Lee Seo-jin reacts to Seo In-young's bold lingerie shoot

As singer Seo In-young embarks on a provocative lingerie photoshoot, actor Lee Seo-jin, acting as her daily secretary, was seen looking flustered by her unexpected attire. However, the aspect drawing even more interest in this broadcast is not the intensity of the photoshoot, but the fact that Seo In-young directly addressed her past and spoke of "change."

In the preview for 'Anything for You - Secretary Team' released on the official SBS YouTube channel, Seo In-young appears as a "my star," pouring various demands onto Lee Seo-jin and Kim Kwang Kyu. Seo In-young confidently declared, "I've become much calmer than before," and "I have reformed."

But before she could even finish her sentence, Kim Kwang Kyu shot back, "People don't change that easily."

Hearing this from a distance, Seo In-young responded, "I can hear you!" Lee Seo-jin also countered with his signature blunt style, saying, "Don't you think you've become worse?" and "What kind of reformation is this?"

Scenes of Seo In-young constantly calling for Lee Seo-jin by shouting "Secretary!" also drew laughter. When she went as far as calling him "Oppa!", Lee Seo-jin could not hide his embarrassment, and Kim Kwang Kyu also reacted as if her unrestrained attitude was somewhat distant from her declaration of being "reformed."

The bickering between the two goes beyond a simple variety show device and connects to the broadcast character Seo In-young has built over a long time. Having debuted with the group Jewelry in 2002, Seo In-young built a unique public image through solo activities and variety shows with her blunt speech and strong self-assertion. The modifiers "New Trendsetter" and "Strong Unnie" followed her because her character meshed exquisitely with the variety show trends of the time.

The incident where that image returned as a massive boomerang was in 2017. During the overseas filming of JTBC's 'With You Season 2 - The Greatest Love,' a video containing profanity directed at staff was released online, sparking intense controversy. Subsequently, various suspicions regarding filming attitudes, schedules, flights, and accommodations spread, leading to her departure from the program. At the time, Seo In-young admitted the profanity was her fault, but she has countered that many of the specific suspicions circulated in the so-called "power trip list" were not true.

In this preview, Seo In-young brought up this old controversy herself. While mentioning the stories surrounding her at the time, such as "They said I committed a power trip. They said I said, 'I won't ride unless it's a First Class,'" she did not admit to the entire suspicion being true. However, she looked back on her past attitude and actions with more direct expressions, saying, "I admit I was acting ridiculous back then."

The part where she added, "I think it's a process of changing so I can do even better," is read as the core context of this appearance. Regardless of the facts regarding the past controversy, she publicly brought out the language of self-reflection, admitting that she was immature and excessively rough at the time.

In fact, Seo In-young is changing the tone of her activities by presenting content that directly revisits past controversies through her personal YouTube channel, 'Gaegwacheonseon Seo In-young.' While her past focused on explanations and rebuttals regarding controversies, her recent approach is characterized by admitting the wrong parts of her actions and attempting to connect that process to her current self.

That said, the traces of the "Strong Unnie" in variety shows have not completely disappeared. Rather, the scene where the person who declared "reformation" continues to give orders to Lee Seo-jin and shouts, "Before I explode!", creates a moment that seems to intentionally overlap her past character with the current Seo In-young.

The lingerie photoshoot scene makes this contrast even more dramatic. Seo In-young, who stepped up as a lingerie brand model for the first time in about 10 years following recent weight loss, showcased bold photoshoot outfits in this broadcast, and seeing this, Lee Seo-jin expressed surprise, asking, "Is this an outfit that is okay to show on television?"

However, Lee Seo-jin does not stop at being surprised and immediately immerses himself in his role as a manager. While helping with the shoot by meticulously checking Seo In-young's gaze and neck angle, he eventually throws up his hands, saying, "I can't do this," due to the continuous demands. The clash between the boldness of the photoshoot and the opposing characters of the two created a major laughing point for the preview.

What is interesting is that Seo In-young is not trying to erase her past image, but is instead utilizing it head-on. She brings the past character of "Strong Unnie" as a subject for laughter while simultaneously placing remarks that reflect on her behavior.

An entertainer's image recovery is usually achieved through a break from the past, but Seo In-young is instead choosing to summon her past self to compare with her current self. The expression "reformation" itself is a device that binds the past controversy and the current change into a single narrative.

Ultimately, what viewers will witness in 'Secretary Team' is not just a provocative photoshoot or Lee Seo-jin's flustered reactions. The key point of interest is how Seo In-young, who possesses a character deeply etched in the public consciousness, interprets that image and to what extent she reflects on her own words and actions.

As she revisits the old controversy with her own words nearly 10 years later, this appearance holds more meaning for Seo In-young than a simple variety show comeback. Whether her attempt to evaluate her past and redesign her present—hidden behind the "Strong Unnie" persona wrapped in laughter—will be accepted with sincerity remains to be seen through the broadcast.

The 'Secretary Team' episode featuring Seo In-young will air on the 11th at 11:10 PM.