Past comments made by singer LEE HYORI, in which she expressed her decision not to undergo in vitro fertilization (IVF), have recently resurfaced and are now fueling heated debate online.
It all began with a post titled “If a child comes naturally to Lee Hyori”, recently published in an online community. The post revisits statements LEE HYORI made during her appearance on the variety show “떡볶이집 그 오빠”, aired on MBC Every1 in May 2022, where she discussed her thoughts on having children.
At the time, she stated:
“I don’t want to go as far as IVF. I don’t want to rely on medical intervention.”
She added:
“If a child comes to me naturally, I would be so grateful and want to raise them with love. Someone I know had their first child at 58, and that gave me courage.”
LEE HYORI also shared a personal shift in her perspective:
“I want a child because I want to experience the love and devotion that mothers feel, but I’ve come to believe that you don’t necessarily need to have a child to experience true love. Even if it’s not my biological child, I want to live as a mother to all.”
These remarks have recently resurfaced online, sparking intense controversy among netizens. Some critics have said:
“That’s hurtful to those who are struggling with IVF,” or “It’s disrespectful to people who endure so much pain in hopes of becoming parents.”
Others, however, defended her:
“She never said anything bad about IVF—people are overreacting,” and “Did she ever tell others not to do it? No.”
The article covering her remarks received nearly 1,200 comments, reflecting a sharply divided public opinion, along with a wave of malicious comments directed at LEE HYORI.
However, it’s important to note that LEE HYORI never criticized IVF itself or imposed her views on others. She merely shared her personal values, and did so cautiously. As seen in previous cases—such as the “임뭐요 ” incident involving singer Lim Young Woong—celebrities’ comments are often distorted or misinterpreted.
Likewise, actor couple Jin Tae Hyun and Park Si Eun also faced a similar controversy after mentioning IVF during their own journey to parenthood.
In a society where differences in thought are increasingly hard to accept, now more than ever, there is a need to foster a culture of respect for individual choices and values, and to combat the spread of harmful comments.
Journalist: Shawn
Translator: Shawn
Source: SNS KSTATION TV, Online community
