From the start, she was different.

This sentence aptly described Ha-eun’s presence in the entertainment world, particularly in variety shows like Infinite Challenge.

Her talent in variety shows had been evident since her first appearance, when she was just a fourth grader in elementary school.

“Child actress Lee Ha-eun shines with athletic skills on Don’t Stop People!”“Young Ha-yoo-hwa’s sharp wit wins Don’t Stop People! amidst all odds!”“Child prodigy breaks 35% viewership barrier; Lee Ha-eun drives Don’t Stop People! to record ratings!”

Becoming the highlight of almost every scene she was in wasn’t something just anyone could pull off.

Clips from the Don’t Stop People: Stars from Another World special featuring Ha-eun were still widely shared online years later.

One legendary moment, in particular, had Ha-eun scaling a wall to escape a fake antagonist.

The quick thinking and fiery determination she displayed had yet to be surpassed by any guest since.

However, that scene hadn’t come without controversy.

“Lee Ha-eun! Hands up straight!”

“...I’m sorry....”

Her mother, Na-yeon, had been furious, her heart sinking at the sight of her young daughter taking such a dangerous risk.

Na-yeon scolded her relentlessly, making Ha-eun kneel in apology and even write a reflection letter afterward.

Her father, Seong-yoon, tried to mediate, but his attempts only made things worse.

Ha-eun’s talent for variety shows was long-established.

In her most recent appearance on Two Days, Three Nights, her ability to steal the scene was on full display.

Perhaps that’s why, on the day of the Infinite Challenge Song Festival, producer Jeon Yoon-seop took a moment to speak directly to Ha-eun.

“Do your best to score high! That way, you can pick your ideal performance slot. Give it all you’ve got!”

He encouraged her to approach the recording like she was playing around with close friends rather than trying to navigate the awkwardness of other guests.

As the person who had cast Ha-eun for this high-profile special, Jeon had high hopes for her.

He wanted to see her replicate the energy she’d shown on Don’t Stop People and Two Days, Three Nights.

Jeon had intentionally included several physical mini-games in the schedule, knowing they would highlight Ha-eun’s athletic prowess.

It was a departure from the usual interview-heavy format for female celebrity guests on the show.

The primary goal, of course, was entertainment.

With Ha-eun’s popularity rising steadily, her active participation in the games was sure to make for engaging television.

Jeon’s instincts were right.

In every mini-game he had prepared, Ha-eun shone.

The hammer game, conducted as a tournament, proved particularly memorable.

“Alright, rock-paper-scissors... go!”

One by one, the other participants revealed their nerves, even stammering slightly as they faced Ha-eun.

Her swings with the toy hammer were faster and harder than those of most grown men.

Winning against her in rock-paper-scissors meant you could attack her first—though her quick reflexes ensured she blocked every attempt.

But losing? That was a different story entirely.

Whack!

“Ugh! Ack!”

Those who lost to Ha-eun quickly found themselves at the mercy of her hammer. The impact was so strong it left their heads spinning.

If they didn’t manage to don their protective bowls in time, Ha-eun would hold back slightly—though not much.

But when the stainless steel bowls were in place, she went all out.

Clang!

The sound of her hammer hitting the steel reverberated through the set, accompanied by groans of pain and exaggerated cries.

“Ahhh!”

“Ha-eun! Do you have something against us?!”

From a variety show perspective, the interaction was pure gold.

Watching the chaos unfold, Jeon Yoon-seop couldn’t help but marvel at Ha-eun’s instincts.

“She knows exactly what makes good TV.”

He had to admit, Ha-eun’s on-screen presence exceeded even his high expectations.

Her boldness and confidence were undeniable.

And while the last performance slot was indeed a daunting choice, Jeon trusted that Ha-eun had the self-assurance to pull it off.

***

"Lee Ha-eun is appearing on Infinite Challenge?"

A few days before the airing of the first episode of the Infinite Challenge Song Festival,

a post appeared on an online community speculating about Ha-eun’s participation in the variety show.

Initially, the post went unnoticed.

However, once the opening moments of the episode aired, featuring a mysterious female singer with a breathtaking voice, things began to shift.

“Who is this singer, receiving love calls from every member? Let’s find out!”

The reveal of the singer’s identity as Ha-eun sent shockwaves through the audience.

"Ha-eun’s singing is insane!""I can’t believe it’s actually Lee Ha-eun, LOL.""National treasure vibes.""Her voice is incredible!""Wait, the child actress from Stars from Another World is singing this song? How do you even process that?!"

Suddenly, the internet was abuzz with discussions about Ha-eun''s transformation into a singer.

Her voice was powerful enough to stand out among established female vocalists.

The buzz grew even louder when her festival partner was revealed to be Yoon Si-hyuk.

And just as excitement peaked, the preview for episode two teased yet another unexpected twist:

“It’s been a while, Ha-eun.”"????""Wait, Ji-hyuk hyung is on this too?!""Is this real?!""Out of nowhere, this has become an SIT ON THE MONEY reunion, LOL.""Legendary, absolutely legendary!""The production quality of Infinite Challenge is off the charts."

The reveal of Hwang Ji-hyuk as Ha-eun’s additional partner brought an unprecedented level of excitement.

Their past collaboration during the finals of SIT ON THE MONEY had left a lasting impression.

Ha-eun and Ji-hyuk: A Pairing That Dominated

Ha-eun, who had once dominated the music charts as the featured singer for Double Lee under the alias “Pinocchio,”

teaming up again with SIT ON THE MONEY champion Hwang Ji-hyuk was more than enough to ignite discussions across forums.

The combination of their skills and chemistry was a testament to why producer Jeon Yoon-seop had been so determined to cast Ha-eun for the Infinite Challenge Song Festival.

A Commercial Success Beyond Expectations

But the ripple effect of Ha-eun’s Infinite Challenge appearance wasn’t limited to online communities.

“P-Park Team Leader!”

In an office at Sears, a mid-tier furniture company, an employee rushed to Park Hwan-soo, the team leader of their advertising department.

They had been monitoring the performance of Sears’ latest mattress commercial, which had started airing just a few days earlier.

The employee handed over reports showing a sudden spike in ad views and an increasingly steep sales trajectory.

“This... might be something big,” the employee ventured.

“...Let’s keep watching for now. It’s still a long way to the autumn peak season,” Park replied cautiously.

In the furniture industry, fluctuations in sales were not uncommon, especially around seasonal campaigns.

As such, Park urged patience, continuing to monitor the situation.

However, it didn’t take two weeks for the situation to escalate further.

“Team Leader, the IT department just called. Our website has crashed from the traffic....”

“...Hah.”

The sales trajectory was no longer just an upward curve; it had transformed into a near-vertical surge.

Sears’ website, overwhelmed by the influx of customers, was completely paralyzed.

When Park had initially planned the commercial, his goal had been modest: to bring some life back to Sears’ stagnant sales.

Yet the company’s new model—Lee Ha-eun—was achieving results far beyond anyone’s expectations.

The meteoric rise of Sears’ mattress sales, fueled by Ha-eun’s soaring popularity, marked the beginning of a commercial phenomenon.