BIBI Shines on ‘Radio Star’ as She Reflects on Her Versatile Career in Music, Acting, and Entertainment

BIBI (Kim Hyung-seo), the multi-hyphenate singer and actress, recently returned to the spotlight on Radio Star, where she delved into her journey through music, acting, and variety shows. Her episode, part of the ‘Great Confusion Stage’ special, aired on June 14 and featured fellow guests Noh Sa-yeon, Hyun Young, and Charles Entertainment.

During the appearance, BIBI reflected on how her previous Radio Star experience became a turning point. She credited the viral hit ‘Bam Yanggaeng’ for skyrocketing her public recognition, especially as artists like Lee Hyori, Kwon Jung-yeol of 10cm, Lee Ji-hye, Jo Hye-ryun, and Jang Ki-ha covered the track. ‘Lee Hyori singing it shocked me the most. She’s not just a person—she’s a brand and a cultural moment,’ BIBI shared.

BIBI uses her birth name Kim Hyung-seo when acting and discussed her evolving growth in the field. She recounted memorable moments from her role in The Fiery Priest 2, especially working alongside Kim Nam-gil. ‘His physicality and action skills are so intense that I genuinely worried something might break when filming,’ she joked.

The past year marked several career highs for BIBI. She received the Best New Actress award at the Baeksang Arts Awards for her performance in the film Hwaran and the Excellence Award at the SBS Drama Awards for The Fiery Priest 2. Her acceptance speeches resonated deeply—at Baeksang, BIBI expressed, ‘Thank you to humanity for creating this art,’ while her SBS speech candidly captured her surprise: ‘I was going to leave since I didn’t win Rookie of the Year, but now I’m excellent?’ The rawness of her sentiments earned admiration from MCs and viewers alike.

BIBI also opened up about her identity as an artist, saying, ‘I was too free-spirited to be an Idol, but not quite established as a traditional musician either.’ She recounted feeling like an outsider even while accepting an award, only to be moved to tears by the warm smiles of senior artists in attendance.

Ahead of her upcoming album, BIBI performed two self-written songs on set due to her indecisiveness in picking the title track. Both performances garnered praise and thunderous applause from the hosts and studio crew.

She also recounted a wardrobe mishap during the Waterbomb Festival. ‘I was taking off a shirt over my swimsuit when a strap came undone, but thankfully, tape saved me from embarrassing exposure,’ she said with a laugh.

Looking ahead to her World Tour, BIBI candidly discussed her financial goals. ‘I want to be successful enough to fly private jets—not for luxury, but because I want our staff to stop suffering in economy class. Even in our Korea concerts, we have 10 band members and 16 dancers on stage. I aim for perfection in every show,’ she firmly stated.

With her unique blend of vulnerability, humor, and artistic authenticity, BIBI is not just shaping her own genre—she’s becoming a cultural force to be reckoned with.