Korean actress Lee Si-young, 43, has announced that she is expecting her second child, just four months after finalising her divorce. The twist? The baby was conceived with her ex-husband through IVF.
Lee, best known for her roles in Sweet Home and the Korean adaptation of Boys Over Flowers, shared the news on Instagram on July 8. She divorced her husband, a restaurant entrepreneur, in March 2025 after eight years of marriage. The couple share a son.
In her post, Lee explained that during their marriage, she had undergone in-vitro fertilisation (IVF) in hopes of having a second child. At the time, however, the embryo was not implanted, and as time passed, the couple eventually began discussing divorce.
Just as their legal separation was being finalised, Lee was reminded that the frozen embryo — stored for five years — was nearing the end of its preservation period. Faced with the decision, she chose to proceed with the embryo transfer, despite her ex-husband’s objections.
“Although he did not agree, I will take full responsibility for this decision,” she wrote.
Lee said she had always wanted another child and could not bring herself to discard the embryo.
“Even though I know there may be challenges ahead, I believe this choice is something meaningful and worthwhile.”
Reflecting on her life, she said her children have always been what she treasures most. With a new life growing inside her, she expressed deep gratitude and a sense of calm.
“Even if I raise this child alone, I will make sure they never feel they are lacking anything.”
In a separate statement, Lee’s ex-husband said the two had remained in regular contact since the divorce to co-parent their first son. He acknowledged that Lee made the decision to proceed with the pregnancy without his agreement, but said he would step up.
“Now that there will be a second child, I will do my best to fulfil my responsibilities as a father.”
He added that they would continue to communicate and work together for the birth and upbringing of their second child, just as they had done for the first.
Lee Si-young married her ex-husband in September 2017 and gave birth to their son, Jung Yoon, shortly after. The couple filed for divorce earlier this year and officially finalised the process in March through the Seoul Family Court.
