A 30-year-old street interview featuring singer and television personality Lee Hyori before her debut has recently resurfaced and captured public attention. Kwon Soon Pyo, a former reporter and current anchor who personally conducted the interview at the time, shared a special behind-the-scenes story during a recent broadcast of MBC Radio’s “Kwon Soon Pyo’s News High Kick.”
During the program, Kwon recalled, “About 30 years ago, I was assigned to conduct street interviews about the economic downturn. While looking for someone to interview, I spotted a young woman who looked intelligent and seemed to have thoughtful opinions, so I approached her.”
He continued, “After the broadcast aired, I completely forgot about it. Then, more than 20 years later, a junior colleague sent me the clip and said it was becoming a hot topic these days.”
“When I watched the video again, I was shocked,” Kwon said. “The person I had interviewed was Lee Hyori. At the time, she had not debuted yet, so I had no idea who she was. I had even forgotten that I was the one who conducted the interview.”
Reflecting on his decision to interview her, Kwon explained, “Why do you think I chose her back then? She looked incredibly pretty and intelligent. She seemed to be around the age of someone who had just graduated from high school, and she had a very pure and innocent image.”
He added, “Street interviews often fail if you approach just anyone. You have to quickly identify someone who seems capable of expressing their thoughts well, and I had a bit of a knack for that. Looking back at the video later, I thought, ‘Ah, that’s exactly why I picked her.’”
In the resurfaced footage, Lee Hyori was asked, “How do you predict the economic situation in the new year?” She confidently replied, “The economy was so bad last year that I think it will improve this year.”
Viewers were particularly drawn to Lee Hyori’s signature eye smile and the youthful, slightly chubby cheeks she still had at the time, highlighting her natural charm even before becoming a star.
Meanwhile, Lee Hyori debuted as a member of Fin.K.L in 1998 and went on to become one of South Korea’s most iconic female solo artists and television personalities.
Sources: Daum
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