Actress Lee Si-young announced her pregnancy with her second child just three months after ending her marriage with her ex-husband. Although there was speculation over having undergone in vitro fertilization without her husband's consent, the controversy may come to an end as her ex-husband expressed his intention to take responsibility. However, various opinions have emerged regarding Lee Si-young's choice, leaving room for consideration.
On the 8th, Lee Si-young announced the news of her second pregnancy. The news that Lee Si-young, who is 43 years old this year, is expecting her second child was surprising given that it has only been three months since her divorce in May from her ex-husband. Moreover, the fact that the father of the second child is her ex-husband and that she became pregnant through in vitro fertilization without his consent is shocking.
According to Lee Si-young, during her marriage, she prepared for a second child through in vitro fertilization, and as time passed without an embryo transfer, talks of divorce emerged. As their legal relationship was nearing its conclusion, the expiration date of the frozen embryo approached after five years, and she had to make a decision. Although the other party did not agree, Lee Si-young decided to take on the full weight of her choice and made the decision to proceed with the embryo transfer.
Lee Si-young expressed a strong affection for her second child, stating that she did not want to repeat the mistakes she made while pregnant and raising her first child. She emphasized that having a child during her difficult marriage brought her great happiness, hope, and emotion, and she could not bear to dispose of the embryo that was nearing the end of its storage period. In particular, Lee Si-young stated that her life as a mother is the reason for her existence, saying, "I will live my future life sincerely with a deep sense of responsibility so that the child will lack nothing, even if I am alone."
Although it was a pregnancy that should be celebrated, the fact that she underwent embryo transfer without her ex-husband's consent remains a controversial issue. Relatedly, former Seoul Family Court judge Lee Hyun-gon noted, "If a child is born, since they are not the biological child during the marriage, a recognition process must be followed. The biological father can directly acknowledge the child or file a paternity lawsuit. Legal father-son relationships are established through recognition, which creates all rights and obligations such as parental rights, custody rights, visitation rights, and inheritance rights. The obligation to pay child support naturally arises. However, the legal responsibilities regarding childbirth through in vitro fertilization without the ex-husband’s consent could also pose problems. In conclusion, the relationship between the parties and the father-son relationship are separate matters."
Fortunately, Lee Si-young's ex-husband ended the controversy by stating he would fulfill his duties as a father. However, Mr. A, her ex-husband, initially opposed the second pregnancy but explained that Lee Si-young showed her firm resolve, and she undertook the in vitro fertilization procedure alone and successfully became pregnant without his consent. Through Mr. A's interview, it was revealed that the pregnancy with the second child was Lee Si-young's "determination."
The case of Lee Si-young's "successfully becoming pregnant through embryo transfer without her husband’s consent" leaves many questions to consider. This is a complex issue intertwined with not just marital problems but also ethical and legal responsibilities. If in vitro fertilization is performed without the husband's consent, the wife could face legal responsibility. Some in the public question Lee Si-young's motivations for proceeding with the second pregnancy despite these legal and ethical concerns. Conversely, others support Lee Si-young, who loved her children and earnestly desired a second child. Considering that in vitro fertilization involves immense physical and mental pain and patience, it is argued that her difficult decision should be respected, especially given the lack of her husband's consent.
In this way, Lee Si-young's pregnancy with her second child encompasses profound issues beyond mere congratulations and criticism of the process, touching on ethical considerations of life, familial autonomy, and legal responsibilities. It remains to be seen whether Lee Si-young's choice will be remembered as a "blessing" or as a starting point for further controversy.
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