Comedian Lee Hyun-joo recently opened up about her challenging life circumstances.
In a recent broadcast of MBN's show "Special News," Lee revealed insights from her past when she gained immense popularity as a character in the 1980s alongside Lee Kyung-sil and Park Mi-sun. She noted, "I think I earned around 1 billion won back then, which would be about 3 to 4 billion won today." Reflecting on her peak, she mentioned, "In provincial areas, my performance fee was around 15 million won — a time when my popularity soared back in 1988."
Lee, who has been married for ten years to her younger husband, shared how they are navigating financial difficulties, particularly due to medical expenses for her mother. The couple has taken to busking as a means to supplement their income, but Lee expressed her worries, saying, "Life is tight, and with fewer events, it's concerning. I feel like the end of the year will be challenging."
She further elaborated, "Before COVID-19, I was financially secure with multiple gigs a day, but since work stopped five years ago, both my economic and mental health have suffered significantly."
Lee Hyun-joo's story underscores the challenges many artists face in the fluctuating entertainment industry and highlights the resilience required to overcome such adversities.