Lee Ji-hyun (이시현), a former member of the first-generation K-pop girl group Jewelry, recently spoke candidly on a broadcast about a challenging period in her life. She revealed that after two failed marriages, her health rapidly deteriorated, leading to simultaneous diagnoses of panic disorder and tuberculosis. At her worst, she was unable to get out of bed and virtually ceased all outdoor activities for an entire year. Having overcome this difficult phase, Lee has now found new direction, embarking on a second career outside the entertainment industry.
On November 11, Lee appeared as a guest on CGN's YouTube program 'Sky Blue Scent,' where she discussed raising her two children alone after her two divorces. She confessed, "My health was really poor back then. Especially around the time of my second divorce, I felt like I was in the worst period of my life." Facing difficulties she couldn't overcome on her own, she not only suffered from panic disorder but also contracted tuberculosis.
Lee recalled that her daily life almost completely collapsed during that period. "The side effects of the medication were too strong, and both my physical and mental states broke down. I couldn't even take a single step out of bed." Due to the immense burden of tuberculosis medication and the impact of panic disorder, she was forced to suspend all outdoor activities, staying home for approximately one year.
After enduring the most challenging period of her life, Lee began to contemplate her future. Leaving the entertainment industry, she decided to pursue an entirely new career path, transitioning to become a hair designer.
She admitted that making this decision "was never easy," but she chose to challenge herself step by step. After eight attempts, she finally obtained a beauty-related qualification, officially becoming a hair designer.
Lee married a non-celebrity in 2013, and they had a son and a daughter before divorcing by mutual agreement in 2016. The following year, she remarried an ophthalmologist and started a new family, but this marriage also ended in 2020.
Today, in addition to her new career, Lee continues to balance work and childcare. Last month, she shared her struggles of working while raising her children on social media. At the time, she wrote, "Children, I'm sorry, I'm busy. This was never the life I wanted. Will you understand me when you grow up?"
These few words revealed the genuine feelings of a mother. Even with her hectic daily schedule, Lee strives for her children's future. Having navigated two marriages, illness, and personal lows, she is now embarking on her second life with a new identity.
