Harisu, South Korea's groundbreaking first-generation transgender entertainer, has spoken out about disturbing experiences of sexual harassment and blackmail threats during her career in the entertainment industry. The pioneering celebrity made these revelations during a candid appearance on the YouTube variety show "Pajamae Party," produced by the channel Real_fin, where she discussed her life and struggles as the nation's first officially recognized transgender star.

Harisu's journey in entertainment began in 1991 when she entered the industry as a male-registered student, starting with small supporting roles. "My legal status was still male at the time, and when signing contracts, I had to talk about my identity," she explained during the interview. This transparency about her gender identity came at a significant professional cost, as she revealed, "Because of that, I had to give up many opportunities, and some projects fell apart."

One of the most troubling incidents Harisu shared involved an exploitative movie offer that sought to capitalize on harmful transgender stereotypes. "The story was about a transgender person who gains power by sleeping with a man and sucking away his energy to transform into me," she described. When she rejected this demeaning role, the situation took a darker turn. "I didn't want to be consumed and discarded through that kind of role. But they threatened to out me as transgender if I refused. I never agreed to that, so I said I couldn't do it."

These early struggles led Harisu to question her career path multiple times. "I thought about quitting the entertainment industry many times," she admitted. However, her fortunes changed in 2001 when she appeared in a cosmetics commercial, which she described as a dream opportunity. "Isn't shooting a cosmetics ad every female celebrity's dream?" she reflected on this turning point in her career.

Despite achieving widespread recognition and fame, the harassment and discrimination did not cease. Harisu revealed that even after becoming a household name, she continued to face inappropriate demands and invasive questioning. "Back then, people would say, 'Is it really true?' and some even demanded sexual relations or asked me to undress to confirm my gender," she disclosed. These disturbing encounters forced her to make difficult professional decisions: "I had to give up roles and turn down contracts because of that."

The transgender star also opened up about the persistent prejudice she faced, even from those who appeared supportive in public. "Even when people smiled kindly in front of me, they would talk differently behind my back," she shared, highlighting the two-faced nature of the discrimination she experienced. This treatment deeply affected her sense of identity and belonging in society.

Reflecting on her journey, Harisu expressed the ongoing challenges of being accepted as her authentic self. "I underwent gender reassignment surgery because I wanted to live as a woman, and I thought I had achieved everything by doing so. But that was just the starting point of my life. In society's eyes, I was still just a transgender person," she said, revealing the complex reality of transgender acceptance in South Korean society.

Harisu made her official debut with her first studio album "Temptation" in 2001, which catapulted her to fame across South Korea. She later expanded her career into acting, appearing in notable films including "Yellow Hair 2" and "Emergency Act 19." Today, she continues to maintain an active presence in the entertainment industry through various programs and uses her personal YouTube channel as a platform to advocate for minority rights and visibility, sharing her experiences and thoughts openly with her audience.