[Comprehensive] "I Reflect on My Inappropriate Actions for the Current Situation" Lee Hyori Apologizes in Live Broadcast with Yoona

Lee Hyori "As an older sister, I also feel sorry to Yoona"

Singers Lee Hyori and Yoona sparked controversy by doing an Instagram live broadcast from a karaoke room, one of the high-risk infection facilities. Photo by Lee Hyori Instagram capture.

[Asia Economy Intern Reporter Kim Bong-ju] Amid the ongoing spread of the novel coronavirus (COVID-19) in South Korea, singer Lee Hyori has sparked controversy after it was revealed that she visited a karaoke room. Lee Hyori promptly issued an apology.

On the 2nd, Lee Hyori posted on her Instagram, "I deeply reflect on my inappropriate behavior last night during a time when we still need to be cautious."

She continued, "Lately, I have been too excited and did not think deeply. I am also sorry to Yoona as an older sister."

Lee Hyori emphasized, "I will be more careful and act prudently from now on. I apologize once again."

Photo by Lee Hyori, captured from Instagram.

Earlier, on the 1st, Lee Hyori posted a photo on her Instagram with Girls' Generation member Yoona, whom she became close to through the JTBC variety show 'Hyori's Homestay 2.' The released photo showed the two wearing similar hats and looking at the camera. There were beer glasses on the table.

Afterwards, the two started a personal Instagram live broadcast from a karaoke room following a drinking session. While Yoona adjusted the camera, Lee Hyori held the karaoke microphone and explained, "I came to a karaoke room in Apgujeong after drinking with Yoona," and Yoona said, "I'm not drunk."

Lee Hyori told Yoona to "choose a song" and continued the live broadcast. Upon seeing a comment from a netizen criticizing their visit to the karaoke room, she was surprised and asked, "Is it not allowed to come to a karaoke room?" Hearing this, Yoona explained, "We wore masks properly." The two quickly put on the masks that had been on the table.

Photo by Lee Hyori, captured from Instagram.

The issue was the location where they conducted the broadcast. The place where the two broadcasted is a karaoke room, which is considered a high-risk facility for coronavirus infection. Currently, karaoke rooms are not banned from operating like coin karaoke rooms, but due to the high risk of droplet transmission, they are classified as high-risk facilities.

As a result, Lee Hyori and Yoona ended the live broadcast in less than two minutes.

Following this, heated debates about their live broadcast took place on online communities and social networking services (SNS).

Some netizens responded with comments such as, "Visiting a karaoke room during this time is a reckless act," "It seems like there is a lack of awareness about the risks of COVID-19," and "Why create controversy unnecessarily?"

Other netizens pointed out excessive criticism, saying, "The interference is too much," and "They didn't commit any illegal act and wore masks immediately, so what's the problem?"

Amid the controversy, Lee Hyori deleted the photo believed to have been taken during the drinking session with Yoona.

Meanwhile, starting from the 1st, karaoke hunting pubs, emotional pubs, entertainment pubs, buffet restaurants, standing concert halls, and indoor group exercise facilities are required to use electronic entry log QR codes. Users who do not scan the QR code will be denied entry, and violating businesses will face penalties such as fines.