South Korean pop icon Lee Hyori revealed the emotional and psychological toll fame took on her career, opening up about her decision to leave Seoul for Jeju Island in a candid interview aired Friday on the YouTube show "Pinggyego."
In the June 28 episode, titled "It's Not Just About Sharing a Meal | EP.80", Lee sat down with longtime friend and entertainer Yoo Jae-suk to reflect on the pressures that led to her temporary retreat from the entertainment industry.
"I only realized how precious and grateful I am for this job after I left and stopped doing it. That's when it hit me," Lee said, describing her hiatus as a moment of deep self-reflection.
Yoo, known for his close relationship with the singer, responded, "So in a way, you were a bit burnt out?"
"Exactly," Lee replied. "I just didn't have the strength to face the backlash that came when I made mistakes."
The 45-year-old singer, who rose to fame as the leader of Fin.K.L in the late 1990s before becoming a solo K-pop star and a regular on variety shows, said that while she once had the confidence to overcome public criticism, that resilience faded over time.
"Back then, when I was getting hate, I'd tell myself, 'I'll prove them wrong next time.' Even if an album didn't do well, I'd say, 'I'll kill it next time.' But now, I don't have that kind of energy or fire anymore. That's why I hid," she said.
Lee, who has lived on Jeju Island with her musician husband Lee Sang-soon for over a decade, credited him for supporting her emotionally during her lowest moments.
"He always says things like 'You can do anything' or 'Even in your 50s or 60s, you can still make it.' He says it so often, and it really helps," Lee said.
Yoo also lauded Lee Sang-soon as "a genuinely good person," highlighting how he calmly handles stress without burdening others.
Despite her struggles, Lee expressed hope and determination to move forward.
"If I give up, I'll fall into a darker place," she said. "The only thing that helps me endure is the love of my family and those around me."
Lee's vulnerability struck a chord with viewers and followers, some of whom praised her transparency about the mental health struggles that celebrity life can entail.
She has been open about the ups and downs of her decades-long career in a recent string of interviews and public discussions leading up to her appearance on "Pinggyego."
Lee Hyori's re-emergence in the public eye coincides with a broader debate in South Korea about burnout, work-life balance, and the emotional toll of online scrutiny in the entertainment industry.
