Actress Lee Chung Ah is opening up about a painful side effect of putting her career first after a car accident, sharing that waiting too long to seek medical attention during a drama shoot has left her dealing with lingering physical problems.
On Jan. 31, 2026 (KST), Lee participated in a video shared on the YouTube channel of actor Yoo Yeon Seok to promote her new ENA drama, "Honor: Women's Court." During the video, she opened up about her health, stating that her current focus has been on taking care of her hip joints following an injury months prior.
During a discussion about her recovery, Lee revealed that she had been spending her time watching rehabilitation videos online. "I must have watched at least 100 rehabilitation videos for hips," she said, stating that the reason for this was due to injuries she had accumulated from a car accident during the early stages of filming.
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Recalling the incident, Lee described the timing of the accident and its impact on her treatment. "Last August, when we started shooting the drama, I was in a car accident and injured my hip," she said. According to Koreaboo, the actress chose to continue filming rather than pause production for proper medical care, a decision that later affected her health.
She went on to explain how the untreated injury gradually worsened. "I was in pain, but filming started immediately, so I missed the right timing for treatment. The pain traveled from my waist up to my neck, and with all the action scenes and wearing heels, plus not being able to sleep, I should have healed—but I didn't," she said. Xportsnews reported that the physical demands of the role, including frequent action scenes, aggravated her condition.
Lee also described the confusion she felt as the pain persisted despite appearing manageable at first. "I kept thinking, 'Why am I still in pain?' It was fine when I walked, but it hurt when I twisted. I wondered what was wrong with my hip, and realized it's such an important joint in our bodies," she said, highlighting how easily such injuries can be underestimated.
The actress noted that her condition has since improved after making adjustments during filming. She explained that wearing heels less frequently helped ease the strain on her body. Looking ahead, Lee shared her plans for recovery once production wraps. "Once the shoot is over, I'll rest for about four days and do absolutely nothing," she said.
Her comments have sparked discussion among fans about the physical toll of drama productions and the pressure actors face to keep working despite injuries.
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