[Exclusive]“Won’s Uncle” and “Yoo Jae-suk Keychain Guy” character levels... Lee Sun-min: “I got this opportunity thanks to Yoo Yong-ju and Yoo Young-woo” [★FULL Interview]

*This content was translated by AI.

• [Star Interview] StarNews Selected "Nae-Jo" (Nice Feeling) Star Interview with Lee Sun-min

'Nueojok' Points

It is truly the "Lee Seon-min era." At an age where presbyopia might be expected, Lee Seon-min, born in 1988 and single, has transformed into a top-tier comedian beloved by the public for shifting from the "confident married look" to the "confident laughing gold spoon" (laughter + gold spoon).

What was even more striking was that Lee Sun-min, who waved her hands off the praise by saying "it's just a sausage," seemed to embody exactly what national MC Yoo Jae-suk had acknowledged: a true comedian. In a recent meeting with StarNews, Lee Sun-min was too busy greeting each of her colleagues one by one rather than getting carried away by her popularity, displaying an immense love for comedy and a profound professional pride. This moment offered insight into the secret behind why the trending content "Lee Sun-min Home Raid" has maintained long-term popularity without any controversy.

True to Lee Sun-min, who is known for being both a "smiling spoon" and possessing great character, she first took care of her family's discipline amidst the attention that poured in after "What Do You Do?" (hereinafter "Nol-mwo"). Earlier last month, Lee Sun-min visited her hometown of Gumi, North Gyeongsang Province, with members including Yoo Jae-suk on "Nol-mwo," revealing a "pan-fried fish cake big family" and sparking a buzz.

Lee Seon-min said, "I am deeply moved. My family members all appeared on 'Nolmwo.' How many people could have brought Senior Yoo Jae-suk to their home? I even thought to myself, 'Can there be any greater act of filial piety than this?' It seems that my final act of filial piety may just be going to the fishing pond. My parents also thanked me for creating memories they will never forget. Truly, a joyous occasion has occurred in our family. My three older sisters have reportedly been receiving calls from people all around them. I even heard that they received a call from a friend 25 years ago."

Soon Lee Seon-min said, "Since people from their teens to their 80s are watching, it seems they are paying more attention, which has made me a bit worried. I feel a heavy sense of responsibility and thought I should live even better. So, I sent messages in the family KakaoTalk group with my older sisters and parents, such as 'Let's act carefully,' 'Don't get too excited, stay calm,' and 'We shouldn't be noisy.'"

He humbly remarked, "The company's CEO or directors call me a 'trend-setting comedian,' but I feel like I'm truly just a 'small sausage.' There is some momentum, but it's a small momentum; I see it as a 'small sausage.'"

However, his entry into this 'What's Up' cannot be seen as anything other than a clear demonstration of his explosive growth. After walking the path silently for 10 years, he has finally reached a level where he stands shoulder to shoulder with Yu Jae-seok, a senior figure in the comedy world.

Lee Seon-min said, "I served as the MC at the MBC 'Infinite Challenge' Expo held in December 2015 and spent 47 days parodying senior artists. On one of those days, the seniors visited. When I met Senior Yoo Jae-suk on 'Nolmwo' this time and told him about that story after 10 years, he said, 'I remember.' There are so many heartwarming stories about the senior. I also had a chance to meet Senior Hong Hyun-hee at her wedding when I was in my first year of SBS 'Laughing House.' At that time, she patted my shoulder and told me, 'I'm watching over you well.' How can someone be like that? I believe the only way I can repay such gratitude is by doing my best to bring fun." He shared this unique connection.

Not only "Nolmwo," but also "I Live Alone" (hereinafter "I Live Alone"), the flagship variety shows of MBC, were successively taken over by Su-hoe. What about her? Lee Seon-min recalled the time of recruitment, saying, "My heart almost burst."

Lee Seon-min said, "Whenever my manager brings news like this, he says, 'There's something delicious.' Even though we are together, he secretly shows me the schedule. The performance is great (laughs). Then I say, 'Something big has happened. Oh my.' Every time, I am surprised. When the invitation for 'Radio Star' first came in, I even screamed. It was the same with 'Nolmwo,' and 'I Live Alone' were all stages I had always dreamed of. So every time, I feel so excited, happy, and thrilled," she said, celebrating like a child.

While known for her authentic persona through 'surprise attack' content, one might wonder if she felt any pressure debuting on the terrestrial reality show "I Live Alone." Lee Sun-min stated, "I decided it was right not to try to do something big, but simply to show my original self. The production team naturally shared this view. Since I haven't lived a glamorous life and have been living as an unpretentious person for decades, I just stayed true to that. As a result, I received comments like, 'How can you go 17 minutes without saying a word? That's why it was funny.' I truly believe I showed 99% of my real self. Just as I always do, with the camera rolling and no makeup or pretense, I genuinely lived out 'I Live Alone.' Seeing the reactions to the clip videos, it seems many people appreciated this aspect, and I thought there might be another opportunity. Fortunately, the production team invited me again."

Meanwhile, Lee Seon-min showed a mature attitude, saying, "Every time I appear on many YouTube channels or variety shows, I always have regrets. But what can be done? If I did my best, that is my ability, and I am resolving not to look back."

It was also impressive that she focused resolutely on her main profession rather than coveting a fixed spot in popular variety shows. Lee Seon-min said, "Even if I have to leave, I don't think I'll be too sad because I've tasted the stages I dreamed of. I will be grateful and excited wherever I am invited, but I have no greater ambition. I once tried to become a KBS public recruitment comedian and failed miserably. After preparing for four years and failing, I realized that 'life doesn't always go as planned.' Even 'Pisik University,' which was expected to explode in popularity as a spin-off of 'The Outsiders,' failed miserably. At that time, I made another resolution. When I first appeared on 'Radio Star' with the title 'Confident Married Man,' honestly, I thought all variety shows would be calling me, but there was absolutely no contact. So I learned, 'Well, my timing will come again.' That's when these invitations started coming in succession, so I don't feel much burden. I feel like 'my timing has finally arrived,' but I intend to remain calm." She revealed her composure.

Lee Seon-min confidently stated, "I have learned a great deal from senior colleagues in shows like 'Nolmwo,' 'I Live Alone,' and the web variety show 'Shinyeoseong.' It feels like 'Is this real?' that role models I have admired since childhood are working alongside me. Recently, I had the opportunity to meet seniors such as Kim Guk-jin, Yoo Jae-suk, Kim Gura, Lee Kyung-shil, Jo Hye-ryun, and Shin Dong-yup in succession, and I feel truly happy, realizing that I have boarded a major trunk line. Moreover, I believe I am a competent comedian myself. My goal is to gradually reveal an interesting side of me as time goes on."

Above all, Lee Seon-min credited comedians Lee Yong-ju and Yoo Young-woo for the current intense interest. Lee Seon-min has been presenting content such as "Pisik University" and "Yong-Jour Lee Yong-ju's 'Sudden Attack'" together with Lee Yong-ju and Yoo Young-woo.

When asked about the pride of finally seeing light after enduring a 10-year tunnel of obscurity, Lee Seon-min said, "The moment I felt I did well was before entering variety shows, when I worked alongside Lee Yong-ju and Yoo Young-woo on 'Yong-Ju-Leung-Yong-Ju.' I believe the chemistry we shared as friends in that show became the trigger for Boom Up's success. I feel like I got hit hard by 'Gapsup' (Surprise Attack). While it was exciting and gratifying to face such a lineup of senior artists, I am also grateful that opportunities arose thanks to having gone through content like 'Gapsup' and channels such as 'Myeonsangdeul'."

In addition, Lee Seon-min stated, "I consider myself a comedian who can showcase various aspects of my personality. I kept working hard thinking that someone must be watching, and in fact, many relevant parties looked favorably upon me, which led to this opportunity."

When talking about the rising star Lee Seon-min, RESCENE member Won is an indispensable presence. The two formed a bond in the dark moments just before dawn, with Won serving as Lee's "online uncle." Recently, thanks to RESCENE's reverse wave, Won's driving lesson content series, "My Lesson Uncle," has become a shrine for fans. Lee Seon-min, the "passenger seat uncle" who carefully looked after Won, calling her a "treasure trove," has transformed into a popular comedian within a year. Meanwhile, Won, originally from Geoje, led RESCENE's reverse wave through the "Geoje Yaho" meme. Escaping low recognition and racing side by side on the path to popularity, they truly wrote an "emotional true story." Moreover, because they continued to collaborate recently with intense loyalty, completing a "rising star ending," this is why they received explosive reactions such as "myth," "the beginning of a legend," and "I witnessed a miracle," leading to renewed attention.

In response, Lee Seon-min said, "Won and Yoo Young-woo built a narrative over one year. It really felt like there was a bigger variety show god out there. Something like 'My Nanny Uncle' will probably never happen again," expressing his bewildered feelings.

Without fail, he mentioned his fantasy comedy partner, Yoo Young-woo, sharing his joy. He said, "Even if we are at a disadvantage in terms of recognition, I had confidence from the start that two comedians could have fun together. In fact, Yoo Young-woo, who performed with me, is full of talent. People say 'the underdog's rebellion,' don't they? If you say so, I was confident, and we feel more energized when we are underdogs rather than top dogs," he smiled.

In addition, Lee Sun-min said, "I also had fun filming it, and I could feel the reactions growing stronger as we went along. Among them, of course, there was Won-i. I think it would have been difficult without Won-i. The chemistry came out perfectly with her innocent charm. Won-i is truly a 'treasure chest'." She highly praised Won-i's charm.

He expressed his deep feelings, saying, "When I visited Won-i's family home in Geoje, I felt a strong sense of familiarity. It was as if I was looking at my own past. Although our fields are different, we both came to Seoul to pursue our dreams while living away from home. Moreover, the way Won-i behaved like a second daughter back at her hometown felt just like family. I believe Won-i also sees me and (Y)oung-woo as family, like 'uncles'."

Lee Seon-min said, "I hear too many people saying that I 'raised Won-i,' but if I have to be honest, it was more like a small share of the credit. That's just not my personality to say such things. Won-i, Young-woo, and I simply enjoyed ourselves together." He added, "Of course, I am grateful for this. I hope that Won-i and I can maintain this bond without it easily breaking apart. Won-i has grown into a very mature person. As the eldest sibling at Les Enphants, he has also become more mature. Young-woo is an incredibly kind younger brother. We hope to calmly savor this happiness and work even harder so as not to disappoint our fans, just as we have done until now."

Instead, Lee Seon-min reflected on his original intentions. He raised his voice, saying, "I have had many failures, and of course, I am still failing now. However, I still have much to show and the confidence to bring even greater laughter. As comedian Lee Seon-min, I have confidence in myself. If that were to disappear, I would quit. There has not been a single moment until now when I wanted to quit."

He said, "I have a new motto: Nothing is eternal. Even when I was struggling, this hardship wasn't eternal. So I firmly engraved in my mind that even fleeting attention isn't permanent. There's even the expression 'flash-in-the-pan star,' right? There were so many people like that. Now, many people seek me out, but I don't feel that attention dynamically. It may gradually decline, but unless I make a major mistake, I don't think it will plummet suddenly. That's why these days are filled with gratitude. To younger siblings who dream of becoming comedians, based on my experience, if they have self-confidence and still love this profession, I want to tell them, 'Endure.' If you endure like me, won't an opportunity eventually come? Now, I feel I can say such things myself. I believe that anyone who approaches this with fun will get a chance, so I am trying to help many younger siblings." He conveyed this energy.

Finally, Lee Seon-min solemnly shared, "If I may quote the philosopher Kahl, 'Let us bring happiness to as many people as possible' is my resolve. I am approaching this with the mindset of spreading my laughter to as many people as possible and living until death. I believe comedy is truly a difficult profession. While great songs continue to be sung by the public for decades, comedy changes with the times, making it not easy to sustain. The fact that it must constantly be new makes it an extremely challenging profession, yet this very difficulty inspires me to seek greater happiness and fulfillment and to take on the challenge. Although I am given a new assignment every time, I live day by day driven by the thrill of solving those assignments well."

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*This content was translated by AI.