'Korean People's Song' Venerable Bohyeon, 80s High Teen Star → Reason for Deciding to Ordain

Photo by KBS 1TV, screenshot from the broadcast of 'Korean People's Songs'

[Asia Economy Intern Reporter Park Hee-eun] Currently known as Bohyeon Sunim of Bulamsan, Lee Kyung-mi, a high-teen star of the 1980s, revealed the reason why she decided to become a Buddhist nun.

On the 6th episode of KBS 1TV's 'Songs of Koreans,' which aired on the 31st of last month, Choi Soo-jong visited Bulamsan in Namyangju to meet the first story's protagonist. The protagonist was Bohyeon Sunim, a former high-teen star from the 1980s.

Bohyeon Sunim told Choi Soo-jong, who asked why she started singing as a nun, "I was originally a singer before ordination." Her debut name was Lee Kyung-mi, and she was a rookie singer who received attention enough to compete for the rookie award alongside Lee Sun-hee in the 1980s.

Bohyeon Sunim also shared her debut story. She said, "I was walking in front of the Korea Film Promotion Agency when a director told me I looked good on camera." She added, "He gave me a script to read. After that, I filmed commercials, including for beverages." At that time, she appeared in advertisements for pharmaceutical companies and cosmetics, maintaining high popularity.

However, Bohyeon Sunim decided to become a nun. She said, "There was always an unfulfilled spiritual hunger inside me," and continued, "After singing, I would always get a message asking me to come to this place. I hated that. I thought, 'This place is not my place, what am I earning money for?'" She shared her feelings at the time.

At that time, as the eldest daughter among seven siblings, Bohyeon Sunim was responsible for supporting her family by paying all her younger siblings' tuition fees. Therefore, neither her company nor her family easily accepted her decision to ordain. Later, she pretended to go to the United States and went to the airport but returned to a temple in Jirisan.

Bohyeon Sunim's mother searched for her daughter, who had disappeared and wandered through several temples. Then, after hearing a monk say, "You should pray for your daughter to become a great monk," she was able to accept Bohyeon Sunim's ordination. Currently, Bohyeon Sunim is close to singing again as a Dharma propagation worker who conveys the heart. On that day, she sang 'Tears of Mokpo.'

Afterward, Choi Soo-jong comforted her heart by saying, "The song was good, but I think the situation must have been very difficult for you to do this."