Honey Lee and her sister and mother

Their performance at Euijeongbu Arts Center.

Lee Ha Nui: "I was Kim Tae Hee's bodyguard"

Lee Ha Nui (24) spoke, "I was Kim Tae Hee's bodyguard during the time when we were schooling at Seoul National University." It is an answer to the question what kind of student she was during her time studying Korean traditional music at Seoul National University.

Lee Ha Nui spoke in an inside talk interview with Ilgan Sports Newspaper on the evening of the 14th, "I know Kim Tae Hee unni through the ski club in school from 2004 and up to now we are close. I am tall and played the bodyguard role of Tae Hee unni."

Kim Tae Hee who was called a 'Seoul National University uljjang (gorgeous person)' had just debuted in the entertainment world via the SBS TV broadcast of 'Screen' in 2003. At that time she was under Logos Film and her manager did not go with her to school as she was a new face.

Lee Ha Nui: "The dining room, the lecture room and the club room of the premises, the crowd really gathered every time when she came and the same male students moved to see Tae Hee unni. I led and cleared the way every time and I regarded myself as a villain while interrupting them with 'You aren't supposed to take pictures'." She also confessed that she was later embarrassed when she was caught on the screen by KBS 2TV's 'Entertainment Relay' which had come to the school at that time to collect data on Kim Tae Hee.

At that time, Lee Ha Nui and Kim Tae Hee were part of the ski club and went for training in the ski area of Gangwon-do in the winter of every year. "I remember that we stayed in a guest house in Hoenggye city where it's far from the ski area in order to save on the hotel charges and we got on a pickup truck every morning to move to the ski area. We got tired eating spam, kimchi and tuna. We also set duties to make the rice ball box lunches every morning," she laughed.

Lee Ha Nui had the talent and Kim Tae Hee who watched her generous form at that time recommended her to advance into the entertainment world saying, "Let's work here together." Lee Ha Nui saw Kim Tae Hee make the entertainment world life exemplary and came up with the decision to challenge in Miss Korea.

"When I was in Mexico where the Miss Universe pageant was held, unni (Tae Hee) frequently made encouragement telephone calls. Recently unni is filming 'Ssawoom', she got done with it at ten o'clock last night and said that she wanted to go watch the movie 'Hwang Jini' but it was not possible for me to go out as I was tired. Perhaps I am the only person who refuses a date requested by Kim Tae Hee," Lee Ha Nui laughed.

Journalist Kim Beom Seok [kbs@joongang.co.kr]

translation credit HOME of the Angel@www.kim-taehee.com

EDIT

Kim Tae Hee unni was my senior for 3 years in Seoul National University, unni always followed her classes even after acting and returned to school later. Though the Seoul National University lifestyle is primarily indifferent to entertainers, but it happened that a large number of male students sought Tae Hee unni and I played the bodyguard role as she is too sacred. As soon as she heard the news that I was chosen as 4th place in Miss Universe, she sent many celebration messages on my cellular phone but I had lost my cellular phone then and didn't know it at that time. Because unni says that she's very empty and vain, I would like to explain while I'm moving around, "Kim yeosanim/Ms. Kim (nickname of Kim Tae Hee), you are not so, please understand."

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Honey Lee to Stage Gayageum Performance at Int'l Event

Miss Korea Honey Lee, the fourth runner-up of this year's Miss Universe beauty pageant, will play the gayageum at the opening ceremony of Campus Mission slated for July 2-6 in Busan.

The organizer of the event, the Campus Crusade for Christ, said June 18 that Lee, who majored in the gayageum in college, will stage her performance along with her mother, a gayageum master, and her older sister, who is a member of the KBS traditional music orchestra.

Campus Mission 2007, a gathering of the Christian youth from all over the world, will be attended by some 6,000 students from 120 countries.

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Beauty Queen Honey Lee to Captivate Japan

Beauty pageant winner Honey Lee will play the traditional Korean instrument gayageum at the "Love Sonata 2007 Revival Japan" concert to be held at the Super Arena Stadium on July 24th.

Her performance in Japan is particularly meaningful, as she will be joined by her mother, a master singer designated as intangible cultural relic No. 23, and her sister, who is also a gayageum musician.

Other Korean performers popular in Japan will take part in the concert, including Korean actress Choi Ji-woo of "Winter Sonata" fame, Han Hye-jin and Kim Seung-soo, two stars of the TV series "Jumong."

Honey Lee has become well-known even in Japan after she was named the fourth-place runner-up in the 2007 Miss Universe Beauty Pageant. The concert, which will be simultaneously aired in Korea and Japan via Korea's CGNTV, will be a great opportunity for Honey Lee to rise to stardom as a Hallyu star in Japan.

Lee's sister, Lee Seul-ki, said that Honey Lee is taking a break from her heavy schedule to practice for the concert. The Lee sisters say that they want to let the world know about the beauty of traditional Korean music. Honey Lee will find out how ready she is by performing at the Euijeongbu Arts Center on June 26th.

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Lee Honey Still Plans to Showcase Korean Beauty

Lee Honey fell short of her goal to take home the 2007 Miss Universe crown, "but I'm still happy," she said. Lee returned home from Mexico on Friday, her impressions of ranking fourth place in the pageant still fresh.
Lee arrived at Incheon International Airport around 5:30 p.m., a "Korea" sash draped across her shoulder. She was wearing a white shirt and designer jeans decorated with beads. She looked a bit tired but still managed a smile from beneath her oversized sunglasses for the many waiting cameras.

While Lee failed to win the show in Mexico City on May 29, her fourth place finish means she still managed to present the beauty of Korea to the world. "Even though no one believed in me or paid any attention when I was going to the competition, my goal was to become Miss Universe," she said. Ultimately she's still not certain if she succeeded or failed, she said. "But I did my best and I feel proud of myself for getting into the top five."

Lee returned to her home country with a red doll; a gift from the First Lady of Mexico. "I brought it back despite all the other stuff in my baggage because I heard that it can mark my husband's face if he cheats on me," she smiled coyly.

So when is Lee planning to make her debut in the entertainment industry? "My short term plan is to go back to school for the second semester," Lee said. "But my goal is clear. I want to present the beauty of Korea to the world, and I think that there are many ways to do that."

(englishnews@chosun.com )

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Miss Korea Returns Home From Mexico

By Seo Dong-shin
Staff Reporter

Miss Korea Lee Honey said she was happy with the crown she reaped at the 2007 Miss Universe beauty pageant _ the third runner-up.

``I couldn't bring the honor of Miss Universe to my country, but I think I took the first step. I believe there will be better results for those who come after me,'' the 24-year-old said during a press conference at Incheon International Airport upon returning from the 2007 Miss Universe beauty pageant held in Mexico.

Asked what she thinks of anti-beauty pageant voices, she said the answer is ``simple and clear.''

``Miss Korea is necessary to promote the beauty of Korea around the world,'' she said. ``I realized at the Miss Universe event that it was a truly global festival. It was not just about gathering mere beauties together, but an occasion for everyone to show each country's traditional clothes and culture. Rather than criticize the pageant for `commercializing women,' I think there should be some acknowledgement of the beauty of the times.''

Asked what she wanted to most after having been away from her home for one month, she said she wants to go to church, have a ``half-bath'' _ bathing the lower half of the body in hot water for 20 to 30 minutes _ and eat kimchi.

Lee, who is also a graduate student of the traditional Korean music at the prestigious Seoul National University, said she is determined about her future dream.

``It is to promote Korean culture around the world. I have to think more about what kind of weapons are necessary for that purpose.''

saltwall@koreatimes.co.kr

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