Hyo-ri evolves into celebrity activist
Singer Lee Hyo-ri, seen in this capture from her music video “Miss Korea,” is increasingly turning her attention to social issues. The pop star recently offered to dance in a bikini over the ongoing strife surrounding Ssangyong Motors. / Korea Times file
By Kim Jae-heun
K-pop diva Lee Hyo-ri has long been known both as a sex symbol and a person who is outspoken about her beliefs. Now it appears she is willing to use her star power to draw attention to issues she cares about.
Lee lowered her profile last year when she married guitarist Lee Sangsoon and moved to Jeju Island. Since then, she has stayed relevant by writing and tweeting about her life away from the city as well as various social issues.
Most recently, the 35-year-old star has waded into the ongoing strife surrounding Ssangyong Motors, offering to dance in a bikini if the company reinstates the workers it laid off in 2012.
“I hope Ssangyong’s forthcoming model, the Tivoli, sells well, so the company becomes stable and reinstates all the laid-off workers,” Lee said on Twitter earlier this month. “Then I will dance in a bikini in front of a Tivoli.”
In 2009, financial difficulties prompted Ssangyong to dismiss 2,646 workers. The move sparked an uproar, with former employees claiming that financial problems were just an excuse for job cuts.
The Supreme Court on Nov. 13 ruled that the company’s decision was a “rational choice.” However, some workers continue to protest, including two who are doing so atop the company’s plant in Pyeongtaek, Gyeonggi Province.
The laid-off workers are calling for Anand Mahindra, chairman of the Mahindra Group — the largest shareholder of the automaker — to tackle the labor issue when he visits Korea next month.
Lee clarified in subsequent tweets that she made the offer to “cheer on the workers,” and was not offering to be a model for the company.
Regardless of the outcome of the workers’ campaign, Lee seems to be striking a balance between celebrity and activism, and has drawn comparisons to Angelina Jolie, who is perhaps Hollywood’s leading celebrity activist.
Lee has used Twitter to advocate for various issues, most prominently animal rights. She also led a donation drive for laid-off Ssangyong workers, raising money to help their families.
The star also reaches out to her fans through her blog (blog.naver.com/hyori79lee), which she launched after moving to Jeju.
Her posts describe various aspects of her new rural life, from housekeeping and her pet dog Soonshim to a bicycle rides around the island with her husband.