Kim Hee Chul: "Nowadays, you could get sued for flirting wrong"

Singer Kim Hee Chul shared candid reflections on the bold dating styles and hit songs of 20 years ago. Episode 325 of KBS Joy's '20th Century Hit Song,' airing at 8:30 PM on the 7th, explores masterpieces that dominated music release charts in the 1990s and early 2000s under the theme: 'If you hear this, you're dating! The flirting songs of that era.'

The broadcast depicts an era before SNS, when people relied solely on voices and phone numbers to convey their feelings. Jinusean's 'Phone Number' was featured, highlighting the directness of that period. With the word 'phone number' appearing 20 times in the lyrics, the song captures the audacity of a time when people would demand a number before even asking for a name. The show piqued viewer interest with an anecdote about Sean waiting outside a restroom to get Jung Hye-young's number, and how he confessed during their very first phone call immediately after obtaining it.

"Don't play games": Confession techniques from Diva to S#arp

The episode also analyzed the various seduction techniques and confident attitudes found in hit songs. S#arp's 'Close' and 'Kiss Me' were identified as tracks that encouraged the other person to approach or implied subtle skinship. Conversely, Diva's 'It's Perfect' was presented as a symbol of a woman's confident, preemptive confession. Its unconventional lyrics, "Don't play games, don't pretend to be innocent," showcased a rare "girl crush" persona for that time. Kim Hee Chul reacted to the lyrics, saying, "These are exactly the kind of lyrics I like," adding that people like him, who lack social intuition, need such direct flirting.

Personal anecdotes from the cast added more entertainment to the broadcast. Singer Vicky shared a story from when she had a crush on Sung Si-kyung, recounting how they drank and ate seolleongtang together until 6 AM, even under the strict surveillance of a manager. Mijoo listed Space A's 'Sexy Man', Seo Ju-gyeong's 'Daring Women', and Sim Soo Bong's 'I Don't Know Anything But Love' as her essential karaoke playlist. Kim Hee Chul brought laughter to the set by joking that if Mijoo's past flirting hadn't worked, those songs wouldn't have worked either.

Kim Hee Chul's candid views on his prime 20 years ago

Reflecting on his 20s in contrast to his current age of 43, Kim expressed his views on how much times have changed. Through his remark, "Nowadays, if you flirt wrong, you could get sued," he wittily pointed out that the bold expressions of affection from the past could be considered risky by modern standards.

This special feature revisits the romantic sensibilities of the 20th-century Korean music scene through the hits that defined an era. Combining the confession techniques hidden in lyrics with behind-the-scenes stories from stars, the broadcast can be watched on KBS Joy at 8:30 PM on the 7th.