Actor Koo Hye-sun will return to Radio Star, which previously faced a controversy over her attitude, after about a year.
On the 17th, MBC released a teaser video for the 949th episode of Radio Star, which will air on the 21st. The "Mal Mal Mal 말하는대로" special, decorated to mark 2026, the year of the red horse (byeong-o year, 丙午年), features announcer Lee Keum-hee, former comedian-turned home shopping host Yeom Kyung-hwan, broadcaster Jeon Min-gi, and Koo Hye-sun, who will showcase their wit.
In the teaser, Koo Hye-sun shared her creed, saying, "If you speak it, it will come true." She said, "I said I would compose 50 songs, that I would hold an exhibition, and that I would graduate at the top of my class. I achieved all of those, and I also won a patent award," she said, updating on her recent activities.
In fact, Koo Hye-sun reenrolled in the Department of Film Studies at Sungkyunkwan University in 2020, graduated at the top of her class, and in 2024 was accepted into the master's program in engineering at the KAIST Graduate School of Science Journalism. She completed the master's course in a relatively short period, developed an eco-friendly hair roll called "Curol," and attracted attention by being selected for an excellent patent award. The broadcast is expected to reveal behind-the-scenes of that process.
The appearance draws attention particularly because it marks Koo Hye-sun's return to Radio Star. When she appeared on the show in January last year, she attracted attention by appearing with a hat on. At the time, Koo Hye-sun explained, "The boiler broke so I couldn't wash my hair," and said, "It's difficult to take off my hat now," but after the broadcast some viewers raised criticisms that "it seemed insincere," sparking a controversy over her attitude.
As the controversy grew, Koo Hye-sun explained, "Wearing a hat on a variety show for personal reasons is not rude or a sign of bad attitude. Nevertheless, I appreciate the criticism." She then released a series of photos of herself wearing hats, emphasizing "freedom," and some reacted by calling it a "power play." She added, "Whether I accept various opinions about me is my choice," and added, "I welcome the debates that will arise in the future."
The issue was also mentioned at a Radio Star press conference. At the time, PD Kim Myung-yeop defended her, saying, "Ultimately, the attitude controversy is not true," and said, "It is the PD's job to consult with performers on screen direction. Koo Hye-sun actually came early, read well, and the recording went very well."
A year after the controversy, attention is focused on what stories and attitude Koo Hye-sun will present to viewers when she returns to Radio Star.
[Photo] OSEN DB, broadcast capture
[OSEN]