Actress Lee Si-young has announced that she is pregnant with her second child after undergoing an embryo transplant without her ex-husband's consent. This has sparked a significant public and legal debate in South Korea.
According to South Korea's Bioethics and Safety Act, creating embryos through in vitro fertilization requires written consent from both partners.
However, the law does not clearly require consent from both parties for implanting embryos that were created earlier.
Legal experts say that while Lee's actions may not break current laws, the situation reveals a serious gap in reproductive and family law.
"She made the decision alone without the consent of her ex-husband," said attorney Lee Ji-hoon during a broadcast on the YouTube legal commentary channel Knowing Lawyer.
"Legally, she may not be liable, but ethically and emotionally, this involves more than one person."
He added, "From a father's perspective, this isn't just about financial child support — it's about emotional responsibility and consent. She can only take responsibility for a third of this situation. The biological father and the child also have stakes in this."
Ex-Husband Breaks Silence
Lee Si-young's ex-husband, Cho Seung-hyun, 52, acknowledged through Dispatch that he opposed the second pregnancy due to their divorce.
"It's true that I was against it," he said. "But now that there is a second child, I will try to fulfill my responsibilities as a father."
The couple married in 2017 and had their first child, a son, in early 2018. Lee announced their divorce in March 2025, describing the process as amicable.
She stated that her choice to proceed with the embryo transfer stemmed from an emotional struggle over discarding the embryos and a deep desire to have another child.
"In the end, I could not throw away something so precious," Lee wrote in her now-deleted post. "This child is a miracle to me, and I will fully bear the weight of my decision."
Parental Rights in Question: Could Consent Laws Be Redefined by Lee Si-young's Case?
Despite Cho's willingness to co-parent, some legal professionals argue that without formal consent for the pregnancy, he may not be required to provide financial support or recognize the child legally.
"This case challenges how we view parental rights and obligations in assisted reproduction," said attorney Lee. "It may force lawmakers to revisit current legislation to ensure ethical and legal clarity."
As discussions about reproductive autonomy, parental consent, and legal definitions of family continue to change, Lee Si-young's pregnancy could become a key case in shaping future discussions and reforms in South Korea.
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