Comedian Lee Guk-joo Enjoys Tokyo Date with SS501's Kim Kyu-jong

Comedian Lee Guk-joo recently enjoyed a delightful Tokyo date with second-generation idol Kim Kyu-jong of SS501.

On the 31st, Lee Guk-joo's YouTube channel featured a video titled 'Tokyo Date Vlog with SS501's Kyu-jong.'

Lee attended the SS501 concert and was impressed by Kim Kyu-jong's glamorous appearance backstage, remarking, "It's different from when he was on 'Comedy Big League.'"

Lee was delighted to meet A'ST1's Tomo. Kim Kyu-jong jokingly revealed, "Lee Guk-joo bought a house in Ueno, Tokyo," to which Lee humorously responded, "It's a rental. Don't start rumors."

Watching the 20th-anniversary SS501 concert, Lee reflected, "We're the same age, and we debuted just a year apart. Watching the concert wasn't just fun and cheerful; it was also touching. I'm also approaching my 20th anniversary next year, and it makes me wonder how I should celebrate it."

Lee also took commemorative photos with SS501 members Kim Kyu-jong, Heo Young-saeng, and Kim Hyun-joong.

Later, in Shibuya, Tokyo, Kim Kyu-jong reminisced about his past activities in Japan, saying, "We promoted around the same time as TVXQ. When they finished the first part of Music Japan, we would perform next. We felt proud, thinking, 'We're doing well, let's spread the Hallyu wave.'"

Lee shared her emotional experience from the SS501 concert, to which Kim Kyu-jong replied, "I saw you from the stage. You were having a great time." Lee humorously retorted, "You saw me? How? That's a bit unsettling. Was I that noticeable?"

Kim Kyu-jong added, "You looked so youthful and it made me happy." When Lee expressed dissatisfaction with 'U R MAN' being the opening song, Kim explained, "That song was sung by me, Hyung-jun, and Young-saeng. Hyun-joong doesn't have a part in it, so he feels awkward standing in front and only does the rap part." Lee was surprised, "Was it originally a song for just the three of you?"

Reflecting on her career, Lee said, "When I was active, SS501 was so popular that I couldn't even dream of appearing on the same shows. It was like wondering if I'd ever get the chance to meet them. But after working hard for 20 and 19 years respectively, here we are filming together. It's fulfilling and makes me happy, yet I also wonder what I should do next. It's a mixed feeling."

By Eun Jung Kim, TenAsia Reporter eun@tenasia.co.kr