Lee Sun-sil (이순실), a South Korean entrepreneur and chef who defected from North Korea, recently made a surprising revelation on a television program: Girls' Generation (소녀시대) member Taeyeon (태연) enjoys significant popularity in North Korea. Lee claimed that some individuals have even been punished or imprisoned for secretly listening to Taeyeon's music, a statement that shocked the show's guests.
On Oct. 3, Lee Sun-sil appeared as the head chef for the 'Nolto Matjib Street' segment on episode 436 of tvN's variety show, 'Amazing Saturday' (놀라운 토요일). During the program, host Boom (붐) asked her, "I heard there's an idol you admire here today?" Without hesitation, Lee pointed to Taeyeon.
Looking at Taeyeon, Lee Sun-sil stated, "Because of that girl, many people in North Korea have even gone to detention centers." This sudden revelation immediately created a tense atmosphere. A bewildered Taeyeon asked, "Is it me?" while Boom exclaimed, "They were even sent to detention centers?"
Lee Sun-sil explained that she had heard these stories directly from other North Korean defectors. She recounted how many defectors who arrived in South Korea would ask her, "Sister, aren't you working at a broadcasting station? Can't you help us see Girls' Generation?" This demonstrates that even within North Korea, many people are aware of Girls' Generation and Taeyeon, and are keenly interested in them.
Lee then shared a story about an acquaintance, revealing, "Someone told me that his brother went to prison for listening to Taeyeon's songs." North Korea maintains strict restrictions on access to South Korean popular culture, and privately consuming K-pop can lead to severe penalties. Despite this, some individuals still risk punishment to secretly listen to Taeyeon's music.
Lee Sun-sil also jokingly recounted how people around her would sometimes ask, "If you see Taeyeon, please bring her back for us." However, she quickly changed her mind, laughing, "No, we can't take her away; she still needs to sing." This sudden display of "idol protection" brought laughter to the set.
Separately, Lee Sun-sil also shared that it had always been her dream to appear on 'Amazing Saturday,' and she was thrilled to finally fulfill it. She couldn't hide her fan-like excitement for host Shin Dong-yup (신동엽).
She laughed, saying, "When I heard I was coming here to film, I was nervous because I heard Shin Dong-yup would also be here." She then made a surprising declaration: "Even if everyone else in the world dies, Shin Dong-yup cannot die."
This unreserved "superfan confession" instantly brought laughter to the set, showcasing Lee Sun-sil's characteristic straightforward and unpredictable variety show charm.
