Yoon Soo-il Opens Up About Multicultural Discrimination and His Iconic Music Journey

Legendary star Yoon Soo-il has candidly shared his experiences with discrimination faced by multicultural families.

On the upcoming episode of MBN's 'Kim Joo-ha's Day & Night,' airing on the 25th at 9:40 PM, Yoon Soo-il will appear as a guest, reminiscing about his days dominating the stage at the 'Miss Korea Pageant' during the 70s and 80s.

Yoon Soo-il captivated audiences with his flower-giving performances at the 'Miss Korea Pageant,' and those who received his flowers, like Go Hyun-jung and Oh Hyun-kyung, went on to win titles, creating a buzz. When the three MCs praised his keen eye, Yoon humorously responded, "It's more of a man's instinct than keen observation."

Particularly, Yoon Soo-il, now celebrated as a pioneer of city pop among the MZ generation, reveals the surprising backstory of composing 'Beautiful,' the designated song for the 'Miss Korea Pageant.' Standing at 177cm, Yoon was notable for his height among his contemporaries and frequently invited to the pageant, where he wrote 'Beautiful.' However, while sharing the beautiful story behind the song, Yoon humorously warns, "Learning how to close a convertible is essential," sparking curiosity about the connection between convertibles and 'Beautiful.'

Yoon Soo-il also shares the heartbreaking story of facing severe discrimination as a child from a multicultural family. Born in 1955 to a Korean mother and a U.S. Air Force pilot father, Yoon revealed the shocking past of being rejected by neighborhoods due to his exotic appearance, saying, "When my mother moved with me, the neighborhood wouldn't accept us." He further shares a poignant story about his mother, a beauty from Gangye, Pyeonganbuk-do, who was diagnosed with terminal cancer while he was gaining popularity with his debut song 'I Won't Love.' Despite her request, he couldn't sing the song for her immediately, leaving a lasting emotional impact.

Tae Yuna, TenAsia Reporter youyou@tenasia.co.kr