Comedian Lee Seong-mi revealed how things have changed while fighting breast cancer.
The MBC program Radio Star, airing Wednesday the 8th at 10:30 p.m. (planning Chey Yoon-chung / directed by Yoon Hye-jin, Hwang Yun-sang, Byun Da-hee), is presented as a special titled "laughter creator crew, Utkkeuk" featuring Lee Seong-mi, Jung Sun-hee, Kim Young-hee and Lee Seon-min.
That day Lee Seong-mi honestly shared her feelings about her first appearance on Radio Star. She said she had been thankful that Ras had not contacted her for bookings, and mentioned the compulsion that comedians feel when appearing on talk shows that they "have to be funny." But contrary to worries, from her entrance she unleashed her signature spicy wit and immediately took control of the atmosphere. In particular, Lee Seong-mi referred to Kim Gu Ra's successful remarriage and, with a deft analogy worthy of the "variety godmother," left everyone impressed.
Lee Seong-mi's extraordinary life talk is also revealed. She recounted that before surgery during her cancer battle she left letters for her children. Thinking she might not wake up, she conveyed her feelings and even wrote down account numbers and passwords, which surprised everyone. However, after waking up from the surgery she said the first thing she did was tear up the letters she had left, delivering both laughter and a relatable moment.
She then shared a changed perspective after facing death and revealed an unusual bucket list. Lee Seong-mi said, "If I die, dress me in training pants (tracksuit)," surprising everyone. She added her own reason that because she had been lax about exercise she wanted to run at the end, revealing a comedian's cheerful view of life that once again filled the set with laughter.
Lee Seong-mi also revealed that she updates her memorial photo every three years and had even prearranged her final house. She said she prepared in advance thinking her bereaved family would be overwhelmed, and named junior comedian Song Eun I as funeral committee chair. She explained she entrusted the task because she trusted Song Eun I's meticulous nature, and the MCs and guests could only nod in agreement.
Lee Seong-mi's distinctive "laugh scout" sense was also revealed. She recalled that when SBS launched and said it needed young talent, she visited her alma mater Seoul Institute of the Arts to watch for juniors. She said she spotted talent when she saw Shin Dong-yeob on stage in a white tracksuit holding a white balloon. Then the names of her Seoul Institute of the Arts juniors at the time—Shin Dong-yeob, An Jaewook, Lee Hwi-jae, Song Eun I—were called out one after another, adding interest.
In the process, a truth dispute between Kim Gu Ra and others surrounding Yoo Jae-seok also unfolded. As the conversation continued about the lineage of Seoul Institute of the Arts juniors, Kim Gu Ra, based on his memory, rose to rebut, and Lee Seong-mi did not back down, producing a sharp exchange between comedy godmother Lee Seong-mi and variety show's leading wit Kim Gu Ra that drew laughter.
Meanwhile, Lee Seong-mi recalled on her YouTube channel "Lee Seong-mi's I am the old fogey" in March, "I was on air when the staff suddenly became busy. Because the appearance was strange they urgently called me. During the biopsy they said, 'The appearance is strange, but that doesn't mean it's all cancer. The results will come in a week, so wait,' but I was already a cancer patient. The week moved so slowly. I really felt like my insides were burning. Then I got a phone call," she recalled.
She went on, "When I heard over the phone, 'Don't be too surprised. It's early-stage breast cancer, stage 1, but we'll do the surgery quickly,' I was stunned. And the first thought that came to me was, 'Why me? What did I do so wrong?'" She added, "Even while undergoing treatment, worries about recurrence and anxiety set in. That anxiety made it very hard mentally," she said.
Lee Seong-mi was diagnosed with stage 1 breast cancer in 2013 but underwent surgery and chemotherapy and was declared cured.
[Photo] MBC Radio Star
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