Actor Lee Si-young recently expressed her gratitude towards her mother, who still operates a jjimjilbang (Korean sauna) snack bar, along with sharing her family history before her debut on a variety program. She touched hearts by also announcing a donation of 100 million won for children with illnesses, demonstrating both a strong attitude towards life and a warm heart.

On the 23rd, the YouTube channel "Zzanbro" released a video titled "The memorable scene Lee Si-young witnessed during filming = Jung Sang-hoon's hidden charm." In the video, Lee Si-young recalled, "I debuted at 28, but before that, I directly operated a jjimjilbang snack bar," reflecting on the challenges of the past.

She said, "I auditioned from the age of 24, but I couldn't pass even once in five years. Our family's financial situation was difficult, and I thought it would be hard to debut, so I started a jjimjilbang women’s bathhouse snack bar. It was a snack bar with a 30 million won deposit and a monthly rent of 2.8 million won. My mother was ill, so I worked alone for 24 hours."

After successfully debuting, Lee Si-young handed over the snack bar work to her mother, but it was not easy either. "I didn't want my mom to do this tough job, but she was different from me. I was all 'bring it on!' but my mom was very accepting," she smiled, adding, "My mother is still operating that snack bar. I don’t tell her to stop. It would be harder for her if an elder suddenly quits working."

Lee Si-young’s sincerity, who knows life better than anyone, is also reflected in her donations. She recently donated 100 million won to Asan Medical Center, contributing to the treatment costs for pediatric patients and the introduction of a proton therapy machine in the hospital. The donation will also be used to improve the treatment facilities and medical environment of the children’s hospital.

This is not a one-time occurrence. In 2020, during the COVID-19 pandemic, Lee Si-young donated 10 million won to support single-parent women entrepreneurs facing financial difficulties, and in 2021, she donated 20 million won for legal improvements and education for abused children. In the same year and in 2023, she donated a total of 200 million won to the Beautiful Foundation, supporting not only winter supplies but also aiding the independence of youth who are parents and those who have left welfare facilities.

This recent donation to Asan Medical Center is also an extension of her consistent concern for children, youth, and vulnerable groups. It is a substantive action aimed not at showmanship, but at genuinely helping those in need.

Meanwhile, Lee Si-young personally experienced pain when she announced her divorce after eight years of marriage in March. She married a restaurant entrepreneur in 2017 and had a son, but it was reported that she submitted a divorce mediation application to the Seoul Family Court in March. However, overcoming her difficulties, she has reappeared in public, meeting viewers with healthy and bright energy through the new ENA Monday-Tuesday drama "Salon de Holmes."

Lee Si-young is an actress who conveys a positive influence through action rather than words. The memories of running a snack bar alone before her debut, the respect she has for her mother who still works, and the warm gestures seen through her donations all reflect her firm character behind the glamorous star persona. This is why she shines even brighter as an actress.

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