Former Jewelry member and broadcaster Lee Ji-hyun is drawing public attention by candidly sharing the pain and reasons behind her second marriage, which had been shrouded in mystery.
Recently, Lee Ji-hyun appeared on MBN's Kim Joo-ha's Day and Night and made the shocking confession that she never lived with her second husband for even a single day. She revealed that at the time, they had only registered their marriage, and although they were legally a couple, they never combined their lives and ultimately faced separation. She added that she had to endure immense pain during the process of breaking a marriage that started with just a signature.
The decisive reason for her second divorce was conflict over child custody. Lee Ji-hyun explained that during her remarriage, her husband promised to take good care of the children, but his family strongly opposed, stating that they would never accept someone else's children. It was particularly shocking to learn that her husband pressured her to leave the children with her mother while she came alone. Lee Ji-hyun recalled that no mother would leave her children behind, and ultimately accepted her husband's request for divorce to protect her kids.
Lee Ji-hyun debuted in 1998 with the Korea-Japan joint group Circle and re-debuted as Jewelry in 2001, enjoying her peak. She was loved for her unique wit on shows like X-Man and has been active as an actress and MC. Despite the personal pain of two divorces, she has not lost her sense of responsibility as a mother of two children.
Recently, Lee Ji-hyun has embarked on a new challenge outside of her entertainment activities, paving the way for a third life. She shared that she has been working as an intern at a hair salon since 2023, and after investing about 50 million won over two years, she successfully obtained her beauty license in 2025. She expressed her respect for current beauticians, realizing that the beauty profession is not an easy and demanding job.
With the new year, Lee Ji-hyun announced another beginning. On January 10, she shared that she would be traveling to the United States with her children for study and relaxation. She expressed her ambition to return as a more mature family, demonstrating her continuous spirit of challenge. Despite the ups and downs of her life journey, Lee Ji-hyun is confidently stepping out as a hair designer and mother, receiving support from many.
