Comedian Lee Su-ji clarified recent allegations of derogation while also expressing her plans and goals for future activities.
On the morning of the 26th, a round interview with comedian Lee Su-ji was held at a café in Samcheong-dong, Jongno-gu, Seoul. Meeting the press for the first time through a round interview since her debut, Lee appeared nervous before starting, saying, "It seems that the information posted online is incorrect; my MBTI is INFP. I am really very shy, but I will do my best."
When asked about the reason for deciding to hold the interview, he explained, "I recently transferred to a new company. I am also grateful to have won the entertainment award at the 61st Baeksang Arts Awards, so it seemed like a good idea to arrange an interview since there were positive things happening at the company."
Following her role as a key crew member on Coupang Play's comedy show "SNL Korea Season 7," Lee opened a YouTube channel called "Hot Isu-ji" this year, gaining attention by portraying various secondary characters. Additionally, earlier this month, she signed an exclusive contract with Coupang's subsidiary CP Entertainment, marking a new beginning for her, and she celebrated this joyous occasion alongside her win of the entertainment award at the Baeksang Arts Awards.
He stated that this award was a recognition of his 17 years of work, saying, "I have been a nominee for the Baeksang for three consecutive years. I was very surprised to see celebrities leading Korea in the first year, and in the second year, I was amazed to meet Kim Goeun for the first time in my life. I was nominated for the third time this year, and I hoped to win an award this time. In the meantime, there were other seniors, and my colleague Ji Ye-eun was also active, so I thought both ways. In fact, I had prepared a reaction to make a scene if Ji Ye-eun was called, but it ended up being me," he recalled.
Since debuting as a comedian with SBS in 2008 and re-debuting with KBS in 2012, Lee has gained public affection by creating various characters through shows like "Comedy Battle" and "Gag Concert." When asked which character he has the most attachment to, he said, "It's 'Lin Zhao Ming' that I created about 12 years ago. I presented it in the 'Hwanghae' corner of 'Gag Concert,' and I auditioned with that character. I was asked to show a special talent during the audition, and the owner of a kimbap shop across KBS is of Chinese descent, so I imitated her. The producers found it relatable and entertaining, suggesting, 'How about making a segment based on the special talent used in the audition?'" he revealed, adding, "Lin Zhao Ming is the character that introduced me as a comedian to the public, so I have the most attachment to it. It has also been a long time, and I feel fond of it."
In particular, Lee is well-known for her parody impersonation of actress Kim Goeun. He noted, "I haven't met her in private, but I greeted her at the Baeksang and immediately apologized. I knelt down, and Goeun asked, 'What are you sorry for?' and knelt down with me in the restroom. When I said, 'I will do it a little more,' she said, 'Of course.' In fact, we even exchanged numbers. I mentioned going out to eat, but since I am shy, I haven't contacted her since then," he shared.
Recently, Lee has launched new sub-characters like 'Shubli Mom' and 'Jamie Mom' through the 'Hot Isu-ji' channel, providing a unique brand of humor. When asked about the reason for opening the 'Hot Isu-ji' channel, he explained, "'SNL' runs in 10-week segments. It is challenging during 'SNL' shoots. Outdoor and studio shoots make the schedule tight, and by the end, my body hurts from boredom. In this downtime, I thought about creating characters that couldn't be done on 'SNL.' For me, it's like an observational laboratory or a place to challenge myself. What I try there often gets developed and utilized elsewhere, and it feels like a playground to me."
However, because he has created characters based on real-life figures like tool influencers and mothers from Daechi-dong, allegations of having insulted certain individuals have followed. Lee stated, "As a creator, I feel disappointed when misunderstandings arise while making content or characters, but I also feel sorry. Since it's been a while since my debut, I often think that when creating new content, I need to be mindful and think about avoiding misunderstandings."
He addressed the allegations that 'Jamie Mom' was mocking actress Han Ga-in's riding vlog by saying, "I thought there were similarities in the 'Jamie Mom' content. I didn't target a specific person at all," and added, "I realized that I need to be careful when creating something so that these parts don't come out and cause misunderstandings."
As a mother of a 4-year-old son, Lee shared the story behind the creation of 'Jamie Mom,' saying, "I listen to stories around me and see various people while filming dramas, thinking there could be such aspects. I created characters by exaggerating a bit or using humor." When asked whether he created characters to satire excessive academic enthusiasm or vanity, he emphasized, "When I create a character, I start with the thought that I should capture relatable figures or appearances from daily life. I didn't particularly plan to include a message, but it seems viewers have interpreted it in various ways. I feel that I need to cautiously develop content to avoid misunderstandings among viewers nowadays."
Regarding the suspicion that a vlog by an actress targeting Lee Cheong-ah was a parody, he clarified, "It wasn't a parody; when I went to Italy, I thought we shouldn't just play around but should shoot something, so my friend and I filmed that. It is not a parody of any specific person. However, I thought that there could be parts that could be misunderstood, so I decided to take down the video on my own."
However, regarding 'Jamie Mom,' he continues to add more content and extend the series. Lee stated, "I believe that showing relatable situations and characters drawn from daily life is what comedy is about. I will consider and carefully think about how to prevent misunderstandings in the future, so I hope viewers will look kindly upon my work."
Compared to 17 years ago when Lee first started her career as a comedian, public perceptions of comedy have undergone significant changes. People have become more sensitive to jokes that belittle others. When asked about this change, Lee remarked, "As channels and content proliferate, I feel it's part of my job to ensure that viewers experience no discomfort while consuming content. Of course, there are aspects that need attention, but the ability to engage in a variety of content works in my favor. It's not just limited to the stage; there are many opportunities to explore diverse formats like YouTube and broadcasting now."
Furthermore, he stated, "When I create characters, I focus on that aspect the most. If it becomes something like 'Doesn't this seem like someone?' I try to exclude that from the development of the character. In fact, as more aspects get refined, it can become limiting in creating humor, so managing that balance is key."
When asked whether he experiences difficulties or stress while creating characters, he responded, "Creating new characters is a very enjoyable task. Even now, I think it would be great to create a journalist character inspired by the reporters here," adding, "I see it as part of my daily life, so I think of it more as discovering areas I wasn't aware of rather than stress. I tend to be on the positive side."
In fact, he said that the hardest times are when resting at home. Lee recalled, "Even when I watch entertainment, I don't find it funny. I have to approach content as a study. I kept feeling, 'I need to do something too.' So these days, I am very grateful that my schedule is filled every day. I realize that those times make me appreciate this time even more. I feel that if I hadn't experienced that time, I might have become arrogant in this moment, as it has been a valuable time. It seems like I laugh a bit because of luck."
When asked what kind of compliments she values the most, Lee replied, "These days, I appreciate being told, 'You are intense,' and 'You are funny.'" He mentioned that he checks all comments regularly and emotionally reflected on the supportive responses he has received: "There are people who have left comments saying they were heartbroken. Those individuals send me messages via DM saying, 'I haven't been able to go outside lately, but I laugh watching your videos.' When I receive those messages, I genuinely cry. Thinking that I have the ability to be a source of strength for someone else is really touching for me."
When asked how he handles negative comments like hurtful ones, Lee honestly responded, "I don't have a specific way to deal with it, and I cry in those moments too." He added, "As I think about what I need to accept, understand, and improve, I recognize that there are uncomfortable aspects and that misunderstandings can arise. I cry and think, 'For the next content, I should do it this way,' and make revisions."
In addition to her comedy activities, Lee has also showcased her talents in various dramas and movies through special appearances. Recently, she starred in Coupang Play's "Office Workers" and the Genie TV series "New Recruit." When asked about her plans for serious acting, she revealed, "The desire for acting continues. This is just a dream, but after several years, when I am around 50, I hope to play the role of a mother who gives emotions and tears to audiences in the future, while now I bring laughter. Of course, comedy is a part of acting, but I believe that a lot of study is needed to bring emotions and tears. Accumulating that time, I want to make Korea cry with my maternal role later on."
When asked whether she has a role model mother character, Lee expressed, "Yes, recently it would be senior Yeom Hye-ran, right?" revealing her admiration for "When Life Gives You Tangerines." She added, "The first actress I thought, 'How can you make me cry like this?' when I saw her perform a mother role was Kim Hae-sook. Don't you think I resemble Kim Hae-sook? I really want to meet her in person."
She also shared her plans for variety shows, saying, "Once 'SNL' ends, I plan to pursue content like a talk show as an MC. A talk show invitation has been made over at Coupang Play," hinting, "If I get the chance, I want to try a variety of entertainment shows. I want to try doing variety as well."
Even if she engages in MC or serious acting, she plans to continue her comedy acting. She remarked, "Isn't this my essence? I think it's right to make various attempts while doing comedy acting," adding, "From my usual shyness, I think I create energy that I can't see by expressing things I haven't tried through characters or comedy. It's a work I enjoy, so I think I will keep doing it."
[Photo] CP Entertainment
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