Singer Lee Soo-young pauses radio DJ role after son's leukemia diagnosis
Version 2: More outlets have picked up the announcement and the fuller letter text, with Seoul Shinmun describing her son as 16 years old and the closing pledge to greet listeners again in good health now widely reported; the core facts are unchanged.
In short
Singer Lee Soo-young said in a letter posted on 5 October on the homepage of CBS Music FM's “이수영의 12시에 만납시다” that her son was diagnosed with acute T-cell lymphoblastic leukemia and has been hospitalized, and that treatment has begun. She said she is suspending her hosting of the programme for the time being, citing a long expected treatment period and intensive chemotherapy in the early stage. Yonhap reported she has hosted the show since 2017, about nine years.
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Singer Lee Soo-young said in a letter posted on 5 October on the official homepage of CBS Music FM's programme “이수영의 12시에 만납시다” that her son had been diagnosed with acute T-cell lymphoblastic leukemia and hospitalized. She said the child fell suddenly ill before the Chuseok holiday and received the diagnosis while undergoing tests at a hospital, and that treatment has now begun and the child is enduring it well, as reported by Hankook Ilbo, Yonhap, Seoul Economic Daily, Maeil Business, CBS NoCut News and Kyunghyang Shinmun. [ 2 , 5 , 7 , 9 , 11 , 15 ]
Lee said she would step back from hosting the radio programme for the time being. She cited a long expected treatment period and intensive chemotherapy in the early stage, saying she could not take her eyes off her child for a moment, and described the decision as one made as a mother who must stay by her child through the treatment, according to Yonhap and Kyunghyang Shinmun. Yonhap reported she has hosted “12시에 만납시다” since 2017, about nine years. [ 2 , 5 , 7 , 9 , 11 , 15 ]
In the letter she apologised to listeners for the sudden news and asked for their understanding, saying she would be grateful if listeners, including her fan club, prayed for her child to get through this time. She said she waits for the day she can greet listeners again in good health; Seoul Economic Daily quoted the letter's closing line, “우리 다시 12시에 만납시다”. [ 2 , 5 , 7 , 9 , 11 , 15 ]
Hankook Ilbo reported that Lee debuted in the music industry in 1999 and is known for hits including “라라라”, “덩그러니”, “휠릴리” and “그레이스”, and that she married a non-celebrity 10 years her senior in 2010. Seoul Economic Daily and CBS NoCut News reported she married in 2010 and had a son in 2011. Seoul Shinmun described her son as 16 years old in its headline; the documents do not reconcile the two accounts of his age. [ 2 , 7 , 11 , 14 ]
Chosun Ilbo published a separate piece re-examining Lee's family history and referring to past domestic violence and a financial fraud loss alongside the diagnosis, describing her situation as difficult. That account appears in that outlet's report only; the other documents describe the diagnosis and the radio suspension without it. [ 8 ]
Why it matters
Lee has hosted the CBS Music FM programme for about nine years, so her announcement leaves a long-running daily radio slot without its host for an unspecified period. The diagnosis drew same-day coverage from national outlets across business and official media, reflecting the public attention her family's situation receives. The documents indicate no wider effect on broadcasting, health policy or the music industry.
Key facts
- Lee Soo-young said in a 5 October letter on the programme's official homepage that her son was diagnosed with acute T-cell lymphoblastic leukemia and was hospitalized after suddenly falling ill before the Chuseok holiday. [ 2 , 5 , 7 , 9 , 11 , 15 ]
- She said treatment has started and that the child is enduring the tests and treatment well. [ 2 , 7 , 11 , 15 ]
- She is suspending her DJ hosting of CBS Music FM's “이수영의 12시에 만납시다” for the time being. [ 1 , 2 , 3 , 5 , 7 , 9 , 10 , 13 , 14 , 15 ]
- She cited a long expected treatment period and intensive chemotherapy in the early stage, saying she cannot leave her child's side. [ 2 , 5 , 7 , 9 , 10 , 11 , 15 ]
- She asked listeners to pray for her child and asked for understanding of the decision. [ 2 , 5 , 7 , 9 , 11 , 15 ]
- She has hosted the programme since 2017, about nine years. [ 5 , 7 , 9 , 15 ]
- Hankook Ilbo reported she debuted in 1999 and married a non-celebrity 10 years her senior in 2010; Seoul Economic Daily and CBS NoCut News reported she had a son in 2011. [ 2 , 7 , 11 ]
Confirmed by several sources
- Lee Soo-young said in a statement posted on 5 October on the official homepage of CBS Music FM's programme that her son had been diagnosed with acute T-cell lymphoblastic leukemia and hospitalized. [ 2 , 5 , 7 , 9 , 10 , 11 , 15 ]
- She is suspending her hosting of the radio programme for the time being. [ 1 , 2 , 3 , 5 , 7 , 9 , 10 , 11 , 13 , 14 , 15 ]
- She said the expected treatment period is long and that the early stage involves intensive chemotherapy, leaving her unable to leave her child's side. [ 2 , 5 , 7 , 9 , 10 , 11 , 15 ]
- She asked listeners to pray for her child and asked for understanding of her decision, saying she waits for the day she can greet them again in good health. [ 2 , 5 , 7 , 9 , 11 , 15 ]
- She has hosted the programme since 2017, about nine years, according to Yonhap, Kyunghyang Shinmun, Maeil Business and Seoul Economic Daily. [ 5 , 7 , 9 , 15 ]
Still unclear
- When Lee will return to the programme and how long the child's treatment will last. She said the expected treatment period is long but gave no duration or return date, only that she waits for the day she can greet listeners again in good health.
- The age of Lee's son. Seoul Shinmun described her son as 16 years old, while Seoul Economic Daily and CBS NoCut News reported she married in 2010 and had a son in 2011; the documents do not reconcile the two.
- Where the child is being treated. No hospital or city for the treatment is named in the documents; Yonhap's report carries a Seoul dateline.
- Reports of Lee's past family difficulties, including domestic violence and a financial fraud loss. This appears only in one Chosun Ilbo piece re-examining her family history; the other documents describe the diagnosis and the radio suspension without it.
What local media are saying
Timeline, local time
- Chosun Ilbo publishes a first report that Lee Soo-young is stepping back from her radio DJ role over her son's leukemia diagnosis. [ 1 ]
- Hankook Ilbo carries her full statement, including the diagnosis of acute T-cell lymphoblastic leukemia and her decision to pause hosting. [ 2 ]
- Newsis publishes a headline reporting the radio suspension and the son's diagnosis. [ 4 ]
- Yonhap reports she posted the news on the programme's official homepage and has hosted it since 2017. [ 5 ]
- Seoul Economic Daily publishes the title and text of her letter, quoting her closing line “우리 다시 12시에 만납시다”. [ 7 ]
- Seoul Shinmun reports the diagnosis in a headline describing her son as 16 years old. [ 14 ]