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| ▲ Singer-entertainer Lee Hyo-ri speaks during a media conference for Coupang Play's original reality show "Just Makeup" held in Seoul on Oct. 1, 2025. (PHOTO NOT FOR SALE) (Yonhap) |
SEOUL, Oct. 2 (Yonhap) -- Singer-entertainer Lee Hyo-ri said she decided to host Coupang Play’s new variety show “Just Makeup” because of her deep affection for makeup, which she described as a friend-like presence in her life.
“Makeup has always been like a friend to me. I even proposed myself as the MC because I loved the idea so much,” Lee said during a press conference on Wednesday at a hotel in Seoul’s Gwangjin Ward.
“Just Makeup” is a large-scale survival competition where top makeup artists, representing not only South Korea but also the global K-beauty scene, compete with their own styles. At the event, Lee appeared with star artists including Jung Saem-mool, Risabae, Seo Ok and Lee Jin-soo, sharing stories about makeup and the show.
Lee explained that she wanted to see the spotlight turned toward makeup artists, who had long worked behind the scenes to style her. “More than half of the contestants have done my makeup before. In the past, I was the one under the spotlight, but this time I wanted the makeup artists to be the stars on stage,” she said.
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| ▲ The main panel for Coupang Play's original reality show |
Hosting a survival variety program was not easy even for the veteran entertainer. “Most of my previous shows were filmed naturally without a script. This time, I had to follow the script exactly. While I was confident in keeping the flow fun and natural, delivering precise lines and highlighting key points was challenging,” she said, adding she studied the hosting styles of Jeon Hyun-moo and Kim Sung-joo.
The show also features Jung Saem-mool, Risabae and others as judges. Jung said, “I rarely had the chance to observe other artists’ creative process. Watching their performances, I became so immersed that I even cried. It was overwhelming to see moments when true beauty emerged through detail.”
Risabae added, “I joined with the mindset of studying, but as a judge, I gave much thought to how I could provide good evaluations. Viewers will be surprised. It will surely be makeup beyond imagination.”
When asked about highlights, Lee cited the “drag” mission, saying it felt fresh and liberating. “It reminded me that makeup is not just about beauty, but also about freeing oneself and expressing identity.”
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| ▲ The main panel for Coupang Play's original reality show |
Jung mentioned the scale of the set, where 60 makeup stations were lined up in a massive space, calling it “an overwhelming sight.” Producer Sim Woo-jin said he wanted to create a space where 60 artists could showcase their colors simultaneously, maximizing their energy on an expanded stage. Producer Park Sung-hwan added the aim was to broaden makeup from simple beauty into art and performance.
“Just Makeup” will premiere Oct. 3 at 8 p.m. on Coupang Play.
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