Harisu Recounts Shocking Demands Faced During Debut: 'Asked for Sex, Told to Strip'

Transgender entertainer Harisu has bravely shared the discriminatory and unreasonable demands she faced early in her career, eliciting sympathy from the public.

In a YouTube interview on the channel 'Ige Jjinjja Choizong' (This is the Real Final) aired on the 10th, Harisu appeared alongside dancer Monika. When asked about her pre-debut worries, Harisu revealed that she entered the entertainment industry in 1991 as a male student, starting as an extra. She explained that due to having to disclose her gender identity when signing contracts at a time when her official records listed her as male, she had to forgo many opportunities, and some projects were cancelled after she revealed her identity.

She further recounted the harrowing experience of a 2001 cosmetic advertisement shoot, a common aspiration for female celebrities. Upon revealing she was transgender, she faced invasive questions like 'Are you really a woman?' and was subjected to demands for sexual intercourse and requests to strip. Harisu stated that due to such unreasonable treatment, she often had to abandon roles or refuse contracts.

Harisu expressed her bitterness, noting that even when receiving public adoration, people often treated her differently behind her back. She pursued surgery to live as a woman and believed she had achieved her dream, but realized that was merely the beginning of her life's challenges, as society continued to view her solely as a transgender individual.

Harisu, born in 1975, debuted in 2001 through a commercial advertisement, becoming a major topic of discussion as the first transgender entertainer in South Korea. She has since actively worked in various fields including singing, acting, and broadcasting, making her a familiar face to the public. She is recognized as a symbolic figure advocating for LGBTQ+ rights and improved societal awareness in South Korea.