Kim Yeon-ja surprises with '수은등' duet alongside Kim Shin-young on JTBC, drops new ballad

Kim Yeon-ja and Kim Shin-young reunite on stage

Kim Yeon-ja appeared on a JTBC entertainment program on the 17th. Comedian Kim Shin-young walked out mid-performance to join her for an unannounced duet of 수은등 (Sueundeung) — the song that first connected them.

She performed 수은등 using her signature "Bluetooth vocal method" (블루투스 창법). The duet was a callback to a years-long friendship rooted in imitation.

Kim Yeon-ja explained the origin: "When I was very active in Japan, in Korea, thanks to Kim Shin-young's imitation, 수은등 was receiving great love. With gratitude, I appeared on Kim Shin-young's radio and fan meeting. I also made and gifted an 'Amor Fati' cape."

From a middle-school audition to Japan's Enka Queen

The broadcast dug into territory Kim Yeon-ja rarely discusses. She traced everything back to one moment: "When I was in 3rd year of middle school, I came up to Seoul looking for a way to succeed. I saw an audition program on TV, participated in it, and won."

At 18, she entered Japan. "From when I entered Japan at age 18, I had managers." She built a reputation there as the "Enka Queen" (엔카 여왕), leading the Korean wave in Japan well before Amor Fati made her a household name domestically.

She shared two stories from that era. Airport security stopped her because of her stage costumes. She also numbed her ears with garlic before piercing them herself with a needle. (The costume story checks out — her stage looks have always been a production.)

New music

Kim Yeon-ja recently released a new single, 저 별은 볼 수가 있겠지, an emotional ballad, and is continuing her music activities.