Between Hyorish and Hyorism: A Korean TV Star and Social Media Activism

Since her solo debut album in 2003, Lee Hyori, one of the most famous stars in Korea, has kept her name in the limelight as a singer, actress, show host, advertising model, and fashion trendsetter. The Beyoncé-like diva in Korea metamorphosed after declaring a hiatus due to plagiarism on her fourth album. Suddenly, she became an animal-rights activist, a vegetarian, and a donor to poor citizens and encouraged political engagement. On her Twitter account, she updated all of her practices asking for public attention to social issues. Gradually, she transformed from a sexy TV diva to an exemplar of celebrity activism. However, she did not abandon her life and popularity as a top star; rather, she repositioned herself in between a beloved celebrity and a respected activist. This article examines how she has accomplished these two different tasks and what roles her social media engagement has played in the achievement