I’m grateful to be recognized as someone who embodies the concept of ‘authentic beauty.’ I showcase various alter egos through my content: Umjirella, a young and rich socialite; Chaea Eom, an aspiring actress with an innocent charm; and Emma, an overconfident Millennial and Gen Z office worker at ZZ Office—each with their distinct personality. These characters are inseparable from my authentic self, which might be why I was chosen. As these characters gained popularity, people naturally became more interested in me as Jiyoon Eom. I’m delighted that people recognize how I value individuality, both in and out of character.

I constantly strive to observe my surroundings carefully. When I meet people from different professions, I quickly pick up on their characteristics and study them closely. It’s more than just a professional habit—I’ve done it since childhood. Do you know how one or two students always imitate their homeroom teacher? That was me. Rather than mere mimicry, I would recreate their habits and traits in a way that made people laugh. This continued practice evolved into my acting style. I genuinely enjoy people, which naturally led to my love for observing them. Instead of simple imitation, I work to internalize and create new characters that are uniquely my own. I aim to create universally relatable characters with my distinct expression. When I successfully capture and portray someone’s essence, it resonates with audiences, and as that relatability grows, the comedic synergy explodes. Relatability is a crucial element of comedy. I believe Short Box content receives so much love in this context. I’m always grateful to those who find my work relatable and humorous, even though I don’t consider myself exceptionally talented.

Recently, I’ve been creating content on my social media as ‘Chaea Eom,’ an aspiring actress born in 2007. I’m really enjoying this character right now. While I may not fully understand the lives of those younger than me, I frequently watch their vlogs and read their blogs. There’s something special about their innocent love stories and hope-filled dreams that only youth can possess. It’s fun to express these elements, and I find myself vicariously experiencing those emotions through the character. Of course, I also have a soft spot for ‘Umjirella,’ the shameless young and rich character. I find characters who aren’t perfect with visible flaws more charming.

Not to this extent. I uploaded it before boarding an international flight. When I landed after ten hours, it had already reached a million views, and that’s when I knew our concept had really resonated with the audience.

It was electrifying. We were hoping people would mistake it for the actual APT music video, and that’s precisely what happened. Nothing excites comedians more than when our planned comedic moments hit the mark. It’s most thrilling when our ideas connect with the public—like hitting a perfect bullseye. The key to the APT music video parody was creating a high-quality reproduction that wasn’t slapstick. Parodies can quickly turn into mockery if not done right. The direction maintained that delicate balance, and everything came together perfectly.

Their ability to discover and express their individuality. Creating short-form videos has become a trend now. When I was younger, only professionals would dare to make videos. But nowadays, everyone gives it a try. I find it impressive how they’re so comfortable showcasing and promoting whatever they do.

Though I’ve never met her, I’d choose rapper Youngji Lee! I respect her as a representative of Millennials and Gen Z. I admire people who interpret and lead trends authentically, and Youngji Lee embodies that flawlessly. In that sense, she’s the ultimate New Beauty Icon in my view. When I think about other New Beauty Icons who radiate their own beauty, several people come to mind. Figures like Byungjae Yoo and model Jenny Park have also carved out their unique spaces, breaking free from conventional molds—quintessential New Beauty Icons.

I’m constantly striving for that. When you gain experience in this industry, people’s comments can change you. “Celebrities shouldn’t act like that,” “That’s not appropriate for your position,” and “You shouldn’t settle for that level”—while these are well-intentioned advice, I try to break free from such constraints. I’ve heard countless times that I should quit YouTube if it’s not working. My Short Box and personal channels feature the same Jiyoon Eom, yet they get different view counts. It stressed me out initially, but then I realized it’s just human nature. We’re all like that, aren’t we? People’s feelings aren’t uniform. Something we liked yesterday might not appeal to us today, and the same person can be perceived differently in other contexts. Once I accepted this reality, I decided not to obsess over view counts. Instead of letting it weigh on my mind, I focus on enjoying creating content on my channel. Besides, giving up because of factors beyond my control would be rather ungraceful.

I’m still in the process of discovering my own beauty (laughs). The most significant energy of being true to oneself comes from never giving up and constantly challenging yourself. With the mindset that success is great but failure is still interesting, work becomes enjoyable. Like many others, I used to want to show only my best side. However, after trying various fields, I discovered that the achievement gained through effort in areas where I’m not naturally skilled is particularly rewarding. Movies, dramas, singing—they were all genuinely challenging. But I experienced the satisfaction and learned how wonderful it feels to grow, regardless of the outcome. I’ll keep challenging myself even when things don’t go as planned. That’s how I maintain my own beauty.

I’m a born comedian. I’ve always wanted to inject fun into everything, everywhere. That’s been true since childhood. But I also have a serious side. While people love me for my bubbly image, I’m not sure how they’d receive my more thoughtful, grounded side—it’s pretty different from what they’re used to. I hope they’ll appreciate that aspect of me, too.

I want to incorporate it into comedy. The stark contrast might create an interesting source of humor.

One’s own beauty is truly unique to each individual. Everyone can possess it if they focus on what they want to express and what suits them best. Rather than constantly imitating others, keep exploring and challenging yourself to discover what’s authentically yours. You probably already know it; you just haven’t realized that you know. Think about it—everyone’s good at styling themselves in a way that suits them, and people choose careers where they excel. These days, hobbies and preferences have become more diverse, reflecting people knowing themselves better. You don’t need anything extraordinary—there’s definitely something among your qualities that you want to emphasize and appreciate more. That’s your unique beauty. Though we may not explicitly say it, everyone knows and lives while highlighting their own beauty. All you need to do now is realize it. Recognize your own beauty and express it more beautifully!

I have one definite plan for 2025: exercise! I’ve learned that exercise is the key to a strong body and healthy mind. Another primary goal is ‘doing the basics well.’ I will excel at the obvious things—getting quality sleep, waking up refreshed, eating healthy food, and maintaining a good laugh. I hope everyone else also masters these basics in 2025.

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