(Continued from interview 3) Lee Su-ji and Jeong I-rang of Sister Tea Room explained the special meaning that SNL Korea, which introduced them to the world, and senior comedian Shin Dong-yeop hold for them.
Comedians Lee Su-ji and Jeong I-rang held a joint interview on the morning of the 9th at a cafe in Samcheong-dong, Jongno-gu, Seoul. At the meeting, the two spoke with domestic reporters about the Coupang Play variety show Sister Tea Room.
Sister Tea Room is a tea room talk show in which sisters Suji and I-rang add a spoonful of chat and two spoonfuls of romance to enjoy time with top star guests. Jeong I-rang and Lee Su-ji, who received praise for successive performances on SNL Korea and Office Workers, are creating laughter with this new variety show.
Jeong I-rang praised with a laugh, "Suji floats around like a butterfly. She would say, 'Senior, it's okay, just trust me,' so she has been someone I could rely on since SNL."
Lee Su-ji replied, "I first tried outdoor drama tights while doing SNL. Senior Dong-yeop told me that since I had only acted on stages with audiences, I wouldn't know how to distribute my energy when acting in drama tights, so at first he told me, 'When you do outdoor scenes like I-rang, relax and practice dispersing your energy in your acting.' At first I couldn't do that. While doing it I came to know what I-rang's strengths are well, and the parts that the senior thought were her strengths or the parts I couldn't do were well balanced, and I think that's Sister Tea Room. It seems viewers find it entertaining," she responded.
Jeong I-rang mentioned once more, "While working I realize at every moment that Suji and I really match well, Suji really responds well, and I feel we really fit together. At every moment I think, she really does well, and I work thinking that too."
The start of Sister Tea Room was also the perfect chemistry between Lee Su-ji and Jeong I-rang on SNL Korea. Lee Su-ji said, "The producers knew we matched so well and offered it to us. When I heard the casting I thought, 'It's so good,' so I did it," while Jeong I-rang emphasized, "I didn't know we matched this well. Thanks to Suji I realized how much fun working can be."
Was there also support from Shin Dong-yeop, who is like a spiritual pillar for the SNL Korea crew? Jeong I-rang emphasized, "I realized this time that I should calmly and coolly turn things like Senior Dong-yeop and be witty. I want to study by not acting rashly and by observing and turning what the senior does a bit more. I didn't know before. When the senior made funny remarks I used to laugh naively, but I realized the senior talks wittily by turning things. Then I think I can develop more."
So what does SNL mean to them? Lee Su-ji said emphatically, "I get choked up just hearing the name. For me, SNL is what allowed me in 2025 to do various programs and it was the foundation because I met the seniors on SNL. It has always been a moving program for me and I'm grateful. At first I learned so much from the seniors and they helped me get known. I learned a lot about relationships. There are things like how to act when juniors come in. For me, SNL seems like a place I'm very thankful for."
Jeong I-rang also said, "It felt like it pulled me out of a cave into the world. When I did other comedy programs they aired at 2 a.m. or 1 a.m. and always before the national anthem. I did comedy without rest, but there was no exposure so people would ask, 'What are you doing?' But SNL is a grateful program that exposed me to the world saying, 'There is this person.' I don't know if this expression is right, but if I were a doll in a claw machine, it felt like I was pulled out and given to a good owner. They combed and washed me and presented me nicely."
But she added with a laugh, "Actually it's very hard. Suji says it's so fun. I also try to enjoy it. I've matured as much as I've had a hard time. Going on other programs isn't that hard. I feel like I've gained the courage and muscles to be able to do anything."
(Continued in interview 5)
[Photo] Provided by Coupang Play.
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