Mijoo’s Life Transformation: How Changing My Name and Yoo Jae-suk Shaped My Identity

Insights from Lee Mi-joo’s Recent YouTube Appearance

On November 20, popular idol Lee Mi-joo made a guest appearance on a well-known YouTube talk show, sharing insights alongside fellow guest Kim Hee-chul.

Attracting New Fans: The Lovelyz Dynamic

During the discussion, when prompted about members of Lovelyz who capture the interest of new fans, Mi-joo highlighted Kei and Sujeong as key contributors. She expressed, “When Kei and Sujeong attract new fans, it inspires the rest of us to elevate our performance.”

Roles Within Lovelyz

Mi-joo elaborated on her roles in the group, identifying herself as the main dancer, sub-vocalist, and visual. This prompted a playful interjection from Kim Hee-chul, who quipped, “Isn’t Yein all three of those?” To which Mi-joo responded, “I was initially a fan of Yein. Our roles and choreography often align, and we frequently teamed up for performances.”

Praise for Dance Skills

Hee-chul went on to commend Mi-joo’s impressive dancing abilities, stating, “Mijoo is a truly outstanding dancer.” Mi-joo took the opportunity to further showcase her skills as the main dancer, captivating the audience with her performance.

Changing Her Name: A New Chapter

Kim Hee-chul also touched on Mi-joo’s name change, which she confirmed. “Originally, I was named Lee Mi-joo, but I changed it to Lee Seung-ah. However, I prefer to be called Mijoo on-air—only my close friends use Seung-ah,” she stated. Mi-joo explained that her mother suggested the change as a means to improve her life circumstances, which ultimately turned out to be a pivotal decision.

Surprisingly, Mi-joo noted that post-change, she began to receive increased opportunities for self-promotion, remarking, “It was incredible. After the name change, things really began to look up for me.” She identified this transformation occurring roughly 5–6 years prior, a timeframe that Hee-chul indicated coincided with her meeting Yoo Jae-suk.

The Impact of Influential Figures

In a light-hearted game segment, Mi-joo was asked to choose between Yoon Sang and Yoo Jae-suk regarding who has had a more significant impact on her career. She expressed gratitude toward her agency’s CEO for discovering her talent but credited Yoo Jae-suk for her growth as a variety show entertainer. “Yoon Sang contributed to shaping Lovelyz, but Yoo Jae-suk was integral in my development,” she explained.

Further expressing her appreciation, Mi-joo said, “While working with Yoo Jae-suk, he acknowledged my hard work and provided invaluable guidance.”

For the full episode, you can check it out