Choreographer Bae Yoon-jung says she gave up IVF for second child after three months
In short
South Korean choreographer Bae Yoon-jung (배윤정) said in a video posted on the KakaoBank YouTube channel on October 8 that she tried IVF early this year to have a second child but gave up after about three months. "I'm almost 50, but early this year I prepared for IVF again," she said, adding that once she faced the difficult situation, she let it go. Chosun Ilbo reported that she had a miscarriage; the other two outlets did not mention one.
Read the full story 2 min read
South Korean choreographer Bae Yoon-jung (배윤정) said she tried in vitro fertilisation (IVF) early this year to have a second child, but stopped after about three months. She made the remarks in a video titled 'Marriage and childbirth: necessary or a choice?', posted on the KakaoBank YouTube channel on October 8. [ 1 , 2 , 3 ]
"I'm almost 50, but early this year I prepared for IVF again," Bae said, according to the reports. "I thought, let's not have regrets, let's try until we've tried." Hankook Ilbo quoted her as saying she prepared it again "for the last time". Maeil Business quoted her as saying: "I did IVF for three months, but in fact it wasn't working, and it was hard. When I faced that, I let it go." [ 1 , 2 , 3 ]
The outlets differed on what happened. Chosun Ilbo, which carried a report by OSEN, wrote that Bae had a miscarriage after about three months of IVF. Hankook Ilbo and Maeil Business reported that the attempts did not succeed and that she gave up, without mentioning a miscarriage. Chosun Ilbo also said it was the first time she had spoken about the attempt. [ 1 , 2 , 3 ]
Bae said she wanted a second child but also had worries. "While doing IVF I wanted a child, but I also worried about what I would do if one actually came," she said. She said she would be unable to work and wondered how her husband would cope alone. Chosun Ilbo also quoted her as saying she worried about kindergarten costs. [ 1 , 3 ]
Earlier in the conversation, Bae said she had depression after giving birth, but that she believes people should have children and that having her child was the best thing she had done in her life. "Of course it's hard, but what you get back is greater," she said. Chosun Ilbo and Maeil Business quoted her as saying a child gives back ten times the happiness. [ 1 , 2 , 3 ]
Hankook Ilbo said the video was a new episode of the web show Don-kitaka (돈키타카), with host Kim Ho-young (김호영) and guests Bae, Yozo (요조) and Kim Yoon-ju (김윤주) of Oksang Dalbit (옥상달빛). According to Maeil Business, Bae married Jerome (제롬), formerly of the group Ekseuraji (엑스라지), in 2014 and divorced in 2017, then in 2019 married Seo Kyung-hwan (서경환), a former football coach 11 years her junior. Their son was born in 2021. Hankook Ilbo gave her birth year as 1980; Maeil Business gave her age as 46. [ 2 , 3 ]
Why it matters
The remarks came in an episode of the web show Don-kitaka (돈키타카) about whether marriage and childbirth are necessary or a choice. Bae described both postpartum depression and worries about work and family finances during IVF, and three South Korean outlets reported the story.
Key facts
- Choreographer Bae Yoon-jung (배윤정) said she tried IVF early this year to have a second child. [ 1 , 2 , 3 ]
- She said she tried IVF for about three months before letting go of the plan. [ 1 , 2 , 3 ]
- The remarks were made in a video posted on October 8 on the KakaoBank YouTube channel, titled 'Marriage and childbirth: necessary or a choice?' [ 1 , 2 , 3 ]
- Bae said she had depression after giving birth, but called having a child the best thing she had done in her life. [ 1 , 2 , 3 ]
- She said that during IVF she worried about not being able to work and about how her husband would cope alone. [ 1 , 3 ]
- Hankook Ilbo reported that Bae was born in 1980; Maeil Business gave her age as 46. [ 2 , 3 ]
- Bae married a football coach 11 years her junior in 2019 and has a son. [ 2 , 3 ]
Confirmed by several sources
- Bae Yoon-jung tried IVF for about three months early this year to have a second child and then stopped. [ 1 , 2 , 3 ]
- She said: "Once I faced the difficult situation, I let it go." [ 1 , 2 , 3 ]
- The video was posted on the KakaoBank YouTube channel on October 8. [ 1 , 2 , 3 ]
- Bae said she had depression after giving birth but believes having a child was the best thing she did in her life. [ 1 , 2 , 3 ]
- She said she worried about not being able to work and about how her husband would cope alone if she became pregnant. [ 1 , 3 ]
- Bae is married to a football coach 11 years her junior, whom she married in 2019, and has a son. [ 2 , 3 ]
Still unclear
- Whether Bae had a miscarriage. Chosun Ilbo reported that she had a miscarriage; Hankook Ilbo and Maeil Business quoted her as saying the IVF did not work and was hard, without mentioning a miscarriage.
- Whether this was the first time she spoke about the IVF attempt. Only Chosun Ilbo said she disclosed it for the first time.
- Whether this was meant as her final attempt. Only Hankook Ilbo quoted her as saying she prepared IVF again early this year 'for the last time'.