Lee Dong-guk's daughter Jae-ah retires from tennis player

Lee Dong-guk's second daughter Lee Jae-ah (16) gave up her dream of becoming a tennis player and announced her retirement.

Jae-ah Lee said on the 8th, "Today, I would like to announce my separation from tennis, which was everything to me." He continued, "I cried and laughed for 10 years since I was 7 years old, and my dream of becoming the world's top tennis player was everything in my life. “He said.

Jae-ah Lee said, “After my third knee surgery recently, I was faced with having to give up my dream,” and added, “I was momentarily frustrated at the thought of not being able to achieve my dream, and I couldn’t stop crying, but this wasn’t a failure, it was another opportunity that opened a new path in my life. “I try to think of it as an opportunity,” he said, adding, “I was in a situation where I had to give up on my dream, but I found courage in giving up, accepted my own pain, and will definitely show you how I can grow and work harder in whatever way I can in the future.” did.

Lee Dong-guk married Lee Su-jin, a former Miss Korea in 2005, and they have four daughters and one son. This family received great love when they appeared on KBS2's entertainment show 'The Return of Superman' in the past. Jae-ah Lee attracted attention by winning the 10-year-old women's singles event at the 2016 National Junior Tennis Championships. In 2021, he won two gold medals in singles and doubles at the 1st Asian Tennis Federation (ATF) Yanggu 14-year-old International Junior Tournament and ranked first in the Asian 14-year-old ranking.

However, in December 2021, the ligament was torn due to a dislocation of the kneecap, and ligament suture surgery was performed. About a year later, in November of last year, the knee injury recurred and he was on the operating table again.Below is the full text of Jae-ah Lee’s article:Hello, this is Jae-ah Lee.
Now, I’m sorry for posting something like this. Today I would like to say goodbye to tennis, which was everything to me. The dream of becoming the world's top tennis player was something I had dreamed of becoming the world's top tennis player for 10 years, crying and laughing since I was 7 years old. That dream was everything in my life.

However, I recently had my third knee surgery, and I was at a point where I had to give up on my dream. Since I was young, I have worked hard with blood, sweat and tears to achieve my desired goal, and have accumulated new experiences in my tennis life, but now I can no longer achieve that dream.

After my second surgery last winter, the hospital director told me that it might be difficult for me to repeat intense training such as tennis any longer, and my parents also opposed tennis after that. Still, it wasn't easy for me to give up tennis, which was everything to me, and I tried to give it another try. However, despite my efforts, I had to undergo my third knee surgery last week, and now I feel like I will never achieve that dream. I was frustrated for a moment and couldn't stop crying at the thought of not being able to achieve my dream, but I still try to think positively and think of this not as a failure, but as another opportunity to open a new path in my life.

Giving up on a dream may not be a failure, but rather the beginning of a new challenge, and I believe that my painful experiences in the process will serve as a foundation for greater growth. I was in a situation where I had to give up my dream, but I found courage in giving up, accepted my own pain, and will make sure to show you how I can grow and work harder in whatever way I can in the future.

Thank you for reading this long article.

Taeyuna, Ten Asia Reporter youyou@tenasia.co.kr