Girls' Generation Sooyoung sees rising popularity after split with Jung Kyung-ho

Girls' Generation's Sooyoung brought laughter as she opened up about a moment she recently felt a shift in her public recognition. In particular, she revealed her signature honest and cheerful charm while mentioning that her and her members' hidden variety show talents are being newly highlighted through 'Hyoryesu.'

On the 7th, a video titled 'It's Perfect Weather for a Company Dinner' was released on the YouTube channel 'Channel Fullmoon.' In this video, Na Yeong-seok PD, Uhm Jeong-hwa, Sooyoung, Lee Sang Yoon, and others gathered to share various stories in a relaxed atmosphere.

During the conversation, Na Yeong-seok mentioned Uhm Jeong-hwa's YouTube content. He said, "Didn't you go to places like wine bars?" adding, "I watch that kind of thing sometimes. I've even visited those places."

When Sooyoung said, "I want to go," Na Yeong-seok playfully asked, "To go there, you have to be very picky, right?" However, Sooyoung unexpectedly replied calmly, "No."

Lee Sang Yoon also chimed in regarding Sooyoung's personality, saying, "Sooyoung has such a good personality that she isn't very picky."

At that moment, Sooyoung confessed about a recent change in herself.

"These days, younger people recognize me. Because of 'Hyoryesu.'"

The 'Hyoryesu' mentioned by Sooyoung is content that has garnered attention for the unique and cheerful chemistry created by Lee Hyori, Kim Hyo-yeon, and Sooyoung. For Sooyoung, who has been active for a long time, it means that a new generation of the public has begun to show interest in a different way.

Upon hearing this, Uhm Jeong-hwa asked, "You guys are really funny. Is Kim Hyo-yeon always that funny?"

This prompted a response from Sooyoung that drew laughter.

"She's always that funny, and I haven't hidden anything so far, but people ask me, 'How hard was it living while hiding it?' I've never hidden anything."

She was saying that she has been showing her true self for a long time, but recently, those aspects are being newly discovered through variety shows.

Sooyoung went a step further and explained the special energy that arises when the Girls' Generation members are together.

"We've always lived like that, but when the three of us are together, we act out even more and the synergy becomes even greater. When we gather exactly like that, there are many more fun moments."

Uhm Jeong-hwa also empathized with Sooyoung's explanation, laughing, "That's so cute. That's so fun."

Sooyoung's words also contain a strange paradox felt by someone who has been active for a long time as a member of a long-running idol group. Although her face is already familiar to the public, as the format of the content and the people she is with change, her personality and charms that were not clearly revealed before are being newly discovered.

In particular, Sooyoung has been loved for her unexpected charm—showing a cool and sophisticated image on stage while being uninhibited and goofy when with close people. Recently, these aspects have been more clearly highlighted through variety content.

Last June, Sooyoung revealed that she had ended her 14-year relationship with actor Jung Kyung-ho. Even after ending the long relationship, she is expanding her territory across acting, singing, and variety shows.

Perhaps the most interesting change for the current Sooyoung is not just escaping the modifier of being 'someone's lover.' It might be that the public is rediscovering a new side of a person they thought they had known for a long time, which could be the most unexpected change in recognition that Sooyoung has experienced.