Lee Hyori Feels Guilty Singing Iconic Hit at Middle Age, Criticized as “Desperate” to Not Be Forgotten
Lee Hyori was and still is a top star, an irreplaceable sexy icon of K-pop.
After 10 years since her marriage, Lee Hyori appeared more frequently in entertainment shows and events, making a comeback and creating much buzz. The audiences still lover her, but there were also opposing opinions calling Lee Hyori a “star desperate to avoid being forgotten”. l
Lee Hyori’s glorious career
Lee Hyori began her music career when she debuted in Fin.K.L in 1998. Alongside Fin.K.L’s activities, Lee Hyori made her solo debut with the first album “Stylish… E” and the title track “10 Minutes” in 2003. “10 Minutes” made Lee Hyori go from an underappreciated idol into a sexy icon. The song dominated music charts, spreading Lee Hyori’s fame throughout Asia.
After Fin.K.L disbanded in 2005, Lee Hyori continued to develop her solo career, becoming one of the most successful female soloists. In Korea, Lee Hyori’s music has a lasting impact, with songs like “10 Minutes,” “U Go Girl,” “Miss Korea,” “Bad Girls”… all being considered classic hits.
Dream-like love story, leaving the spotlight during her heyday and a memorable comeback to the stage
In 2013, while making waves in the music scene with “Bad Girls” and “Miss Korea,” Lee Hyori shocked the public by announcing her wedding with musician Lee Sang Soon. Since then, she and her husband have stepped away from the spotlight, living a low-key life.
In May 2023, Lee Hyori performed her legendary hit “10 Minutes” at a university festival. Her comeback stage created a frenzy. She remains a vibrant and inspiring Y2K icon. Performing a song that is as old as the students watching Lee Hyori from the audiences, but no one feels awkward when watching her. At the age of 45, Lee Hyori proves she is still a symbol of passion and energy.
After this stage, on “Dancing Queens on the Road,” Lee Hyori shared her process of practicing for “10 Minutes”: “I searched for old videos of ’10 Minutes’ and the lyrics are about trying to seduce a man who has a girlfriend within 10 minutes. It’s quite outrageous!“
Lee Hyori feels guilty and uncomfortable when singing her iconic hit at the age of 44: “I didn’t think about it before, but I feel really guilty trying to sing this song in my middle age. I have to show confidence, but it makes me feel like I have to apologize. I wonder, ‘Can I do this?’ Why seduce a man who has a girlfriend?“
Is Lee Hyori a “star desperate to avoid being forgotten”?
Recently, critic Kim Do Hoon criticized Lee Hyori for participating in entertainment shows. He believes that Lee Hyori’s continuous participation in Kim Taeho’s programs only proves that she is a “star desperate to avoid being forgotten.”
Kim Do Hoon also wonders why Lee Hyori hasn’t released any new music. The last time Lee Hyori released music was six years ago (2017) with the album “Black.” In 2020, Lee Hyori, along with Rain and MC Yoo Jae Suk, caused a sensation with the debut of SSAK3, but it was primarily for entertainment purposes.
“I feel really sorry for Lee Hyori now. I don’t understand why she keeps participating in those boring entertainment shows by Kim Taeho for years. The more she does that, the more it shows that she is a star desperate to avoid being forgotten. Lee Hyori has more than enough talent and influence to collaborate with young music producers and release modern albums. That’s what she should be doing now, instead of constantly participating in those entertainment shows and reminiscing about the golden days.”
“Even if she can’t regain the fame she had in the past, she should learn from artists like Madonna, Kylie Minogue, and J-Lo. They are constantly updating themselves with modern music trends and releasing albums,” Kim Do Hoon wrote.
This post immediately sparked intense debate, and critic Kim Do Hoon later deleted the controversial post. Netizens agree that Lee Hyori is capable of releasing a modern album and if she makes a comeback, she will once again dominate the music industry. However, by implying Lee Hyori is a has-been, the majority of the public opposed Kim Do Hoon’s opinion.
Lee Hyori is considered a “legend.” She is not a golden spoon. She went through a difficult childhood, living with her parents and four siblings in a small house. With determination, resilience, and talent, Lee Hyori truly shined on her own. Looking back at Lee Hyori’s career, no one can deny her influence on the entertainment industry.
Both Fin.K.L and Lee Hyori’s solo career were laying the foundation for K-pop. The resounding success of Fin.K.L led major entertainment companies to focus on developing girl groups, paving the way for representative second-generation groups such as Wonder Girls, SNSD, KARA, etc. Lee Hyori is also an irreplaceable icon when it comes to sexy concept.
In a market that always pursues strict beauty standards, Lee Hyori herself broke the rules and inspired the new generation of female idols. K-pop has reached its current widespread popularity partly thanks to inheriting the achievements of 1st gen idols, with Lee Hyori being the most prominent name.
Therefore, Lee Hyori is fully capable of releasing new music. The name Lee Hyori has always been a guarantee for success. However, Lee Hyori’s music release also depends on her own wish and career direction.
Up to now, even though K-pop has reached its fifth generation, Lee Hyori still maintains her appeal. An example is the recent event of BLACKPINK Jennie’s collaboration with Calvin Klein in May, where Lee Hyori’s appearance was a highlight, or even just a university festival performance was enough to make her the hottest topic among young people.
Lee Hyori’s participation in entertainment shows is not for the purpose of boosting her fame, as she is still a top star and does not need to “avoid being forgotten.”
Source: K14.
