Lee Kyung-eun (born February 17, 1975), better known by her

stage name A stage name is a pseudonym used by performers and entertainers—such as actors, comedians, singers, and musicians. Such professional aliases are adopted for a wide variety of reasons and they may be similar, or nearly identical, to an individu ...

Harisu ( Hangul: 하리수; Hanja: 河莉秀), is a Korean pop singer, model, and actress. Born male, Harisu knew she wanted to present herself as a woman from early childhood, and underwent sex reassignment surgery in the 1990s. She is the Republic of Korea's first transgender entertainer, and in 2002 became the second person in Korea to legally change their gender. Her stage name is an adaptation of the English phrase "hot issue". She first gained public attention in 2001, after appearing in a television commercial for DoDo cosmetics. The commercial was a success and marked the launch of her career, which allowed her to branch out into other fields such as music and acting. She has recorded five Korean musical albums, switching genres between techno and R&B, and her overseas releases have featured songs recorded in

Mandarin Mandarin or The Mandarin may refer to: Language * Mandarin Chinese, branch of Chinese originally spoken in northern parts of the country ** Standard Chinese or Modern Standard Mandarin, the official language of China ** Taiwanese Mandarin, Stand ...

. Her first major acting role was in the 2001 film '' Yellow Hair 2'', and since then her credits have included '' Hi! Honey'', a Taiwanese drama series, and ''

Colour Blossoms ''Colour Blossoms'' ( zh, t=桃色, j=Toh sik) is a 2004 Hong Kong art film written and directed by Yonfan, and the third in an informal trilogy of films inspired by Tang Xianzu's ''The Peony Pavilion''. The original Chinese title of ''Colour Bl ...

'', an erotic drama by Hong Kong filmmaker Yonfan. On May 19, 2007, Harisu married Micky Jung, but the couple divorced in 2017.

Early life and transition

Harisu was born in Seongnam, Korea, and is one of five children.Li Ee Kee, "Eve from Adam", ''The Star Online'', September 19, 2005. A copy of this article can be read a
TNUKdigest
. Retrieved on April 27, 2007. Although assigned male at birth, she knew she was female from an early age, recalling, "I was always a girl who loved playing with dolls."Kang Kyong-hee

, ''The Digital Chosun'', March 29, 2001. Retrieved on April 27, 2007. This did not go unnoticed by her family or school friends, who often remarked that she looked and acted like a girl.Gina Choon

''Asiaweek.com'', September 14, 2001. Retrieved on April 27, 2007. A failed relationship with a boy during her teenage years convinced Harisu of the need to change her sex, and by the time she graduated from the all-boys Naksaeng High School,Cindy Friedman et al.
transcript for "NewsWrap" on This Way Out program #706
, October 10, 2001. Retrieved on May 5, 2007. she was already undergoing hormone replacement therapy.Christopher Torchia
"Transsexual entertainer testing the boundaries of South Koreans' Confucian ideals"
''The Korea Times'', September 20, 2001. Retrieved on April 27, 2007. It was for this reason that she was exempted from the military service usually required of males in the Republic of Korea, being rejected on the grounds of "

mental illness A mental disorder, also referred to as a mental illness or psychiatric disorder, is a behavioral or mental pattern that causes significant distress or impairment of personal functioning. Such features may be persistent, relapsing and remitti ...

".Markus Augustus, "Harisu Superstar", ''Giant Robot'', issue #28 p.56-59. By the end of the 1990s, Harisu had undergone several surgeries in Korea and Japan including: breast augmentation, sex reassignment surgery, rhinoplasty, and surgery to increase the size of her hips. Harisu lived in

Japan Japan ( ja, 日本, or , and formally , ''Nihonkoku'') is an island country in East Asia. It is situated in the northwest Pacific Ocean, and is bordered on the west by the Sea of Japan, while extending from the Sea of Okhotsk in the north ...

for several years, where she studied to be a hair stylist. It was while working as a nightclub singer that she was discovered by a talent agency, and soon after she began her career as a model. After returning to Korea in 2000, she signed with management company TTM Entertainment, and first began using the stage name "Harisu", derived from the English phrase "hot issue"."Who is the Real 'Hot Issue'?"
''Korea Now'', November 29, 2003. Retrieved on May 5, 2007.

Career

Debut

Harisu made her acting debut in 1991—while still living as a boy—as a

supporting actor A supporting actor is an actor who performs a role in a play or film below that of the leading actor(s), and above that of a bit part. In recognition of important nature of this work, the theater and film industries give separate awards to the ...

in a high school TV drama series, and this was followed by other minor film and TV roles as an extra during the 1990s. Her big break came in early 2001, when she appeared in a TV commercial for DoDo cosmetics. The commercial hinted at the fact she is transgender, zooming in to reveal her

Adam's apple The Adam's apple or laryngeal prominence is the protrusion in the human neck formed by the angle of the thyroid cartilage surrounding the larynx, typically visible in men, less frequently in women. Structure The topographic structure which is e ...

(although this was added digitally, since Harisu herself does not have a prominent Adam's apple). DoDo were initially cautious about using the commercial and had been prepared to withdraw it if the response was negative, but the commercial turned out to be a big success and quickly established her as a celebrity. As the Republic of Korea's first transgender entertainer, there was a great deal of media interest in Harisu, and she was routinely described as being "more beautiful than a woman". Explaining her reasons for "

coming out Coming out of the closet, often shortened to coming out, is a metaphor used to describe LGBT people's self-disclosure of their sexual orientation, romantic orientation, or gender identity. Framed and debated as a privacy issue, coming out of ...

", she said, "I don't want to face people dishonestly. I won't be able to hide it after all. It's better to make it clear from the start."Park Soo-in
"Harisu Redefines Gender Identity"
''The Korea Times'', June 28, 2001. Retrieved on May 6, 2007. In June 2001, Harisu was the subject of a television documentary produced by KBS, which covered her childhood, family relationships, and debut as an entertainer. Later that year she was cast in the film '' Yellow Hair 2'', her first leading role. In addition to contributing songs for the film's soundtrack, Harisu played a transsexual who goes on the run after the apparent death of a

convenience store A convenience store, convenience shop, corner store or corner shop is a small retail business that stocks a range of everyday items such as coffee, groceries, snack foods, confectionery, soft drinks, ice creams, tobacco products, lottery ticket ...

owner. Regarding her decision to appear in the film, she said, "I wanted to break the stereotype of transsexuals — the demureness and extreme weakness with which they are often portrayed." The film was released on July 21. Also in 2001, Harisu published her

autobiography An autobiography, sometimes informally called an autobio, is a self-written account of one's own life. It is a form of biography. Definition The word "autobiography" was first used deprecatingly by William Taylor in 1797 in the English peri ...

, ''Eve from Adam'', and appeared in a music video for dance group Turbo. In September, she entered the

K-pop K-pop (), short for Korean popular music, is a form of popular music originating in South Korea as part of South Korean culture. It includes styles and genres from around the world, such as pop, hip hop, R&B, experimental, rock, jazz, gos ...

music scene with her debut album, '' Temptation'', a mix of techno-style pop music and slow ballads, which peaked at number 32 on the MIAK (Music Industry Association of Korea) K-pop albums chart. She released her second album, ''

Liar A lie is an assertion that is believed to be false, typically used with the purpose of deception, deceiving or Deception, misleading someone. The practice of communicating lies is called lying. A person who communicates a lie may be termed a l ...

'', in October 2002, describing it as "a high-energy dance record with a very upbeat rhythm." ''Liar'' became her biggest domestic chart success, reaching number 23 in its first month of release.

2003–2005

In October 2003, Harisu made the decision to leave her management company, TTM Entertainment. However, TTM claimed to hold the rights to her stage name, and announced their intentions to use that name to promote other artists. The matter was taken to court, and in early 2004 the

ruling Rule or ruling may refer to: Education * Royal University of Law and Economics (RULE), a university in Cambodia Human activity * The exercise of political or personal control by someone with authority or power * Business rule, a rule perta ...

went in favour of Harisu, allowing her to keep the name. She subsequently set up her own company, G&F Entertainment, in order to make her own decisions regarding her career.Krista Kim, "Harisu: Woman Revealed", ''The Korea Herald'', February 11, 2004. A copy of this article can be read a
TNUKdigest
. Retrieved on May 12, 2007. In February she released her third album, '' Foxy Lady'', which marked a change from the sound of her previous albums towards a more hip-hop/ R&B style, with Harisu saying "now I am on my own, and showing my true colors, doing exactly the kind of music that I've always wanted." The album, however, failed to make the top 50 in the Korean charts. In 2004, Harisu began to develop her career overseas, expressing frustration at being "pigeon-holed" as a transsexual in Korea. She starred in the Taiwanese drama series '' Hi! Honey'' alongside local celebrity Pace Wu, despite not being fluent in

(her lines were spoken in Korean and later dubbed). She drew attention by promoting sanitary napkins in a series of

advertisement Advertising is the practice and techniques employed to bring attention to a product or service. Advertising aims to put a product or service in the spotlight in hopes of drawing it attention from consumers. It is typically used to promote a ...

s for Taiwanese company UFT, for which she was paid an estimated ₩100 million per ad. Although she had been initially reluctant to take on the project, observers hailed the casting of a trans woman in such a campaign as a sign of progress.Hwang Su-cheol
"Transgender Singer to Do Menstrual Pad Ads"
''Digital Chosunilbo'', April 13, 2004. Retrieved on May 18, 2007.Tom Musbach

''PlanetOut.com'', April 13, 2004. Retrieved on May 18, 2007. Towards the end of the year Harisu appeared in Yonfan's ''

'', an erotic drama film from Hong Kong in which she shared a role with veteran Japanese actress Keiko Matsuzaka. Released on October 18, 2004, it was poorly received at the

box office A box office or ticket office is a place where ticket (admission), tickets are sold to the public for admission to an event. Patrons may perform the transaction at a countertop, through a hole in a wall or window, or at a Wicket gate, wicke ...

and by the media, though it had some success at film festivals, and picked up several awards and nominations.Alexandra A. Seno
"A filmmaker bucks Hong Kong trends"
, ''International Herald Tribune'', February 7, 2005. Retrieved on May 19, 2007. Harisu made a return to Korean screens in early 2005, after being cast in the MBC

miniseries A miniseries or mini-series is a television series that tells a story in a predetermined, limited number of episodes. "Limited series" is another more recent US term which is sometimes used interchangeably. , the popularity of miniseries format h ...

'' Beating Heart'', her first major role in a Korean drama. She starred in several episodes as a transsexual woman, returning to her family after a lengthy absence in a bid to gain acceptance."TV Drama to Show Life of Transsexual", ''The Korea Times'', March 21, 2005. A copy of this article can be read a
TNUKdigest
. Retrieved on May 19, 2007. Later that year her ''Foxy Lady'' album was released in Taiwan and

China China, officially the People's Republic of China (PRC), is a country in East Asia. It is the world's most populous country, with a population exceeding 1.4 billion, slightly ahead of India. China spans the equivalent of five time zones and ...

with the inclusion of songs re-recorded in Mandarin, and she was even promoted by her Taiwanese record label as the "

Kylie Minogue Kylie Ann Minogue (; born 28 May 1968) is an Australian singer, songwriter and actress. She is the highest-selling female Australian artist of all time, having sold over 80 million records worldwide. She has been recognised for reinve ...

of the East". In September 2005, Harisu gained a foothold in Malaysia after signing a three-year memorandum of understanding with Hock Star Entertainment, a deal which included the production of two feature films and secured the Malaysian release of her album.Nurliana Kamaruddin
"The ‘Foxy Lady’ Spell In Malaysia"
, ''Cinema Online'', September 3, 2005. Retrieved on May 19, 2007.

2006–present

After a prolonged absence from the Korean music scene, Harisu returned in January 2006 with her fourth, self-titled album. Although her comeback was originally scheduled for the summer of 2005, this had been prevented by other commitments overseas. The album was preceded by a digital single, "Winter Story", and marked a change in her image, with an emphasis on being "cute" rather than "sexy".Kim Yoon-mi, "Ha Ri-su makes comeback ", ''The Korea Herald'', January 11, 2006. A copy of this article can be read a
TNUKdigest
Retrieved on May 23, 2007. '' Harisu'' charted at number 46 in Korea, and as with her previous album it was released in Taiwan and China with extra songs recorded in Mandarin. Her fifth Korean album, ''

Summer Summer is the hottest of the four temperate seasons, occurring after spring and before autumn. At or centred on the summer solstice, the earliest sunrise and latest sunset occurs, daylight hours are longest and dark hours are shortest, wit ...

'', was released just six months later, though it failed to chart in the top 50. Her next film—the first as part of the deal with Hock Star Entertainment—was ''

Possessed Possessed may refer to: Possession * Possession (disambiguation), having some degree of control over something else ** Spirit possession, whereby gods, demons, animas, or other disincarnate entities may temporarily take control of a human body *** ...

'', a

Malaysian Malaysian may refer to: * Something from or related to Malaysia, a country in Southeast Asia * Malaysian Malay, a dialect of Malay language spoken mainly in Malaysia * Malaysian people, people who are identified with the country of Malaysia regar ...

horror film Horror is a film genre that seeks to elicit fear or disgust in its audience for entertainment purposes. Horror films often explore dark subject matter and may deal with transgressive topics or themes. Broad elements include monsters, apoca ...

released on November 30, 2006, in which she starred alongside Amber Chia. Harisu played Lisu, a murdered pop singer who becomes a vengeful

ghost A ghost is the soul or spirit of a dead person or animal that is believed to be able to appear to the living. In ghostlore, descriptions of ghosts vary widely from an invisible presence to translucent or barely visible wispy shapes, to rea ...

, and also performed the films theme song, though it was necessary for her dialogue to be spoken in Korean and later dubbed. She was praised by director Bjarne Wong for her hard work and professionalism, and has hinted that they may collaborate on another film in the future."The singer"
, ''The Star Online'', November 24, 2006. Retrieved on May 23, 2007."The director"
, ''The Star Online'', November 24, 2006. Retrieved on May 23, 2007. In early 2007, Harisu was cast as the lead actress in ''Police Line'', a Korean drama series produced for cable network On-Media. The series, based around a special unit for victims of sexual abuse, starred Harisu as a

policewoman The integration of women into law enforcement positions can be considered a large social change. A century ago, there were few jobs open to women in law enforcement. A small number of women worked as correctional officers, and their assignment ...

who was molested as a child by her stepfather."Harisu to star in TV series"
, ''China Daily'', March 28, 2007. Retrieved on May 23, 2007.Kim Pil-kyu
"Korean dramas lock horns with their American rivals"
, ''JoongAng Daily'', April 14, 2007. Retrieved on May 23, 2007. Filming for ''Police Line'' began in April 2007, and the series was launched in June with Harisu's husband Micky Jung making a cameo appearance.
, ''Digital Chosunilbo'', April 13, 2007. Retrieved on May 23, 2007. In December 2007, Harisu released a digital mini-album, ''Winter Special'', which featured a duet with her husband on the track "First Snow".Chang May Choon

, ''asiaone'', January 31, 2008. Retrieved on February 23, 2010. Harisu published a collection of essays in Japan in March 2008, titled ''Haris Beauty'' (sic). The essays formed a comprehensive guide to beauty, diet and fashion, and contained photographs of Harisu taken by Yamagishi Shin, who had traveled to Seoul the previous December for a four-day photo shoot. Harisu also provided narration for the visually impaired for the 2008 film ''If You Were Me: Anima Version 2'', an animated film about human rights. As of 2008, Harisu believed that she still faced discrimination within the entertainment industry, saying on television, "Many people pretend to smile and welcome me, but after the filming, they'd scold me behind my back".

Personal life

Harisu's decision to undergo sex reassignment surgery placed a strain on her relationship with her family, and she noted that when her parents first found out they "were very upset. They weren't angry, but very sad." Her father in particular had great difficulty accepting his child as a daughter, but her family have since accepted this and show great pride in her career. Harisu has been given credit for raising social awareness of transgender people in the Republic of Korea,Howard W. French
"Doctor overhauls attitudes by changing Koreans' sexes"
, ''San Francisco Chronicle'', June 23, 2003. Retrieved on May 27, 2007. and has said in interviews that she hopes to be a

role model A role model is a person whose behaviour, example, or success is or can be emulated by others, especially by younger people. The term ''role model'' is credited to sociologist Robert K. Merton, who hypothesized that individuals compare themselves ...

for other trans people. In April 2007, she came to the aid of a Chinese trans woman unable to afford surgery, giving her the financial support needed to complete her transition.Li Qian
"Wannabe woman funded by transsex celeb"
, ''Chinadaily.com.cn'', April 9, 2007. Retrieved on May 27, 2007. Affected by the 2008 suicides of gay actor Kim Ji-hoo and transgender television personality Jang Chae-won, Harisu opened a transgender club "Mix-Trans" in Apgujeong-dong, southern Seoul, in June 2009.

Legal recognition of gender

On November 29, 2002, Harisu filed a petition with the

Incheon Incheon (; ; or Inch'ŏn; literally "kind river"), formerly Jemulpo or Chemulp'o (제물포) until the period after 1910, officially the Incheon Metropolitan City (인천광역시, 仁川廣域市), is a city located in northwestern South Kore ...

District Court to have her sex corrected on her family register, and that her birth name be changed from Lee Kyung-yeop to the more feminine Lee Kyung-eun."Ha Ri-soo Appeal to the Law"
, ''dongA.com'', December 4, 2002. Retrieved on May 24, 2007. The subsequent court ruling went in her favour, and on December 13, 2002, she became the second person in the Republic of Korea to legally change their sex.Park Don-kyu
"Ha Ri-su now Legally Female"
, ''Digital Chosunilbo'', December 13, 2002. Retrieved on May 24, 2007."Now, I am a Perfect Woman"
, ''dongA.com'', December 13, 2002. Retrieved on May 24, 2007. Speaking of the difficulties she had previously encountered, Harisu has said: "My most embarrassing moments were when I have had to show my personal identification card in public... I couldn't get a passport, visa or even my own bank accounts because I was legally a man".Shim Sun-ah
"S. Korea in dilemma over transgender citizens' right to choose"
, ''Yonhap News'', May 23, 2006. Retrieved on May 24, 2007.

Marriage

Since her debut in 2001, Harisu has consistently expressed a desire to marry and have a family of her own. In 2005, she began dating Micky Jung (real name Jung Yong-jin), a rapper whom she had met online.
, ''The Sunday Mail'', May 19, 2007. Retrieved on May 26, 2007. Jung, who had been a member of dance group EQ during the 1990s, later joined Harisu's management company and worked on her fourth and fifth albums.
, ''Digital Chosunilbo'', February 22, 2007. Retrieved on May 26, 2007. The couple briefly separated in 2006, but were reunited after Jung saw her dating another man on a TV show.Cathy Rose A. Garcia, "Harisu to Get Married Early Next Year", ''The Korea Times'', November 15, 2006. A copy of this article can be read a
empas
. Retrieved on May 5, 2007. Rumours that the two were to marry began circulating in November 2006, and a date for the wedding was announced in February, following meetings between their respective families. Harisu and Jung starred in a reality television show on cable network Mnet showing their everyday lives and preparations for their wedding, but the couple were subjected to harsh criticism from netizens.Kim Rahn
"Transgenders Face Difficulty in Adoption"
, ''The Korea Times'', April 24, 2007. Retrieved on February 23, 2010. On May 19, 2007, Harisu and Jung were married at Central City Millennium Hall in the Seocho-gu district of Seoul. The ceremony was presided over by KBS anchor Shin Young-il, and officiated by Kim Suk-kwon, a Dong-A University professor who had performed Harisu's sex change surgery in the 1990s. The couple honeymooned on the

Thai Thai or THAI may refer to: * Of or from Thailand, a country in Southeast Asia ** Thai people, the dominant ethnic group of Thailand ** Thai language, a Tai-Kadai language spoken mainly in and around Thailand *** Thai script *** Thai (Unicode block ...

island of Ko Samui, and began their married life at Harisu's family home in Nonhyun-dong, in the Gangnam-gu district of Seoul. The couple have said that they plan to adopt four children, though the news prompted a mixed public reaction. A poll by Mnet found that 69% of 1,300 respondents were in favour of Harisu's decision to adopt, while in a similar poll by Daum, 58% of 8,094 respondents were against the idea. Harisu and Jung divorced in 2017 after ten years of marriage.

Welfare and politics

In November 2007, Harisu unveiled plans to build and run an orphanage, stating that it was one of her "long-cherished dreams". With the support of her husband and mother-in-law, she purchased a plot of land in Janghowon,

Gyeonggi-do Gyeonggi-do (, ) is the most populous province in South Korea. Its name, ''Gyeonggi'', means "京 (the capital) and 畿 (the surrounding area)". Thus, ''Gyeonggi-do'' can be translated as "Seoul and the surrounding areas of Seoul". Seoul, the na ...

, and studied for a community service license. Harisu campaigned for the New Progressive Party in the 2008 Republic of Korea legislative elections, supporting the legalization of marijuana.Park Si-soo
"Stars Spruce Up Campaign Rally"
, ''The Korea Times'', April 6, 2008. Retrieved on February 23, 2010.

Discography

As of 2007, Harisu has released five Korean language studio albums, though her song lyrics typically include English as well. While her early work has been described as "techno-flavored K-pop", her more recent albums have leaned towards the R&B, hip-hop, and

disco Disco is a genre of dance music and a subculture that emerged in the 1970s from the United States' urban nightlife scene. Its sound is typified by four-on-the-floor beats, syncopated basslines, string sections, brass and horns, electric pia ...

genres. She has named

Madonna Madonna Louise Ciccone (; ; born August 16, 1958) is an American singer-songwriter and actress. Widely dubbed the " Queen of Pop", Madonna has been noted for her continual reinvention and versatility in music production, songwriting, a ...

and

Janet Jackson Janet Damita Jo Jackson (born May 16, 1966) is an American singer, songwriter, actress, and dancer. She is noted for her innovative, socially conscious and sexually provocative records, as well as elaborate stage shows. Her sound and choreog ...

as her musical influences; of her contemporaries, she holds Chae Rina in high esteem.

Studio albums

Other releases

Music videos

* "History" by Turbo (2001) * "Temptation" (2001) * "Always" by Kang Sung (2002) * "Liar" (2002) * "Foxy Lady" (2004) * "Reaction" (2006) * "Shopping Girl" (2012) * "Make Your Life" (2018)

Filmography

Bibliography

* ''Eve from Adam'' (2001) Dai San Media, * ''Beauty Goddess's Change'' (2002) Taiwan Kadokawa, * ''Perfect Woman'' (2005) Bo Shi, * ''Haris Beauty'' (2008) Takeshobo,

Awards

Notes

* a. Although the cited source states that Harisu has an older brother, other sources refer to her as being an "only son".Lee Seung-Heon
"Ha Ri-Soo, Who Became a Woman: Story Behind"
, ''dongA.com'', June 3, 2001. Retrieved on April 27, 2007."Court makes it official – he's now a woman", ''The Straits Times'', December 22, 2002. A copy of this article can be read a
TNUKdigest
Retrieved on April 27, 2007. * b. The exact dates that Harisu underwent surgery are unclear. Some sources state that she had sex change surgery in 1995,Su Aziz, "10 Minutes With Harisu: A role model for transsexuals ", ''New Straits Times'', August 12, 2006. A copy of this article can be read a
TNUKdigest
Retrieved on May 5, 2007.Anthony Faiola
"South Korea Loosens Its Collar
, ''washingtonpost.com'', December 16, 2003. Retrieved on May 5, 2007.
''Digital Chosunilbo'', May 21, 2007. Retrieved on May 26, 2007. while others give the year as 1998 (or when she was 23 years old).Peter Yap
"She's a lady"
, ''Sun2Surf'', September 6, 2005. Retrieved on May 5, 2007. * c. Harisu is sometimes written as Ha Ri-su, Ha Ri-soo, or Ha Risu. * d. The actual title for this song is in Korean. Alternative translations include "When it Snows" and "Falling Snow". * e. In a more recent interview, Harisu seems to contradict herself by saying that "There wasn't any reaction at all" from her family.

References

External links

Harisu Official Blog (Japan)
* *
Harisu discography
at FormulaRecordings {{Authority control 1975 births Living people People from Seongnam 20th-century South Korean women singers 20th-century South Korean actresses 21st-century South Korean women singers 21st-century South Korean actresses K-pop singers South Korean female models South Korean women pop singers South Korean film actresses Transgender actresses Transgender female models Transgender women musicians South Korean television actresses Nightclub performers South Korean expatriates in Japan Mandarin-language singers of South Korea South Korean LGBT actors South Korean LGBT singers South Korean LGBT entertainers 20th-century LGBT people 21st-century LGBT people Transgender singers