Badminton Star Lee Yong-dae Opens Up About Thoughts on Remarriage

Lee Yong-dae has shared his thoughts on remarriage.

On the 22nd, the SBS variety show 'My Ugly Duckling' (hereafter 'My Little Old Boy') featured badminton player Lee Yong-dae.

Lee Yong-dae married actress Byun Soo-mi in 2017 after six years of dating, and they welcomed a daughter in April of that year. However, they divorced in 2018, just a year later. Currently, Lee has retired from the national team and is working as both a player and a coach.

During a conversation with his juniors, he was asked if he had any thoughts on remarriage. He candidly replied, "Honestly, after the divorce, I wondered if anyone would want to be with someone who has been divorced. The divorce was more shocking than failing in badminton. So, I became more cautious, but relationships happened naturally. I even dated."

He continued, "I have met someone with the intention of marriage. I thought I shouldn't wait too long and should remarry quickly to build a stable family. Dating was good, but when things got serious, I had concerns because of my past pain. I was afraid of failing again. And I also have a daughter, so I think about how she would feel about the person I meet."

Lee Yong-dae's mother recalled, "Seeing my son struggle after the divorce was very hard. We were more cautious around him. It hurt more because he didn't express his feelings."

After returning from a business trip to Paris, Lee Yong-dae visited his home in Yongin after two months and immediately started doing house chores. He opened piled-up delivery boxes, cleaned the neglected dishes, and organized the refrigerator. Later, he brought out a soju machine and drank alone, evoking sympathy.

Meanwhile, Byun Soo-mi was accused of arranging prostitution and habitual gambling after their divorce. She denied the gambling allegations at the time of their divorce.

Reporter: Tae Yuna, Ten Asia youyou@tenasia.co.kr