InterviewComedian Lee Su-ji talks character comedy, further acting aspirations

Comedian Lee Su-ji, praised by many as "a comedian with a thousand faces," acts out a variety of original characters through streaming platforms and her own YouTube channel, bringing laughter to audiences.

Her numerous characters on her YouTube channel Hot Issue Ji — from the Korean tiger mom nicknamed "Jamie Mom," an education-obsessed mother in Seoul’s affluent Daechi-dong neighborhood, to "Shuuvely Mom," a social media live commerce influencer with exaggerated sales pitches — have taken the internet by storm. Her success led to winning this year's Best Female Entertainer at the Baeksang Arts Awards on May 5.

Since her debut in 2008, whenever she creates a new character, Lee says her "starting point always lies in the various people from everyday life with whom others can relate to."

“When I go to the supermarket, a restaurant or a cafe, I try not to wear earphones as much as possible. I jot down speech patterns or relatable points in my notes app to catch them. For me, it feels like a hobby. I mimic the way other people talk or their habits," the 40-year-old comedian said during an interview with The Korea Times at a cafe in Seoul Monday.

"If I spot something familiar and think, ‘I’ve seen this kind of character before,' I take those traits, exaggerate them and add my own comedic twist to bring the character to life. I’m always open to anything that feels fun or has the potential to become an interesting character.”

With the “Jamie Mom” character, Lee unintentionally earned the nickname “luxury brand hunter” because of the outfits she wore. As the video went viral, Lee’s ensemble — a glossy Moncler down jacket and a Goyard bag — once considered the unofficial uniform of the so-called "Daechi-dong moms" — flooded secondhand platforms as many mothers in the luxury neighborhood came to feel awkward wearing the parodied items in public.

The first episode of her mockumentary series, titled "Human Documentary: My Child is My Life," has topped 87 million views since it was uploaded in February.

Lee also shared an anecdote about meeting a Moncler employee after being dubbed the “Moncler mom.”

“As a creator, when my content or characters are misunderstood, I do feel sorry. It’s made me realize there are things I need to be more mindful of and consider carefully," she said.

The comedian loves being called “relentless,” because it makes her feel trusted and brings her great happiness. Of all the characters she has created, she feels the strongest attachment to her character Lin Zhao-ming, an ethnic Korean of Chinese nationality who leads a voice phishing scam team.

“That was about 12 years ago when I first created Lin Zhao-ming. I actually auditioned for the (comedian) open recruitment with that character. During the audition, I impersonated the lady who ran the gimbap (Korean seaweed rice rolls) shop in front of the KBS building. The producers found it hilarious because they could relate, so they suggested I develop a skit around that character," she said, recalling how she created the character for KBS comedy show "Gag Concert."

"Lin Zhao-ming is the character that really introduced me as a comedian, so I’m most attached to her," she said.

Beyond laughter

However, her journey wasn’t without setbacks. She revealed that she experienced a slump after “Gag Concert” was canceled in 2020. Although the show resumed in 2023, there was a year-and-a-half gap before she joined the regular cast of Coupang Play’s “SNL Korea” in 2021.

“I cried a lot out of fear that I might never be able to stand on a stage again. My husband, who also works in broadcasting, gave me ideas every day and encouraged me to audition,” she said.

Lee is expanding her presence beyond comedy, taking on scene-stealing roles in dramas such as “Queen of Tears,” “Lovely Runner” and “New Recruit.” She shared that she has always aspired to be an actor.

She expressed a particular desire to portray a mother on screen, inspired by actor Yeom Hye-ran in Netflix’s "When Life Gives You Tangerines," revealing that every time Yeom appeared in the drama, she found herself in tears.

"Even without any lines, just her expressions made her feel like a real mom. I want to play a mother who evokes that kind of emotion,” Lee said.

“Right now, I make people laugh, but someday I want to play a role that moves people and makes them cry. Comedy is a part of acting, but I think a lot of study is needed to truly impress people. If I could touch people’s hearts and make them cry, I’d be happy,” she said.