'Why are you copying Lee Hyori?' Girls' Generation's Yuri has a witty answer

Girls' Generation member Yuri has drawn attention for her playful response to claims that she has been copying fellow singer Lee Hyori.

According to JTBC's variety program "Yeonae Jeonjaeng," a dating show, Yuri appeared as a special MC on Monday alongside sunbae singers Lee Hyori and Kim Hee-chul.

During the broadcast, Kim Hee-chul raised the topic, saying, "People often say that Yuri is copying Lee Hyori."

Yuri relayed what others had been saying: "So many people bring it up. They say I copied her by doing yoga, moving to Jeju Island and doing volunteer work with stray dogs."

Yuri has in fact been doing yoga and volunteering at a stray dog shelter since relocating to Jeju Island.

Lee Hyori then asked playfully, "So why are you copying me?" Yuri shot back: "Who in Korea isn't copying Hyori unnie? How could anyone in this country not follow her?"

Lee Hyori conceded the point, saying, "Actually, Yuri started doing yoga before I did — you could say she's the original."

The conversation then turned to the name of Yuri's YouTube channel, "Hyorisu" — a portmanteau of the first syllables of the names of three Girls' Generation members: Hyoyeon, Sooyoung and Yuri.

Yuri said candidly, "I borrowed unnie's name a little."

Lee Hyori said she is startled every time she sees the channel's thumbnails. "When 'Hyori' pops up, I do a double take," she said, before joking, "Shouldn't you at least give me a share?"

Yuri fired back with a laugh: "You need the 'i' to complete 'Lee Hyorisu.' If unnie joins too, wouldn't that make it the full package?"