Lee Hyori

Infobox Musical artist
Name = Lee Hyori

---

Img_capt = Lee Hyori, October 30, 2007. Photo by Christopher Peterson.
Background = solo_singer
Birth_name = Lee Hyori
Born = birth date and age|1979|5|10
Origin = Cheongwon, Chungcheongbuk-do, South Korea
Genre = K-pop, R&B
Occupation = Singer, Actress
Years_active = 1998–2002 (with Fin.K.L)
2003–present (solo)
Label = M-Net Entertainment Lee Hyori ( _ko. 이효리, also romanized as Lee Hyolee and officially E Hyo-lee) (born May 10, 1979) is a popular South Korean singer and actress. She started off as part of the successful K-pop girl group Fin.K.L, but has since become a solo artist. Her first album was very successful, winning many "Daesangs" (a Korean award equivalent to "Artist of the Year") for that album. She has since become the highest-paid female singer in South Korea.

Biography

=Beginning in Fin K.L.= Lee started her career as part of the Korean pop girl group Fin.K.L. As the oldest member, she would become the leader of the group. Lee was discovered while taking sticker pictures with her friends and was actually the last to join Fin.K.L., just before their debut in January 1998. Fin.K.L. debuted officially on May 22, 1998 with their first single "Blue Rain." It was received quite well. The second release from their first album, "To My Boyfriend", became the first of their multiple number one hits. Fin K.L. became one of the most popular and successful Korean groups of all-time, rivaling fellow popular girl group S.E.S..

Establishing a solo entertainment career

A year after Fin K.L.'s fourth album "Forever", her solo album was released at the end of 2003, entitled "Stylish...E". The singer nearly swept the 2003 Daesangs, the most prestigious South Korean music award, winning more than seven of them, including three of the four most prestigious Daesangs. "Stylish...E" sold over 153,590 copies in South Korea alone, according to the Music Industry Association of Korea.cite web | title=Music Industry Association of Korea | work=February 2004 | url=http://miak.or.kr/stat/kpop_200402.htm | accessdate=January 16 | accessyear=2007] Her popularity in her various activities eventually was dubbed as the "Hyori Syndrome" in South Korea, and the Korean Media nicknamed 2003 "The Year of Hyori" as she was rarely out of the news all year.cite web | title=KPop Music News | work=Lee Hyori Not performing in 2004 | url=http://www.kpopmusic.co.uk/modules.php?name=News&file=article&sid=14&mode=&order=0&thold=0 | accessdate=April 24 | accessyear=2007] Lee Hyori has also appeared as the lead female actress in the SBS drama "Three Leaf Clover" co-starring opposite Ryu Jin, Kim Jung Hwa, Kim Kang Woo and Lee Hoon. However, the ratings were continually low, and it ended after 16 episodes. On August 8, 2005 she co-hosted the annual Korean Music Festival for the second year running.

Accusation of plagiarism

In February 2006, Lee released her follow up album, "Dark Angel". The first single, "Get Ya", featured heavy choreography and sexually suggestive attire, which has become Lee's trademark. However, there was controversy over the single as the songwriters of Britney Spears' single "Do Somethin'" accused the "Get Ya" songwriters of plagiarism. [cite news | title=Britney Songwriters Complain of Lee Hyo-lee 'Plagiarism' | url=http://english.chosun.com/w21data/html/news/200603/200603230021.html | publisher=Chosun Ilbo | date =2006-03-23 | accessdate=2007-09-10] (Lee did not contribute to the song.) While this incident was not the first time the Korean pop industry has been accused of plagiarism, it was the first time the copyright holder had made a formal complaint.After media attention increased, Lee and her record company quickly stopped all promotion for the single, taking a short break to prepare for "Shall We Dance", her followup single. Due to the negative attention, both the single and album were not successful, and promotions were stopped. "Straight Up" was released as a final single, but it was not promoted by Lee.

Move to M-Net

In November 2006, it was revealed that Lee had signed a three-year contract with M-Net Entertainment for ₩2.2 billion,cite web | title=Chosun Ilbo | work=Pop Star Prepped for Better Year | url=http://english.chosun.com/w21data/html/news/200701/200701160012.html | accessdate=April 24 | accessyear=2007] becoming the highest paid female singer in South Korea.cite web | title=Chosun Ilbo | work=Lee Hyo-lee Becomes Highest Paid Female Singer | url=http://english.chosun.com/w21data/html/news/200611/200611090011.html | accessdate=November 10 | accessyear=2006] Early in 2007, Lee Hyori showed up an hour late to a press conference, which resulted in backlash from the media.Fact|date=June 2007 The media also criticized her sexual image, stating that she was "facing an image crisis" and urged her to downplay her sexuality.cite web | title=Chosun Ilbo | work=Is Sexy Girl Lee Hyo-lee Facing an Image Crisis? | url=http://english.chosun.com/w21data/html/news/200701/200701020004.html | accessdate=January 2 | accessyear=2007] Meanwhile, Lee prepared to appear in a new "mini-drama" during February 2007, despite the failure of her previous drama. She starred alongside Lee Dong Gun in "If In Love... Like Them" which, although originally announced as being only one episode long, ran for four episodes on MNet. An edited two-episode version of the drama also ran on SBS. During filming for the drama, part of a roof Lee was standing on collapsed. Only her foot fell through the roof and she was able to be saved, and as it was reported the fall would have been fatal if co-star Lee Dong Gun had not rescued her.Fact|date=June 2007In February 2007, Lee announced her new digital single which would essentially be the soundtrack to "If In Love... Like Them." She had her comeback on SBS "Inkigayo" on February 25, 2007, performing all three main tracks from the single. The lead song was "Toc Toc Toc", which was a sexy R&B number like her previous efforts. However, the single also gave Lee an opportunity to sing ballads and to slowly move her image away from the "sexy superstar" that she is known to be. The single, although initially given a digital-only release, was given a limited retail release of only 30,000 copies,cite web | title=Bronx's Junkyard | work=Hyolee's Single for Sale | url=http://www.bjunkyard.com/forums/showthread.php?t=17371 | accessdate=January 2 | accessyear=2007] and was appropriately titled "If In Love Like Them". Released on March 6, 2007, it included three of the tracks found in the digital single, along with a reworked version of "Toc Toc Toc". It was the best-selling album for that month, selling 27,845 copies.cite web | title=Music Industry Association of Korea | work=March 2007 | url=http://www.miak.or.kr/stat/kpop_200703.htm | accessdate=April 18 | accessyear=2007] Although her single succeeded, her drama was heavily penalized for violating advertising guidelines, as "If In Love" had several scenes advertising the products of its sponsors, in addition to using Lee's songs in the soundtrack. The Korean Broadcasting Committee has ruled that the drama can never be aired in South Korea again, and that the network must apologize to its viewers [ [http://world.kbs.co.kr/english/entertainment/enter_chart_detail.htm?No=5613 Kbs World ] ] .According to The Chosun Ilbo, Lee has also been promoting her work in Japan. Japanese network Fuji TV decided to air "If In Love... Like Them" and has even invited the singera/actress to visit Japan to promote the drama, where she will be treated to the same VIP treatment offered to other international stars.cite web | title=Chosun Ilbo | work=Star Lee Hyo-lee Stirring Interest in Japan | url=http://english.chosun.com/w21data/html/news/200704/200704160009.html | accessdate=April 24 | accessyear=2007] However, the drama was broadcast on satellite station CS Fuji, a smaller network that Fuji TV owned. The Japanese considered the leading part of this drama to be Lee Dong-gun. [CS Fuji. [http://www.fujitv.co.jp/cs/program/7212_177.html] ]

2008: Return to spotlight

During breaks in her solo music career, Lee also hosted various television programs, including "Time Machine" and "Happy Together", which she co-hosted with Yu Jae-seok in 2006. It was reported on March 26 2008 that Lee would join KBS's "Sang Sang Plus" as a co-host alongside Country Kko Kko members Shin Jung-hwan and Tak Jae-hoon, replacing various outgoing hosts; she debuted on April 8 2008. [KBS World. [http://world.kbs.co.kr/english/entertainment/enter_chart_detail.htm?No=7326 'Roundtable Plus' Welcomes New Host E Hyo-lee] . March 26, 2008. Retrieved March 26, 2008.] She was one of the original co-hosts of "Change", a show on SBS's "Good Sunday" line-up, before leaving in early JulyFact|date=July 2008. She also starred in "Off the Record", a behind-the-scenes look at her life.

Her third album, "It's HYORISH", was released on July 16 2008. "U-Go-Girl", her first single, hit #1 on various online and offline charts, including the various television music shows.Fact|date=August 2008

In 2008, she began dating Christopher Kim, who is currently living in the United States.Fact|date=October 2008

Endorsements

Although Lee has done many endorsements for various companies (including Dole), her most prominent commercials were made for Samsung Anycall. In late 2004, Lee signed an advertising contract with Samsung, for which she would make three musical commercials and songs for their Anycall cell phones. The first commercial and song, "Anymotion", were released in early 2005, featuring Eric Mun from K-pop group Shinhwa. In early 2006, the followup commercial "Anyclub" was released in two parts; this also featured Eric Mun in addition to Korean actor Kwon Sang Woo. The song "Anyclub," however, featured neither Eric Mun nor Kwon Sang Woo. Instead, Park Teddy of 1TYM was featured. The songs from the commercials served as singles for Lee in between her albums. The final commercial was released in December 2006, titled "Anystar". The commercial differed from the first two in that it featured mostly dialogue. The commercial starred Korean actor and singer Lee Jun Ki and also YG Family trainee Park Bom. Also in the month of March Hyori stared in one of the leading actors in Davich's music video. Hyori also started to become a model for Black Bean Therapy,a health drink, and she made several CF (commercials). Lee Hyori also modeled for Ceci magazine; a well known Korean fashion magazine, showing new, fresh personalities. Lee Hyori also started her new show "Off the Record" and it shows what she is doing 24/7.Lee Hyori finished her contract with Biotherm early February 2007 and is no longer a representative for the company. Her contract with Samsung has also ended in December 2007. She has recently signed on with KB card and has starred in commercials along with fellow K-pop sensation Rain (singer). She was recently chosen as first ever Asian-wide model for Calvin Klein Jeans, modeling for the "Pure Calvin" Collection. It has also been reported that Lee may appear in an upcoming Need for Speed game.Also in 2007, she starred in a commercial for Korean cosmetics company Isa Knox with Jessica Alba. [ [http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Loe7QFq-9TY YouTube - Hyori Jessica Alba Making of Isa Knox CF ] ]

Discography

Discography list
Name = Stylish...


Released = August 18, 2003
Label = DSP Entertainment
Type = studio album
ChartPosition = #3
Sales = 180,000
Certification =
Tracks = 14
# Prologue(Drum&Bass)
# One two three N'four
# 바보처럼(Sadness)
# 10 MINUTES
# 얼음
# 이브, 낙원에 잠들다
# Remember Me
# 오늘따라
# Do Me
# Hey Girl
# 지워버려
# 어느 째즈바
# Only One
# 미안해요(Ghost)Discography list
Name = Dark Angel


Released = February 13 2006
Label = DSP Entertainment
Type = studio album
ChartPosition =#1
Sales = 58,000
Certification =
Tracks =13
#"Get Ya!"
#"깊이"
#"Straight Up"
#"Dark Angel"
#"Dear Boy"
#"겨울 시선"
#"Closer"
#"Stealing a Glance" [MARS Remix]
#"Shall We Dance?"
#"노예"
#"EMMM"
#"2 Faces"
#"Last Goodbye"Discography list
Name = It's Hyorish

---

Released = June 24 2008
Label = M.Net Media
Type = studio album
ChartPosition =#1
Sales = +120,000
Certification =
Tracks = 13
#"천하무적 이효리 (Unrivaled Lee Hyori)"
#"Lesson"
#"U-Go-Girl - with 낯선 (Natsun)"
#"사진첩 (Photo Album)"
#"이발소 집 딸 (A Barbershop’s Daughter)"
#"Don’t Cry"
#"괜찮아질까요? - with Bigtone (Do You Think It’ll Be Ok?)"
#"Sexyboy" - with Wheesung
#"빨간자동차 (Red car)" - with Kim Gun Mo
#"Hey Mr. Big"
#"P.P.P (Punky Punky Party)" - With 낯선 (Natsun)
#"My Life (외국곡) (Foreign Song)"
#"Unusual" - with Seo Jung Hwan

ingles

Hyori has released a total of six singles from her debut and second album. These six singles never received a commercial release in Korea, only promotional.
* 10 Minutes
* Hey Girl
* Remember Me
* Get Ya
* Shall We Dance
* Straight Up
* U-Go-Girl
* Hey Mr.Big

Commercial / Digital Singles

Hyori has released a total of four commercial singles (three being digital purchases only). She released her very first commercial CD single in March 2007.
* Anyclub (featuring Teddy & Kwon Sang Woo)
* Anymotion (featuring Eric)
* Anystar (featuring Lee Jun Ki)
* Toc Toc Toc
* Scolded
* Don't Love Her
* Off the RecThe chronological order of Hyori's singles go as,
10 Minutes, Hey Girl, Remember Me, Anymotion, Anyclub, Get Ya, Shall We Dance, Straight Up, Anystar, Toc Toc Toc, Scolded, Don't Love Her, Off the Rec, U-Go-Girl, Hey Mr. BiG

Dramas

* 2005: SBS "Three Leaf Clover"
* 2007: SBS "If In Love...Like Them"
* 2008: SBS "ON AIR" (Cameo)

ee also

*List of Korea-related topics
*List of Koreans
*K-pop
*Contemporary culture of South Korea
*Korean music

References

External links

*