Lee Hyori opens up about emotional distress after leaving Jeju: “I wanted to go back every day”

Beloved idol Lee Hyori recently opened up about her emotional struggles after moving from Jeju Island to Seoul. Appearing on the June 28 episode of Yoo Jae Suk's popular show Pinggyego, Hyori spoke candidly about how the relocation impacted her mentally and emotionally.The singer revealed that she moved to Seoul with her five dogs, and shortly after their arrival, two of them fell ill. She immediately feared the move had caused the distress. “I wondered if I should go back,” she admitted. “But we eventually adjusted,” she added, with a note of relief.

Conversations with her husband, Lee Sang Soon

Lee Hyori also recalled her conversations with her husband, musician Lee Sang Soon, during those difficult days. “I was feeling really down and would say, ‘Oppa, I want to go back to Jeju,’ and he’d reply, ‘Wanna go to the department store?’” she said. “There are no department stores in Jeju. I’d think, ‘What difference would that make?’”After their move to Seoul, Lee Sang Soon began working as the DJ for MBC FM4U’s A Perfect Day with Lee Sang Soon, which meant Hyori often found herself alone at home.

She admitted that the loneliness deepened her emotional struggle. However, one thoughtful gesture from her husband made a big difference.“After doing the radio show for three months and getting his paycheck, he told me he wanted to buy me a Chanel bag,” Hyori shared. “Before moving to Jeju, I had sold all my luxury bags and didn’t have a single one left. He said he had always dreamed of buying his wife a nice bag after getting married.”

They went to the Shinsegae Department Store in Gangnam, and Hyori had to call her stylist Han Hye-yeon to understand the purchasing process and make a reservation. “When he finally handed me the bag, it gave me butterflies,” she recalled fondly.

From indifference to joy

Despite previously being indifferent toward luxury goods, Hyori admitted that the shopping trip surprisingly lifted her spirits. Laughing, she said, “I even have a song with lyrics like, ‘What’s the big deal about luxury brands? Do luxury bags make me shine?’” Then she added with a smile, “I feel like I owe people an apology. When I stepped onto the escalator and saw my reflection, I was glowing. I was sparkling.”Her heartfelt honesty and humor won fans over, leaving them both touched and smiling at the end of the episode.