Lee Kyung-eun (popularly known as Ha Ri-su) (born 17 February 1975) is a singer, TV star and actress from South Korea. She has become particularly well known in Taiwan and mainland China, as well as Korea, after being the first Korean entertainer to come out as being transsexual. She was born in Seongnam, near Seoul. In 1997-98, she moved to Japan and transitioned to live as a woman. While there, she began studying to become a hairdresser, and began singing in Japanese clubs. It was while singing in Japan that she got her first break, being recruited by an agent in 1999. In 2001, she formally changed her name to Ha Ri-su, just before featuring in an advertisement for Korean cosmetics company DoDo. The company were unsure of the reaction the advertisement would have, but it was well-received, and ended up launching her career. On December 12, 2002, the Inchon District Court recognized her as legally female, and she changed her name from Lee Kyung-yup to Lee Kyung-eun. |