled the now-outdated humor that once dominated the variety scene. “Back then, it was okay to joke about a woman’s breast size. People would ask things like, ‘Are you a B cup or C cup?’ And I start wondering, what if I said something like, ‘You look like an A cup,’ as a joke today? Would that be okay?”
Yoo Jae-suk and Yang Se-chan burst into laughter, with Yang quickly responding, “That one probably wouldn’t fly today.” Hearing this, Hyori asked them sincerely to let her know if there are any jokes that are completely off-limits now, admitting she’s still figuring out what’s socially acceptable in the current TV culture.
Meanwhile, known for her bold personality and sharp wit, Hyori is gearing up for her return as the MC of the new beauty survival show “Top-Class Makeup Survival: Just Makeup”.
