Lee Sun-hee (singer)

Lee Sun hee
Lee Sun hee
	Lee Sun hee in 2012
Background information
Born	November 11, 1964; Boryeong, South Chungcheong Province, South Korea
Occupation(s)	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)[1] is a South Korean singer-songwriter. She is often referred to as Korea's "National Diva" for her immense popularity, commercial success, and vocal ability.[2][3][4]

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.[5] She released a string of successful albums in the 1980s and early 1990s,[2] for which she won the Album Bonsang at the Golden Disc Awards every year from 1985 to 1990.[5] She released her 15th and most recent album, Serendipity, in 2014.[6]

The government of South Korea awarded Lee the prestigious Prime Minister's Commendation in 2010 for her contributions to popular culture.[7] In 2011, Lee became the fourth South Korean singer to ever perform at Carnegie Hall,[3] and in 2018, she was one of the few South Korean singers to ever perform in North Korea, as part of the Spring is Coming concert in Pyongyang.[8]

Biography

Lee Sun hee was born in 1964 in Boryeong, South Chungcheong Province, South Korea.[9] 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.[10] She attended Sangmyung High School and graduated from Incheon City College in 1984 with a degree in environmental management.[11]

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 (Korean: 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.[12] 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.[13]

Musical style

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 Korean vocalist 송창식 (Song Chang-sik) as one of her influences and role models. Sun-hee possesses a warm, lyric soprano voice with sturdy lows and bombastic highs. In addition to being a vocalist, Sun-hee is also a songwriter, writing many of the songs on her later albums (including the celebrated hit 인연 "Fate").

Discography

Studio albums

Title	Album details	Peak chart positions	Sales
Title	Album details	KOR [14][15]	Sales
Ah! The Good Old Days (아! 옛날이여)	Released: January 25, 1985 Label: Jigu Records Formats: LP, cassette	No data
West Wind (갈바람)	Released: November 25, 1985 Label: Jigu Records Formats: LP, cassette
I Want to Know (알고 싶어요)	Released: November 30, 1986 Label: Jigu Records Formats: LP, cassette
Where the Love Falls / I Always Miss You (사랑이 지는 이 자리 / 나 항상 그대를)	Released: February 1, 1988 Label: Seoul Records Formats: LP, cassette		KOR: 1,000,000+[16]
My Street / A Bout of Laughter (나의 거리 / 한바탕 웃음으로)	Released: April 10, 1989 Label: Seoul Records Formats: CD, cassette		KOR: 1,000,000+[16]
Turning the Pages of Memories / Why Me (추억의 책장을 넘기면 / 왜 나만)	Released: August 20, 1990 Label: Seoul Records Formats: CD, cassette		KOR: 1,000,000+[16]
If You Love Me (그대가 나를 사랑하신다면)	Released: July 1991 Label: Seoul Records Formats: CD, cassette
Small Boat (조각배)	Released: August 1992 Label: Seoul Records Formats: CD, cassette
Chrysanthemum (한송이 국화)	Released: March 3, 1994 Label: Seoul Records Formats: CD, cassette
First Love	Released: October 24, 1996 Label: Yedang Entertainment Formats: CD, cassette
Dream of Ruby	Released: November 2, 1998 Label: Yedang Entertainment Formats: CD, cassette	20	KOR: 30,319+[17]
My Life And Best	Released: March 26, 2001 Label: Yedang Entertainment Formats: CD, cassette	38	KOR: 36,122+[18]
Puberty (사춘기) (四春期)	Released: April 14, 2005 Label: Hook Entertainment Formats: CD, cassette	15	KOR: 27,537+[19]
Dear Love... (사랑아...)	Released: February 25, 2009 Label: Hook Entertainment Formats: CD	89	N/A
Serendipity	Released: March 26, 2014 Label: Hook Entertainment Formats: CD, digital download	4	KOR: 37,026+[20]
* There is no chart data for 2009, but Dear Love... charted on the Gaon Album Chart in 2013.

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 《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 《Legend of the Blue Sea》 released in 2016

Awards

Year	Award	Category	Nominated work	Ref.
1984	KBS Song Festival	New Artist Award		[21]
	MBC Riverside Song Festival	Grand Prize		[22]
	MBC Ten Singers Song Festival	Most Popular Song	"To J"	[21]
		New Artist Award		[21]
		Best ten singers
1985	KBS Song Festival	Grand Prize
1985	MBC Ten Singers Song Festival	Best ten singers
1986	Golden Disc Awards	Main Prize (Bonsang)	West Wind	[23]
	KBS Song Festival	Grand Prize
	MBC Ten Singers Song Festival	Best ten singers
1987	Golden Disc Awards	Main Prize (Bonsang)	I Want to Know	[23]
	KBS Song Festival	Grand Prize
	MBC Ten Singers Song Festival	Most Popular Song	I Want To Know
1988	Golden Disc Awards	Main Prize (Bonsang)	I Always Miss You	[23]
	KBS Song Festival	Grand Prize
	MBC Ten Singers Song Festival	Best ten singers
1989	Golden Disc Awards	Main Prize (Bonsang)	My Street	[23]
	KBS Song Festival	Grand Prize
	MBC Ten Singers Song Festival	Best ten singers
1990	Golden Disc Awards	Main Prize (Bonsang)	A Bout of Laughter	[23]
	KBS Song Festival	Grand Prize
	MBC Ten Singers Song Festival	Best ten singers
1994	KBS Song Festival	Grand Prize
1995	KBS Song Festival	Grand Prize
1996	KBS Song Festival	Grand Prize
1999	Baeksang Arts Awards	Popularity Award (Theater Division)	Bari, The Forgotten Lullaby	[24]
2001	MBC Ten Singers Song Festival	Best ten singers

References

"프로필". Lee Sun Hee Official Website (in Korean). Retrieved January 16, 2020.
Jackson, Julie (January 6, 2014). "Veteran singer Lee Sun-hee to make a return next month". The Korea Herlad. Retrieved January 17, 2020.
Lee, Ge-eun (June 5, 2018). "[20년 전 오늘] 이선희, 대한민국 가요계 호령한 '영원한 국민 디바'". Sports Seoul (in Korean). Retrieved January 17, 2020.
Heo, Myeong-suk (March 14, 2014). "이선희 15집 발매 기념, 25일 스페셜 쇼케이스". Daehan Ilbo (in Korean). Retrieved January 17, 2020.
Hye-sung, Kil (March 25, 2014). "'지존이 돌아온다①'-이선희, 30년 저력 '女가왕'". Star News (in Korean). Retrieved November 5, 2014.
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.
Gang, Yeong-guk (November 22, 2010). "[포토] 국무총리 표창 이선희, 송해 선배님과 뜨거운 포옹!". Maeil Business Newspaper (in Korean). Retrieved January 17, 2020.
"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.
Lee, Chang-u (September 28, 1984). "'J에게'로 인기높은 신인가수 이선희양". JoongAng Ilbo (in Korean). Retrieved January 17, 2020.
"이선희 아버지, 대처승? '아내를 두고 있는 승려'". The Korea Economic Daily (in Korean). April 12, 2014. Retrieved January 17, 2020.
"이선희". Daum Encyclopedia (in Korean). March 28, 2015. Retrieved January 17, 2020.
"[8090 이 노래 이 명반] 17. 이선희 4집과 5집". Busan Ilbo (in Korean). October 27, 2015. Retrieved December 8, 2020.
"[김경호 미디어비평] '한국의 디바' 이선희 콘서트, 30년이 흐른 시간의 흔적은 없었다". Kukmin Ilbo (in Korean). April 22, 2014. Retrieved December 8, 2020.
"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.
"Gaon Album Chart" (in Korean). Gaon Music Chart. Retrieved December 9, 2018.
- "Dear Love... charting".
- "Serendipity charting".
"[김건표의 스타토크] 가수 송시현 - 매일신문". news.imaeil.com. Retrieved July 20, 2019.
"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.
"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.
"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.
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.
"[시선★피플] '언니 부대', '국민 가수' 세월도 빗겨가는 천상의 목소리 '이선희'". Sisun News (in Korean). March 14, 2016. Retrieved January 24, 2019.
Fuhr, Michael (2015). Globalization and Popular Music in South Korea: Sounding Out K-Pop. Routledge. p. 49. ISBN 9781317556916.
"역대수상자". Golden Disc Awards (in Korean). Retrieved January 24, 2019.
"[백상예술대상] 연극 인기상 이선희". Hankook Ilbo (in Korean). April 5, 1999. Retrieved January 24, 2019.

External links

Official website

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[1] "프로필". Lee Sun Hee Official Website (in Korean). Retrieved January 16, 2020.

[:3-2] Jackson, Julie (January 6, 2014). "Veteran singer Lee Sun-hee to make a return next month". The Korea Herlad. Retrieved January 17, 2020.

[:4-3] 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.

[:5-5] Hye-sung, Kil (March 25, 2014). "'지존이 돌아온다①'-이선희, 30년 저력 '女가왕'". Star News (in Korean). Retrieved November 5, 2014.

[6] 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.

[7] Gang, Yeong-guk (November 22, 2010). "[포토] 국무총리 표창 이선희, 송해 선배님과 뜨거운 포옹!". Maeil Business Newspaper (in Korean). Retrieved January 17, 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.

[miak_album_sales-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] "Dream of Ruby charting". Archived from the original on August 22, 1999. Retrieved July 25, 2019.

[16] "My Life + Best charting". Archived from the original on July 18, 2007. Retrieved July 25, 2019.

[17] "Puberty charting". Archived from the original on March 19, 2007. Retrieved July 25, 2019.

[gaon_album_chart-15] "Gaon Album Chart" (in Korean). Gaon Music Chart. Retrieved December 9, 2018.
"Dear Love... charting".

"Serendipity charting".

[19] "Dear Love... charting".

[20] "Serendipity charting".

[:2-16] "[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.

[26] "2014 Album Chart" (in Korean). Gaon Music Chart. Retrieved December 9, 2018.

[27] "January 2015 Album Chart" (in Korean). Gaon Music Chart. Retrieved December 9, 2018.

[:0-21] "[시선★피플] '언니 부대', '국민 가수' 세월도 빗겨가는 천상의 목소리 '이선희'". Sisun News (in Korean). March 14, 2016. Retrieved January 24, 2019.

[22] Fuhr, Michael (2015). Globalization and Popular Music in South Korea: Sounding Out K-Pop. Routledge. p. 49. ISBN 9781317556916.

[:1-23] "역대수상자". Golden Disc Awards (in Korean). Retrieved January 24, 2019.

[24] "[백상예술대상] 연극 인기상 이선희". Hankook Ilbo (in Korean). April 5, 1999. Retrieved January 24, 2019.