Lee Soo Geun reveals deep passion for billiards with 8-million won cue

Comedian Lee Soo Geun has revealed his extraordinary passion for billiards, proving his reputation as one of the entertainment industry's top enthusiasts. He personally acquired a billiard hall that had been in operation for over 20 years to repurpose as a filming space, and he even owns professional cues costing millions of won, demonstrating a devotion that goes far beyond a mere hobby.

In the SBS variety show 'My Little Old Boy' broadcast on the 23rd, a match was held between Shin Dong-yup and Lee Soo Geun, both known as billiards experts, to celebrate the program's 10th anniversary. The two are leading billiards aficionados in the industry, with skill levels reportedly between 400 and 500. Shin Dong-yup previously expressed his confidence in his skills by comparing his performance to a 100m sprint, describing his speed as being in the "11–12 second" range.

Before the full-scale match, Lee Soo Geun called Eun Ji-won to warm up. The venue where they played was no ordinary billiard hall, but a private space Lee uses for both video content production and as an office.

"YouTube work also takes place here," Lee explained, adding that he obtained permission from his wife, Park Ji-yeon, when preparing the space. The facility was originally a billiard hall that had operated for over 20 years; after acquiring the property, Lee completely renovated the floors and the interior.

His dedication is further evident in his equipment collection. Lee revealed a personal cue collection featuring high-end items ranging from 3 million won to as much as 8 million won. This highlights his significant investment in professional-grade gear over standard hobbyist equipment.

Eun Ji-won challenged Lee to perform a jump shot, a high-difficulty technique that requires lifting the ball over an obstacle using the cue, necessitating precise control and an understanding of striking angles. Although Eun increased the difficulty by placing a box in front of the ball, Lee attempted the shot without hesitation and successfully pulled it off, proving his skill.

Buoyed by his momentum, Lee compared himself to the 'Son Heung-min' of the celebrity billiards world. When Eun asked, "Is Dong-yup hyung a Messi?", Lee replied, "Cha Bum-kun," adding, "He was great in the past, but he is retired now," drawing laughter from the group.

Ahead of the match, Shin Dong-yup devised a strategy with Kim Hee Chul at a dumpling restaurant. Kim cheered for Shin with the eccentric logic that eating dumplings shaped like billiard balls would help him defeat Lee.

Kim then asked AI who would be more dominant in a match between Shin and Lee, and the AI predicted a victory for Lee. As Shin grew nervous, Kim asked for a winning strategy, and the AI unexpectedly suggested 'psychological warfare': excessively praising Lee to make him let his guard down, then inducing him to make reckless plays to capitalize on mistakes.

In response, Shin quipped, "So you're telling me to become a thug?", drawing more laughter.

For Lee, billiards has become more than just entertainment; it is a long-standing hobby and a facet of his character. His decision to collect expensive cues and personally acquire an established billiard hall proves that his nickname as a 'billiards enthusiast' is no mere exaggeration.