Actress Lee Si-young (43) has opened a new chapter in her life by giving birth to her second daughter after divorce. She described the child, conceived through the implantation of an embryo frozen during her marriage to her ex-husband, as “a gift from God.”
On the 5th, Lee Si-young shared a photo of herself with the newborn on social media, writing, “I think of you as a gift from God to me. I will make you happy for the rest of your life.” In the photo, Lee Si-young is smiling while holding the child, and another photo shows her tightly holding the baby’s hand. She revealed her deep affection for her second child by saying, “Hello, my angel.”
Her agency, Ace Factory, stated, “Recently, Lee Si-young gave birth to a daughter. Both the mother and the child are healthy and resting. She plans to resume activities after recovery.”
In September 2017, Lee Si-young married culinary entrepreneur Cho Seung-hyun and had their first son in 2018. However, she announced her divorce this March after seven years of marriage. In July, she revealed that she was “currently pregnant,” stating, “During my marriage, I had embryos preserved through in vitro fertilization, and with the storage expiration date approaching, I decided to proceed with implantation.” She confessed that she made the decision without her ex-husband’s consent, adding, “I am prepared to bear the full weight of my decision.”
Under current bioethics law, written consent from both parties providing sperm and egg is necessary at the time of embryo creation, but there is no legal requirement for mutual consent during the implantation of frozen embryos, leaving a legal void. Thus, Lee Si-young’s decision does not present a legal issue. However, her ex-husband stated, “Though I was against the pregnancy given our divorce, I will fulfill my responsibilities as a father now that the child is born.”
This birth has sparked significant social interest. There is an ongoing discussion about marriage systems, childbirth, and women’s autonomy, with online reactions including “a brave decision,” “a true form of motherhood,” and “societal views need to change.” Meanwhile, there are also opinions that “legal and ethical standards must be clearly defined.”
Accompanying the news of her delivery, Lee Si-young stated, “I have found a new reason to live through my child” and expressed her intention to “live happily with both children.” She plans to prepare for her next project and return to broadcasting after recovering her health.
