South Korean singer Lee Hyori has become the center of online backlash after her past comments about in vitro fertilization (IVF) pregnancy resurfaced on social media platforms.
The controversy erupted when netizens began widely sharing remarks the 47-year-old entertainer made during a 2022 appearance on MBC Every1's variety show "Brother of the Tteokbokki House."
During the program, Lee Hyori talked about her plans to have a second child and expressed her stance on fertility treatments.
"I'm thankful if a child comes naturally, but I don't want to undergo in vitro fertilization. I don't want to desperately rely on medical help that much," she stated on the show.
The singer, who married musician Lee Sang-soon in 2013, explained her perspective by saying she would be grateful to raise a child if one came naturally, referencing someone she knew who had their first child at age 58.
Lee Hyori also shared her philosophical approach to motherhood, stating she wanted to experience "the love and devotion that mothers have for their children," but questioned whether having a biological child was necessary for such experiences.
The resurfaced comments triggered fierce criticism from online communities, with many users arguing that her remarks were insensitive to women undergoing IVF treatments. Critics described her statements as "disheartening toward women who were undergoing the painful procedure of IVF" and accused her of arrogance.
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"She acts like she's thoughtful, but she's always immature. Does she even know how many people desperately try to have children using every possible medical option?" one commenter wrote,
Several netizens expressed particular offense at what they perceived as dismissive attitudes toward medical fertility assistance and said that the singer should not speak so carelessly. They also questioned if Le Hyori knows how many children are born with the help of science, with one user sharing that their own son was born through IVF 23 years ago.
The controversy has divided public opinion, with some defending Lee Hyori's right to make personal reproductive choices. Supporters argued that her comments reflected her individual values and that she should not face criticism for sharing her personal stance on fertility treatments.
Lee Hyori has previously been open about her fertility struggles, revealing in various television appearances that she and her husband have been trying to conceive naturally for several years. Her mother-in-law recently stated that she has "given up hope" of having grandchildren, though she clarified this did not necessarily reflect the couple's own decision.
The singer has maintained her position against IVF treatment in subsequent interviews, including a 2024 appearance where she stated, "It's too late now" regarding pregnancy at her age.
