Lee Jin, the 'New York Lady,' returns to Korea with her dog

Actress Lee Jin, who has lived in New York for approximately 10 years, is drawing significant attention regarding the possibility of settling in Korea as her time spent in the country increases. In particular, her pet dog has recently appeared in Korea, and as her meetings with long-time connections—including Fin.K.L members and Song Hye Kyo—have become more frequent, some observers are questioning whether her daily life has shifted its center back to Korea.

The most notable aspect of Lee Jin's recent updates is the change in her sphere of life, which goes beyond a simple 'visit to Korea.' Lee Jin, who lived in New York with her husband and was affectionately called the 'New York Lady,' has been staying in Korea for extended periods.

On the 14th, the official account of Lee Hyori's yoga studio revealed the Fin.K.L members participating in a yoga class together. Lee Hyori captured photos of the members attending the class she led, tagged their individual accounts, and added the caption, "Fin.K.L's Rajakapotasana."

Seeing the Fin.K.L members gathered in one space is a special sight for fans. Having debuted in the late 1990s, Fin.K.L holds a significant place in the history of Korean girl groups, leaving behind numerous hits such as "Eternal Love," "To My Boyfriend," and "NOW." Even after the four members naturally spent less time together while pursuing their respective careers, their friendship has remained steadfast.

Ock Joo-hyun also revealed her enduring friendship by sharing photos of the Fin.K.L members spending time together recently. The sight of former teammates, who once worked as a single unit, now living their own lives yet meeting again to share daily moments, carries a special meaning for fans.

Amidst this, a photo posted by actress Song Hye Kyo also drew attention as a clue to Lee Jin's life in Korea.

On the 16th, Song Hye Kyo shared a photo on her SNS featuring Lee Jin's pet dog, Jang-gun. Lee Jin also reshared the post on her own SNS, showcasing her unchanging friendship with Song Hye Kyo.

Interest has grown particularly because the pet dog's activities in Korea were captured. Since Lee Jin had always shared her daily life with her dog during her time in New York, Jang-gun's move to Korea is being interpreted as a clue that Lee Jin's base of life is shifting to Korea.

Ock Joo-hyun's post was also significant. Sharing a photo of her meeting Lee Jin one-on-one, Ock Joo-hyun expressed her affection, saying, "I love it. I really love it." She followed this with, "Because we can say, 'Shall we meet tomorrow?' and actually meet tomorrow. Now."

This can be read as meaning that a friend who used to live far away is now within a distance where they can meet the very next day if they wish. It naturally illustrates the atmosphere that Lee Jin, who lived abroad for a long time, is re-establishing her interpersonal relationships in Korea as the center of her daily life.

Lee Jin moved to New York after marrying a Korean-American man who is six years her senior in 2016. For the following 10 years, she focused on her personal life in New York rather than domestic activities.

However, this did not mean her ties to Korea were completely severed. Lee Jin visited Korea when necessary and occasionally appeared on variety shows with Fin.K.L members or was seen meeting acquaintances. Whenever a full reunion of Fin.K.L drew public interest, Lee Jin also joined the members, showing her affection for the team.

But her recent movements feel different from her past temporary returns to the country.

Having entered Korea early this year, Lee Jin has been seen celebrating her birthday with Song Hye Kyo and spending time with Fin.K.L members like Sung Yu-ri and Ock Joo-hyun. She also naturally continued her interactions with long-time friends, such as visiting Korea to share the sorrow during Lee Hyori's father's passing.

In the entertainment industry, interpersonal relationships hold significant meaning regardless of whether one is actively working. Especially for someone like Lee Jin, who lived abroad for a long time away from the domestic entertainment scene, routine meetings with friends can serve as an important foundation for reconnecting with Korean society beyond mere socializing.

Lee Jin has also steadily maintained her presence as an actress. After her activities with Fin.K.L, she expanded her range into acting, building a career through various works such as "The King and I," "Hon," "Glory Jane," "The Great Seer," "Reply 1997," and "Shining Romance." In particular, in "Reply 1997," she showed a different side of her acting as the older sister of Seong Si-won (Eunji) and a character portraying the realistic side of a Busan family.

While her domestic acting roles naturally decreased after choosing life in New York following her marriage, the possibility of her returning to the entertainment industry is being discussed as she spends more time in Korea. Some even suggest she moved back to prepare for a full-scale domestic comeback and is currently residing in the Gangnam district of Seoul. However, Lee Jin's representatives have not yet officially announced any plans for a permanent settlement or a formal return to acting.

Therefore, it is too early to conclude that this is a "complete return" or a formal comeback to the entertainment industry. However, the fact that she is living in Korea with her dog, meeting frequently with Fin.K.L members, and interacting with long-time friends like Song Hye Kyo indicates a significant shift in the life of the woman once known as the "New York Lady."

What is most interesting is that Lee Jin's recent daily life is being captured in a much more modest way than a grand comeback announcement. It is a life of doing yoga with friends, eating with old colleagues, meeting acquaintances with her dog, and spending time with people she can see again tomorrow.

Ten years ago, Lee Jin chose love and marriage, moving the center of her life to New York. Now, ten years later, she is building a new daily life in Korea, laughing with Fin.K.L members and sharing friendships with Song Hye Kyo.

It remains to be seen whether she will fully settle in Korea or embark on a full-scale acting career. However, for fans, the fact that Lee Jin—once the "New York Lady"—is spending her days in Seoul with her dog Jang-gun and her friends is a welcome change. Returning to a distance where she can simply say, "Shall we meet tomorrow?" to those she has been away from for so long may be the warmest change her return has brought.