Lee Hyo Ri to self-deprecating man: "Even as a star, my self-esteem drops sometimes"

“I also wonder if I am someone worthy of giving advice.” Lee Hyo Ri, who has always appeared confident, revealed an unexpected side of her inner thoughts. Despite her glamorous stage presence and long career in the entertainment industry, she confessed that there are moments when her self-esteem wavers as she compares herself to the lives of others.

On the JTBC variety program ‘Love War’ aired on the 28th, Lee Hyo Ri offered sincere advice to a male participant who repeatedly belittled himself. The episode featured a couple consisting of a boyfriend working as a clown and a girlfriend working as a social worker who also acts as his manager.

The conflict between the two stemmed from financial issues. The boyfriend repeatedly compared himself to the 'clown boyfriend who saved 200 million won,' a topic that had gone viral on social media, saying, “Far from 200 million won, I don't even have 20 million won,” and “Why would you marry a guy like me?” He eventually hurt his partner by telling her, “It's not too late. You can leave now.”

Seo Jang Hoon pointed out, “Why do you keep hurting your girlfriend when you don't even have the confidence to let her go?” His point was that self-deprecation is not an expression of humility, but rather a way of shifting the burden and pain onto the partner, who then feels pressured to prove their love.

Lee Hyo Ri also shared her own experience. She confessed, “When I give advice to someone, I often spend a lot of energy wondering if I am a person worthy of doing so, and my self-esteem drops.” It was a confession that even for someone who appears stronger than anyone else on the outside, the question “Am I truly enough?” constantly follows.

She then advised, “Stop the self-deprecation because you are already so wonderful without needing to stand on a pedestal.” In particular, she noted that self-deprecation is not just a personal issue but can damage a relationship, stating, “When I disparage myself, I am disparaging the person my partner loves.”

Lee Kyung Kyu also remarked, “What brings down one's own life is comparison with others.” Ultimately, the message delivered by the broadcast was simple: discovering one's shortcomings is entirely different from concluding that one is an inadequate person. Lee Hyo Ri's honest confession drew attention by showing that even someone living a glamorous life is not free from comparison and self-censorship.