Girls' Generation's Yuri and singer Lee Hyori. [Herald Muse]
Girls' Generation's Yuri and singer Lee Hyori. [Herald Muse]

After a preview clip showing Girls' Generation member Yuri's daily life on Jeju Island drew comparisons to singer Lee Hyori, an acquaintance of Yuri's stepped forward to defend her.

MBC's "I Live Alone" recently released a teaser featuring Yuri's everyday routine on Jeju Island.

In the clip, Yuri begins her day at 3 a.m. She heads to the beach with a friend and practices yoga while waiting for the sun to rise.

"I woke up before sunrise to make the most of my day," Yuri said. "I wanted to do sunrise yoga on the beach as the sun came up — it's about slowly waking up my body while having a conversation with it."

The preview also showed more low-key moments: Yuri personally converted a van for road trips and was seen napping inside it with a friend.

The clip drew largely warm reactions, with viewers writing that she looked "mentally and emotionally healthy," that it was "the life I want," and that the episode had "a refreshing feel."

Some viewers drew comparisons to singer Lee Hyori — known for her own Jeju Island lifestyle — leaving comments such as "she seems like she's copying Lee Hyori too much" and "she's trying too hard to look like Lee Hyori."

Others pushed back, with comments including "Yuri was doing yoga before Lee Hyori," "is it wrong to take inspiration from someone?" and "even if she did, what's the problem?"

One online commenter who said they knew Yuri personally went further. "You haven't met Yuri in person, have you? She's not the type to put on a show. I've met her many times. She's a genuinely wonderful person. Please see her for who she is," the commenter wrote.

Meanwhile, Yuri was appointed as a Jeju Island promotional ambassador last year.


choigo@heraldcorp.com