Yoon Bok-hee mentions a contract fraud in the Philippines, reflecting on her tumultuous life: "Was meeting Elvis so surprising?" [Day & Night]

*This content was translated by AI.

Yoon Bok-hee, known as the "eternal diva," marks her 75th anniversary in the music industry and reveals her legendary career.

In the May 2 broadcast of MBN's "Kim Ju-ha's Day & Night," episode 23, Yoon Bok-hee appears to share untold stories about her role as the "original pioneer of Hallyu," predating Netflix's original "K-Pop Demon Hunters" and BTS.

Yoon Bok-hee reveals that at age 17, she received a love call from the world-renowned pop star Louis Armstrong. She had gained fame by imitating legendary singers, including Louis Armstrong, at U.S. military bases. When Louis Armstrong visited Korea for the opening performance of the Walker Hill Hotel in 1963, he learned of her talent and arranged to meet her. Yoon Bok-hee then shared an anecdote about being invited to perform alongside Louis Armstrong for two weeks, even duetting with him, leaving the three hosts in awe.

Additionally, Yoon Bok-hee recounts her legendary experience of forming the first-generation Hallyu girl group, "Korean Kittens," in her teens and touring the world with their music. After receiving a contract offer from Louis Armstrong to advance her career in the United States, she traveled to the Philippines first to resolve her contracts in Korea before heading to the U.S. However, a performance manager fled with the money, leaving Yoon Bok-hee and three dancers stranded in the Philippines. This incident led to the fateful formation of "Korean Kittens," sparking great interest.

She also shares the honor of becoming the first Korean to appear on the UK's BBC "Tonight Show" as a member of "Korean Kittens." Near the end of their Philippines performances, they received an offer to perform in the UK. In 1964, Yoon Bok-hee and the "Korean Kittens" members appeared on "Tonight Show," performing The Beatles' "Can't Buy Me Love" when the band was still rising stars. Notably, Yoon Bok-hee revealed that "Korean Kittens" made headlines on the front page of British newspapers alongside The Beatles, earning cheers from the three hosts.

Furthermore, when the three hosts expressed excitement about Yoon Bok-hee meeting the legendary pop star Elvis Presley during a performance in Las Vegas, she calmly responded, "What's so surprising about meeting Elvis Presley?" She then added, "(Elvis Presley) wasn't my type," showcasing her cool demeanor as only a legend could, leaving the hosts speechless.

On the other hand, Yoon Bok-hee shared a humorous incident caused by her pioneering use of miniskirts in the Korean entertainment industry. She recounted, "A man walking in front of me suddenly disappeared," describing how a man who was walking ahead of her, upon seeing her in a miniskirt for the first time, was so stunned that he fell into a manhole. This story raises curiosity about how Yoon Bok-hee's miniskirt craze, which caused a sensation in the entertainment industry, began.

Additionally, Yoon Bok-hee confesses that after experiencing the thrill of the stage for the first time at age 5 in a performance produced by her father, she desperately begged him to let her perform on stage. She even placed her hand in her older brother's tin pencil case and declared, "If you don't let me perform, I'll die." This dramatic story of her determination to reach the stage at such a young age sparks curiosity. The episode will air on May 2 at 9:40 PM.

<© STARNEWS. All rights reserved. No reproduction or redistribution allowed.>

*This content was translated by AI.