Lee Hyori "The Multi-tainer"

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Lee Hyori is the real Korean sexy icon, the it-girl who keeps reporters on their toes even without doing much. She's not afraid to express her opinions. She gave hopes (?) to many Korean men after admitting her relationship with the musician Lee Sang Soon. What indeed is so special about her?

Career

She debuted as the leader of the girl group F.I.N.K.L in 1998. And right after her debut, the entire nation was mesmerized by her cute and flirtatious charms. Already well known as the school hottie during her high school years, she'd frequented SM Entertainment headquarters as she'd been an ardent fan of Tony An of H.O.T. She'd initially been casted as a trainee at SM but left shortly. After hearing about her, a representative from DSP, who'd accidentally bumped into her on the streets, casted her as a member of F.I.N.K.L. He recalled that "Although she was a high schooler, she had an incredible sense of style. She was much more stylish and attractive than most other college students which made me believe that she could make her debut immediately."

In 2003, she debuted as a solo artist. "10 Minutes", the title track from her first album, boasted that she could make any man hers in just 10 minutes. She filmed numerous ads, but the most memorable one was the Anymotion ad with Eric which elevated her status as the fashionista.

She turned to acting in 2005. Her debut as an actress through the SBS drama "The Three Leaf Clover" was not welcomed by fans who were disappointed by her poor acting skills. Then, Hyori took a totally different turn and appeared in entertainment shows such as "Imagination Plus" "The Family is Here", attempting to change her image. It was an audacious but a successful move.

Charm

Her biggest charm is her down-to-earth personality. She is not ashamed to admit that she doesn't shower every day when she's home or that she loves to play cards with her dad. In entertainment programs, she jokes that "I quit smoking but I'm into electric cigarettes these days" which can get the audience howling with laughter. In the past, she'd admitted on a talk show that she'd only dated celebrities since her debut, a piece of gossip which took over the tabloids the very next day.

This is probably due to her upbringing. Although she was not from a wealthy family, she grew up receiving a lot of love as the youngest out of three children. During her high school years, people in other high schools such as Psy and Sung Sikyung had already heard of the famous hottie. She's a loving aunt and a caregiver to abandoned dogs. At the same time, she's that next-door girl that you can find at a local bar with a keg of beer. She knows how to save but at the right moments, she also knows how to spend. She never forgets people's birthdays but does not boast about it.

Her impeccable sense of style is also the reason why many women love her. Many women strive to achieve the "Hyorish" style, making online communities which aim to "become as pretty as Hyori". She doesn't hesitate to make a trip to Japan or the U.S to find the right outfit for her title track. A friend claims that "her artistic talents are incredible and she could probably even hold an exhibition of her paintings but she's too shy and modest to do so." But her recent concerns seem to be diverted towards social welfare, with the singer resorting to vegetarianism and voicing her opinions about environmental problems. She even met her current boyfriend during her volunteer work at an animal shelter.

Crisis

But life wasn't always easy for Hyori. She was always the center of gossip and attention, receiving a lot of attention due to the 'radio scandal with Rain', 'chaebol boyfriend' 'breast enlargement surgery' etc. The worst out of all was the plagiarism issue during her 2nd album in 2006. This was something that kept her off stage for many years as a singer. Many fans are still anxiously waiting for her return.

Tags
Lee Hyori
Lee Sangsoon
dsp entertainment
SM Entertainment
10 Minutes
F.I.N.K.L

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