#SHOWBIZ: Actress Lee Si-young announces pregnancy via IVF, to raise child as single mother
This news comes shortly after finalising her divorce from restaurateur Cho Seong-hyun, with whom she has a seven-year-old son.
Lee had previously undergone IVF treatment, and with her fertilised embryos nearing their five-year expiry date, she chose to proceed with implantation despite her ex-husband Cho's disapproval.
The procedure was successful, and in a statement, Lee confirmed her intention to "bear the full burden of responsibility" for her pregnancy.
In response to an enquiry from tabloid Dispatch, Cho stated that although he did not agree with Lee's decision to implant the embryo, he would continue to "fulfil his responsibilities as a father and provide support."
Motherhood outside of marriage is generally frowned upon in socially conservative South Korea, and Lee's pregnancy has sparked considerable online discussion.
Lee is well-known for her roles in dramas such as Sweet Home, and she also garnered attention for winning an amateur boxing tournament.
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
The Star
11 hours ago
- The Star
'Trigger' review: Warning, shameless button-pushing ahead
The brisk, violent and morally murky K-drama Trigger is a study in contrasts. The show is pretty ambitious, aiming for a serial thriller vibe while tackling tough questions about gun control, violence begetting violence, and humanity's general indifference to the suffering of others. Yet it is puzzling how something that scores so highly on the bingeability scale can also shoot itself in the foot so frequently when it comes to believability. For better or for worse, this 10-episode "alternate society" series sends viewers down a darkly dystopian path as it ponders the effect of guns suddenly flooding a powderkeg of assorted social ills. From grieving mothers to bullied students, overlooked gangland underlings to harassed apartment dwellers, South Korean citizens mysteriously receive guns on their doorsteps. Of course, you can guess how most – though not all – of these scenarios play out. It's heartening to see that writer-director Kwon Oh-seung (Midnight) chooses to have some secondary characters take the high road, even if much of Trigger's manipulative plotting seems to push everyone down the low road. 'After reviewing the footage of yesterday's shootout, we're convinced you'll look cooler next time if you advance towards danger with your gun angled upwards instead of pointing straight ahead.' The victims are all too vulnerable and helpless, their tormentors one-dimensionally cruel and unrepentant; and it should be noted that one sequence set in a school is deeply disturbing in its almost offhand depiction of juvenile carnage. Much of Trigger revolves around frenemies Lee Do (Kim Nam-gil, Fiery Priest, Through The Darkness) and Moon Baek (Kim Young-kwang, Hot Young Bloods, Mission: Possible). Lee is ex-military (though he's sometimes referred to in the subtitles as a mercenary), now a policeman who prefers non-lethal methods of subduing even the most vicious perps, and whose empathy has endeared him to the community – if not all his superiors. Moon is a mysterious figure who always seems to be in the right (wrong?) place when stuff hits the fan, and initially helps Lee as waves of gun violence sweep through the city. Together and separately, they are charismatic leads who grab and hold our interest in whichever what-if scenario Kwon happens to be pitching at us, though ultimately Nam-gil's hero cop comes across as more admirable and fully formed than Young-kwang's larger-than-life but sketchily shaped antagonist. Trigger is certainly not short on action sequences, many of them executed with the same verve as Nam-gil's famous beatdowns from his Fiery Priest days (set to a familiar-sounding score), with some slick shoot-'em-up sequences too. One scene where Moon deals with a van-load of thugs even evokes vintage Jackie Chan slapstick fights seldom emulated in this neck of the woods. The series also serves up human drama in buckets, and the ensuing pathos should not be lost on even the most jaded, stone-hearted viewer. 'Don't blame me for how I act in this series, it's in my DNA. I'm a Hot Young Blood, after all.' Where Trigger stumbles, however, is in the motivation and grand plan of its principal villain, the lever and fulcrum with which he plans to move the whole world (sorry, just watched The Fantastic Four: First Steps, insert sheepish grin emoji here) – it just doesn't hold water. Also, dystopian alternate reality or not, it's pretty baffling how the baddie and his goons can brazenly commit multiple murders of law enforcement personnel on camera, in a public place, and not spark a nationwide manhunt. At least, nothing of that sort is even hinted at in the script right up to the finale, where the authorities appear content to just gawk or mill about helplessly while chaos ensues. Not our man Lee Do, though. Expect him to be in the thick of the action and drama as he engages in battles of philosophy and physicality with the bad guys, all to show his adversary that it's not hypocritical to espouse peace while indulging in some John Wick-style gun fu. The rough edges aside, you can't deny that Kwon is pretty clued in to the pressures, injustices and sense of helplessness that appear to have permeated most urban settings around the globe these days. Just that he often chooses to take a sensationalised approach instead of having the characters argue their respective cases in a calmer atmosphere. It's hard to pay attention to people arguing semantics when there's so much hot lead flying around. All 10 episodes of Trigger are available on Netflix.
New Straits Times
12 hours ago
- New Straits Times
#SHOWBIZ: Lee Sinje marks debut in a Chinese-language Netflix series with 'The Resurrected'
KUALA LUMPUR: Malaysian-born actress Lee Sinje, also known as Angelica Lee, is set to star in the upcoming Netflix thriller series The Resurrected. This will be her debut in a Chinese-language Netflix series and a new venture for the actress, who is from Kedah. The series is co-directed by acclaimed Taiwanese filmmakers Leste Chen and Hsu Chao-jen. Lee is best known for her leading roles in the acclaimed films The Eye (2002)—which earned her the Golden Horse Award for Best Actress—and The Garden of Evening Mists (2019). She also served as a producer on the critically acclaimed Malaysian film Abang Adik (2023). In a statement yesterday, Lee shared her excitement: "I've never encountered a female-driven story that's so intense, a little wild, and deeply emotional. It was such a thrill to be a part of it, and of course, I'm even more excited for the day we get to share it with audiences around the world." Lee will star alongside acclaimed Hong Kong–Taiwanese actress Shu Qi, who is also making her first appearance in a Chinese-language Netflix production. Lee admitted that she was immediately drawn to the script, which she described as bold and groundbreaking. Set in the fictional city of Benkha, The Resurrected centres on two mothers, Wang Hui-chun (Shu Qi) and Chao Ching (Lee), who are united by hatred and seeking revenge for their daughters, who are caught in a fraud and kidnapping case. The cast also features a strong ensemble, including Alyssa Chia, Fu Meng-Po, Sukollawat Kanarot, Chung Hsin-ling, Caitlin Fang, Lin Ting-yi, Liu Chu-ping, Vivi Chen, Rexen Cheng, and Patrick Nattawat Finkler. The Resurrected premieres exclusively on Netflix on 9 October.
The Star
17 hours ago
- The Star
K-actor Jung Woo-sung reportedly registered marriage with non-celeb girlfriend
According to South Korean media reports, the 52-year-old recently filed for marriage registration with his long-time girlfriend. Photo: Jung Woo-sung/Instagram South Korean actor Jung Woo-sung has reportedly tied the knot. According to South Korean media reports, the 52-year-old recently filed for marriage registration with his long-time girlfriend. Her identity remains undisclosed, though reports suggest she is not a public figure. Jung's agency, Artist Company, declined to comment. 'We cannot provide an official statement as this is a personal matter,' it said. 'We request that you refrain from excessive interest and speculation regarding the actor's personal life.' News of Jung's marriage comes months after the star made headlines in November 2024 for acknowledging he had fathered a child with South Korean model Moon Ga-bi, 35. The confirmation came two days after Moon announced the birth of her son via social media on Nov 22. At the time, Jung vowed to 'fulfill his responsibilities' as a father, but did not indicate any plans to marry her. On Nov 29, Jung addressed the public during an appearance at the prestigious Blue Dragon Film Awards. He was nominated for Best Actor for his performance in the hit political thriller 12.12: The Day (2023). 'I stand here today hoping that my personal matters do not overshadow the efforts of everyone who worked on this film,' he said onstage. 'I sincerely apologise for the concern and disappointment I've caused to those who have supported me. I will accept all criticism and continue to fulfil my responsibilities as a father.' Jung is one of South Korea's most acclaimed actors, known for box-office and critical hits such as A Moment To Remember (2004), Cold Eyes (2013) and Hunt (2022). He is slated to return to the small screen later in 2025 in the Disney+ series Made In Korea . It stars South Korean actor Hyun Bin as Baek Gi-tae, an ambitious figure chasing wealth and power in 1970s South Korea, while Jung portrays Jang Geon-young, a prosecutor determined to bring him down. – The Korea Herald/Asia News Network
