On December 31, a new episode titled “Who Needs Personal Color? If You’re Cool, You’re Cool-toned” was released on Hyoyeon Hyoyeon’s Level Up YouTube channel. The video showed Hyoyeon sitting with her production staff in an SM Entertainment conference room to review the channel’s direction ahead of the new year.
While reviewing a presentation prepared by the staff, Hyoyeon reacted modestly after being told that many viewers praised her as “one of the best MCs of this generation.” She brushed it off by saying, “I wouldn’t call myself a great MC,” and added that she was open to constructive criticism rather than just seeing positive comments. “You don’t have to show only positive feedback,” he said. “Comments that help me improve are also good.”
This prompted staff to carefully highlight an area they felt could be improved. “There are no hate comments,” they clarified, “but some viewers mentioned your facial tone.” They explained that after Hyoyeon changed her hair color, there were days when the overall tone didn’t seem to match well.
Hyoyeon looked genuinely surprised. “Are you saying the tone of my face is the problem?” he asked. “This is the first time I’ve heard something like this in my 18 years in the business.”
The staff continued honestly, explaining that on some days the hair color looked dull, while on other days the lip color or blush didn’t match. “It’s not that there is a problem,” they said, “but the overall balance doesn’t always arrive.”
Hyoyeon was momentarily speechless.
The team went on to admit that stylistic inconsistencies sometimes made post-production more difficult. “When the tone doesn’t match, we end up spending extra hours correcting it in editing,” they said, joking that the problem has even led some staffers to semi-seriously consider resigning.
Realizing that the situation might be more serious than she thought, Hyoyeon asked, “Then what should I do?” The production team suggested a solution: undergo a professional personal color analysis to find the shades that suit her best.
The exchange drew attention for its honesty and humor, showing Hyoyeon’s openness to feedback even after nearly two decades in the spotlight. Fans praised the episode for offering a rare behind-the-scenes look at the realities of producing idol-driven YouTube content, and Hyoyeon’s no-nonsense reaction only added to its appeal.
Sources: Daum
