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Lee Sun hee
Lee Sun hee in 2012
Background information
Born	(1964-11-11) November 11, 1964 (age 60) Poryong, South Chungchon, South Korea
Occupation	Singer
Years active	1984–present
Labels	Hook Entertainment
Korean name
Hangul	이선희
Hanja	李仙姬
Revised Romanization	Yi Seon-hui
McCune–Reischauer	I Sŏnhŭi

Lee Sun-hee (Korean: 이선희; born November 11, 1964) is a South Korean singer-songwriter. She is often referred to as South Korea's "National Diva" for her immense popularity, commercial success, and vocal ability.

Lee debuted in 1984 with the song, "To J," for which she won first prize in the MBC Riverside Song Festival. She released her first album, Ah! The Good Old Days, the following year in 1985. She released a string of successful albums in the 1980s and early 1990s, and won awards at KBS Song Festival and MBC Ten Singers Song Festival every year from 1984 to 1990, as well as main prize at the Golden Disc Awards every year from 1986 to 1990.

The government of South Korea awarded Lee the prestigious Prime Minister's Commendation in 2010 for her contributions to popular culture. In 2011, Lee became the fourth South Korean singer to ever perform at Carnegie Hall. She released her 15th album, Serendipity in 2014. In 2018, she performed in Pyongyang as a part of Spring is Coming and became one of few South Korean singers to perform twice in North Korea. She released her 16th album, Anbu in 2020.

Early life and education

Lee was born in 1964 in Poryong, South Chungchon, South Korea. She was raised near a secluded Buddhist temple by her mother and her father, a Buddhist monk who belongs to a sect of the religion that allows monks to marry and have children. She attended Sangmyung High School and graduated from Inchon City College in 1984 with a degree in environmental management.

Career

While she was a student at Incheon City College, Lee participated in the 5th MBC Riverside Song Festival as a member of the singing duo Act 4 Scene 5 (4막 5장) with fellow student Im Sung-kyun. They won the grand prize with the song, "To J", which became a hit, garnering Lee prizes for best new artist at the year-end KBS Music Awards and MBC Top 10 Singers Song Festival. Her signature boyish look was also a hit, causing a so-called "Lee Sun-hee syndrome," or craze, among female students who imitated her short haircut and round glasses.

Musical style

Lee Sun-hee possesses a warm, lyric soprano voice with sturdy lows and bombastic highs. In addition to being a vocalist, Lee Sun-hee is also a songwriter, writing many of the songs on her later albums including the celebrated hit 'Fate'. During her 30th anniversary concert tour, Sun-hee broadcast a clip during the intermission revealing her three biggest musical influences: Barbra Streisand, Madonna, and Whitney Houston. She has mentioned South Korean vocalist Song Chang-sik as one of her influences and role models.

Discography

Studio albums

Collaborations

OST albums

• KBS drama 《Fireworks》 released in 1984
• MBC animation 《The Little Princess Sara》 released in 1986
• MBC drama 《Blue Classroom》 released in 1987
• KBS animation 《Run Hani》 released in 1988
• KBS animation 《Reckless Hani》 released in 1989
• SBS drama 《Fear With No Love》 released in 1992
• MBC drama 《Gips Family》 released in 2000
• Movie 《The Beauty In Dream》 released in 2002
• Movie 《The King and the Clown》 released in 2005
• Movie 《The Sword with No Name》 released in 2009
• SBS drama 《My Girlfriend Is a Gumiho》 released in 2010
• SBS drama 《Big Thing (TV series)》 released in 2010
• SBS drama 《The Legend of the Blue Sea》 released in 2016
• MBC drama 《The Red Sleeve》 released in 2021

Filmography

Television shows

Awards

Awards and nominations

State honors

Notes

1. Honors are given at the Korean Popular Culture and Arts Awards, arranged by the Korea Creative Content Agency and hosted by the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism. They are awarded to those who have contributed to the arts and South Korea's pop culture.

References

1. "프로필". Lee Sun Hee Official Website (in Korean). Retrieved January 16, 2020.
2. ^ Jackson, Julie (January 6, 2014). "Veteran singer Lee Sun-hee to make a return next month". The Korea Herlad. Retrieved January 17, 2020.
3. ^ Lee, Ge-eun (June 5, 2018). "[20년 전 오늘] 이선희, 대한민국 가요계 호령한 '영원한 국민 디바'". Sports Seoul (in Korean). Retrieved January 17, 2020.
4. Heo, Myeong-suk (March 14, 2014). "이선희 15집 발매 기념, 25일 스페셜 쇼케이스". Daehan Ilbo (in Korean). Retrieved January 17, 2020.
5. ^ Hye-sung, Kil (March 25, 2014). "'지존이 돌아온다①'-이선희, 30년 저력 '女가왕'". Star News (in Korean). Retrieved November 5, 2014.
6. Gang, Yeong-guk (November 22, 2010). "[포토] 국무총리 표창 이선희, 송해 선배님과 뜨거운 포옹!". Maeil Business Newspaper (in Korean). Retrieved January 17, 2020.
7. Benjamin, Jeff; Oak, Jessica (April 4, 2014). "K-Pop Legend Lee Sun Hee Breaks 5-Year Hiatus & Tops K-Pop Hot 100". Billboard. Archived from the original on June 4, 2016. Retrieved January 16, 2020.
8. "South Korean K-pop stars perform for Kim Jong-un in Pyongyang". The Guardian. Reuters. April 1, 2018. ISSN 0261-3077. Retrieved January 17, 2020.
9. Lee, Chang-u (September 28, 1984). "'J에게'로 인기높은 신인가수 이선희양". JoongAng Ilbo (in Korean). Retrieved January 17, 2020.
10. "이선희 아버지, 대처승? '아내를 두고 있는 승려'". The Korea Economic Daily (in Korean). April 12, 2014. Retrieved January 17, 2020.
11. "이선희". Daum Encyclopedia (in Korean). March 28, 2015. Retrieved January 17, 2020.
12. "[8090 이 노래 이 명반] 17. 이선희 4집과 5집". Busan Ilbo (in Korean). October 27, 2015. Retrieved December 8, 2020.
13. "[김경호 미디어비평] '한국의 디바' 이선희 콘서트, 30년이 흐른 시간의 흔적은 없었다". Kukmin Ilbo (in Korean). April 22, 2014. Retrieved December 8, 2020.
14. "K-pop Album Sales Volume" (in Korean). Recording Industry Association of Korea. Archived from the original on February 19, 2009. Retrieved December 9, 2018.
    • "Dream of Ruby charting". Archived from the original on August 22, 1999. Retrieved July 25, 2019.
    • "My Life + Best charting". Archived from the original on July 18, 2007. Retrieved July 25, 2019.
    • "Puberty charting". Archived from the original on March 19, 2007. Retrieved July 25, 2019.
15. "Gaon Album Chart" (in Korean). Gaon Music Chart. Retrieved December 9, 2018.
    • "Dear Love... charting".
    • "Serendipity charting".
16. ^ "[김건표의 스타토크] 가수 송시현 - 매일신문". news.imaeil.com. Retrieved July 20, 2019.
17. "December 1998 K-pop Album Sales Volume" (in Korean). Recording Industry Association of Korea. Archived from the original on August 22, 1999. Retrieved December 9, 2018.
18. "First Half of 2001 K-pop Album Sales Volume" (in Korean). Recording Industry Association of Korea. Archived from the original on July 17, 2007. Retrieved December 9, 2018.
19. "February 2006 K-pop Album Sales Volume" (in Korean). Recording Industry Association of Korea. Archived from the original on May 18, 2009. Retrieved December 9, 2018.
20. Cumulative sales for Serendipity:
    • "2014 Album Chart" (in Korean). Gaon Music Chart. Retrieved December 9, 2018.
    • "January 2015 Album Chart" (in Korean). Gaon Music Chart. Retrieved December 9, 2018.
21. "Hey Kid, Close Your Eyes". Gaon Music Chart. Retrieved August 4, 2021.
22. "Hey Kid, Close Your Eyes". Billboard. Retrieved August 12, 2021.
23. "YG releases poster ahead of release of AKMU's new track". Korea JoongAng Daily. July 19, 2021. Retrieved July 19, 2021.
24. Kang Hyo-jin (October 21, 2021). "'싱어게인2' 윤도현 합류, 이선희→송민호 심사위원 라인업 확정[공식]" ['Singer Gain 2' Yoon Do-hyun joins, Lee Seon-hee → Song Min-ho Jury lineup confirmed] (in Korean). SPOTV news. Retrieved October 21, 2021 – via Naver.
25. Yang So-young (January 5, 2022). "한 번쯤 멈출 수밖에' 이선희 이금희, 노래와 함께하는 길 에세이[종합]" [Essay on 'The Road with Songs' by Lee Seon-hee and Lee Geum-hee, 'You have to stop at least once'] (in Korean). Maeil Business Star Today. Retrieved January 5, 2022 – via Naver.
26. "[백상예술대상] 연극 인기상 이선희". Hankook Ilbo (in Korean). April 5, 1999. Retrieved January 24, 2019.
27. ^ "[시선★피플] '언니 부대', '국민 가수' 세월도 빗겨가는 천상의 목소리 '이선희'". Sisun News (in Korean). March 14, 2016. Retrieved January 24, 2019.
28. "MBC 최고인기가수상에 god, 태진아". Yonhap News Agency (in Korean). January 1, 2002. Retrieved October 20, 2021.
29. Fuhr, Michael (2015). Globalization and Popular Music in South Korea: Sounding Out K-Pop. Routledge. p. 49. ISBN 9781317556916.
30. Herman, Tamar (December 2, 2018). "BTS Performs 'Idol' at Melon Music Awards 2018". Billboard. Retrieved October 21, 2021.
31. "'2014 MAMA' 태양 에일리, 男女보컬퍼포먼스상 수상 영예". Newsen (in Korean). December 3, 2014. Retrieved October 20, 2021.
32. Hicap, Jonathan (October 18, 2018). "BTS, Red Velvet win at Korean Popular Culture and Arts Awards". Manila Bulletin. Archived from the original on October 18, 2018. Retrieved May 26, 2021.
33. Yeo, Yer-im (October 25, 2018). "BTS gets award upon their return home". Yonhap News Agency. Archived from the original on November 7, 2018. Retrieved May 26, 2021 – via Korea JoongAng Daily.
34. Lee, Sang-won (October 25, 2016). "Korean Popular Culture and Arts Awards announces winners". The Korea Herald. Archived from the original on September 29, 2018. Retrieved May 26, 2021.
35. "대중문화예술상 2010년" [2010 Popular Culture and Arts Awards]. Korea Creative Content Agency (in Korean). Archived from the original on October 12, 2020. Retrieved May 26, 2021.

External links

• Official website

• 1964 births
• Living people
• South Korean women pop singers
• People from Boryeong
• Musicians from South Chungcheong Province
• 20th-century South Korean women singers
• 21st-century South Korean women singers
• South Korean Buddhists
• South Korean sopranos