She was banned for 6 months.
In a recent episode of SBS‘s Dolsing Fourmen, soloist Kim Wan Sun recalled her debut era, when she was banned for being too provocative—with no real skin exposure.
Kim, who debuted in 1986 as a 16-year-old, immediately became “Korea’s Madonna,” a nickname unprecedented in the Korean entertainment business.
Given the culture in Korea at the time, though, Kim’s sensational performances were met with backlash—to the point that one of the broadcasting channels “banned” her because of her “sexiness.”
Lee Sang Min: You were banned from live TV because your gaze was too provocative?!
Hosts & Guests: How?! Is that even possible?
Kim Wan Sun: Back in the days, yes. It was possible. Things were different back then.
Kim went on to explain that, even though she was wearing an outfit that covered her from the neck down, her face was simply “too suggestive” to be aired. She was ultimately banned from appearing on the channel for 6 months.
I was wearing a high-necked top, long pants, and even a long coat for that shoot. And it ended up being too suggestive. It was just my face. The only skin I was showing was on my face and on my hands! Those were the times.
— Kim Wan Sun
Hwasa commented that, even now—decades after the ban happened—Kim still has “that vibe” in her eyes.
Kim is now 55 years old, but like Hwasa said, her vibe has not changed. “Once a queen, forever a queen” must be true.
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