An Young-mi Says, "I'll Return After Giving Birth Safely" - Another Birth-Abroad Controversy?

Comedian An Young-mi has again found herself at the center of a debate over so-called birth abroad as she prepares to give birth to her second child.

On June 21, An wrote on her social media account, "My dear Du-deng-i listeners, I will stay healthy and strong, give birth safely, and come back." With that message, she informed listeners of MBC FM4U's radio program "Two O'Clock Date, This Is An Young-mi" that she would temporarily step away from hosting the show while she prepares for childbirth.

An also added a lighthearted request to the audience. "While I am away, I hope you do not go to another radio show. The self-esteem of our 'Dude' production team could drop. I will always be monitoring Mini, so please keep the special DJ praise to a reasonable level," she wrote, showing the wit familiar to her listeners.

The renewed controversy stems from An's first childbirth. She previously gave birth to her first child in the United States, where her husband was living, and at the time she was swept up in criticism and suspicion over birth abroad. This time, some online commenters focused on her wording, particularly the phrase that she would "give birth safely and come back," and raised suspicions that she might again be planning to give birth overseas.

Others argued that the wording may simply mean that An is leaving her DJ position for a short period and will return to the radio booth afterward, rather than that she is leaving for the United States. In that reading, "come back" refers to resuming her broadcast activities after childbirth.

As the controversy grew, her agency, Media Lab Siso, issued a firm response. The agency said, "An Young-mi is temporarily suspending her broadcast activities in order to share the joy of childbirth with her husband, who lives and works in the United States. Malicious comments and false information that are difficult even to repeat are being spread not only about An Young-mi but also about the child in her womb. We have determined that we can no longer stand by or overlook this, and we are considering strong legal action with no leniency." The agency made clear that it would respond forcefully to groundless and malicious rumors.

An Young-mi married a man working in the United States in 2020 and gave birth to her first son in 2023.