In February 2014, what was meant to be a joyous vacation turned into an overwhelming nightmare for a young pregnant couple visiting South Korea from Taiwan. During their stay at a hotel, the expectant mother slipped and fell unexpectedly in the bathroom, triggering sudden premature labor. Taken hastily to a local hospital, she gave birth to a tiny baby girl who was born under extremely critical medical conditions. To make matters worse, the fragile infant was promptly diagnosed with biliary atresia — a rare and life-threatening congenital condition in which the bile ducts outside and inside the liver are damaged, blocked, or missing. Without immediate, specialized surgical intervention, the condition would be fatal.
The infant underwent complex surgery, but the combined costs of premature neonatal intensive care, prolonged incubator hospitalization, and specialized surgical procedures caused the medical bills to skyrocket beyond anything the young couple could have ever anticipated. Desperate, isolated by language barriers, and facing insurmountable financial strain in a foreign country, the couple reached out to Taiwan’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs seeking emergency financial aid or intervention. To their dismay, official channels offered no immediate financial relief to cover the mounting hospital fees. Stranded abroad with a critically ill newborn and a staggering debt, the parents felt entirely helpless as their medical bills continued to climb into tens of thousands of dollars.
An unexpected connection brings hope through compassion
As the newborn girl survived the initial high-risk surgical procedure and began her slow recovery in the incubator, hope appeared from an unexpected source. Mr. Park, a compassionate volunteer with the South Korean chapter of the Buddhist Compassion Relief Tzu Chi Foundation, became aware of the family’s dire situation and began offering support. Shortly after, Mr. Park attended a dinner event where he met renowned South Korean actress Lee Young-ae, celebrated globally for her iconic roles in television and cinema. Recognizing an opportunity to advocate for the desperate parents, Mr. Park approached the actress and showed her a heartbreaking video he had recorded on his smartphone. The footage revealed the frail baby girl lying inside an incubator, her tiny body surrounded by monitoring equipment and covered in medical tubes.
Mr. Park explained the heart-rending backstory to Lee Young-ae, detailing how the foreign couple was emotionally devastated and completely incapable of paying the overwhelming hospital fees required to keep their daughter alive and hospitalized. Moved to tears by the footage and deeply saddened by the family’s plight, Lee Young-ae responded immediately. Early the next morning, her legal counsel called Mr. Park to ask about the newborn’s health and coordinate a relief effort. Without hesitation, Lee Young-ae offered to cover approximately three-quarters of the family’s total medical debt, ultimately contributing a staggering 100 million Korean won (approximately US$75,000) to settle the hospital account in full.
A legendary actress demonstrates genuine warmth beyond financial aid
Lee Young-ae’s generosity went far beyond issuing a financial transfer. She personally visited the mother and baby at the hospital, brought thoughtful gifts, and offered words of comfort to the emotional parents. Showing deep concern for the infant’s ongoing care, she recommended transferring the mother and child to St. Mary’s Hospital in Seoul, an institution renowned for top-tier pediatric care, where both received exceptional care until they were stable enough to return home. During her visit, Lee Young-ae warmly comforted the tearful mother and offered a standing invitation, telling her that whenever the family returned to South Korea in the future, they were always welcome to stay at her personal residence as her honored guests.
Despite the monumental impact of her donation, Lee Young-ae insisted that her act of kindness remain strictly confidential. She wanted no public acclaim, personal recognition, or media attention. It took Mr. Park, the dedicated Tzu Chi volunteer who facilitated the connection, two full months of persistent persuasion to convince her that sharing the story could inspire others and spread positive energy throughout society. When media outlets eventually learned of the story, they highlighted Lee Young-ae’s deep affection for her Taiwanese fanbase. In a later interview on a Taiwanese entertainment program, she reflected on her international supporters, noting that while her Korean fans were incredibly loyal yet maintained a respectful distance, her Taiwanese fans showed extraordinary, passionate enthusiasm. She fondly recalled Taiwanese viewers traveling all the way to South Korea to visit her on the set of her hit historical drama Dae Jang Geum (Jewel in the Palace). This long-standing gratitude toward the Taiwanese people undoubtedly played a major role in her decision to rescue the stranded family.
A lifelong dedication to philanthropy defines an iconic career
This compassionate act in 2014 was far from an isolated incident in Lee Young-ae’s life; it reflects a lifelong commitment to humanitarian work and global philanthropy. Throughout her distinguished career, she has consistently quietly redirected her success toward helping marginalized communities and supporting educational initiatives. In 2006, moved by the educational hardships children in rural regions face, she made a substantial donation to Qibao Primary School in Langchuan Township, Chun’an County, Zhejiang Province, China. Her contribution revitalized the institution, leading local authorities to rename it “Lee Young-ae Primary School” in her honor. Just a year later, in 2007, she provided a generous development fund to the First Korean Middle School in Harbin, China, to improve facilities and support ethnic minority students.
Over the years, Lee Young-ae’s philanthropy has extended across borders to help victims of natural disasters, fund pediatric healthcare facilities, and support cultural preservation efforts. Her character perfectly embodies the classic Chinese proverb: “The appearance reflects the heart” (xiang you xin sheng). Her inner nobility, kindness, and strong sense of moral justice radiate effortlessly through her calm demeanor and timeless beauty. The public and media often call her an “Oxygen Beauty” because her presence feels as vital, refreshing, and comforting as pure air, bringing warmth, vitality, and peace to everyone around her.
Traditional virtues shine as a beacon of modern inspiration
Lee Young-ae’s artistry and personal morality reached a historic synthesis when she portrayed the extraordinary historical figure Seo Jang-geum in the widely acclaimed television drama Dae Jang Geum. Bringing to life the story of Joseon’s first female royal physician required far more than physical grace; it demanded deep character, resilience, and magnanimity. Lee Young-ae brought rare nuance and authentic grace to the role precisely because she shares the real-life heroine’s core virtues: unyielding integrity, profound kindness, and steadfast perseverance in the face of adversity. This dynamic was reciprocal; spending six months immersed in traditional Korean attire and inhabiting the mind of such a noble historical figure left a lasting mark on her own personal values.
In an increasingly fast-paced, individualistic modern world, Lee Young-ae’s selfless philanthropy remains a profound source of inspiration. Her quiet generosity, deep humility, and approachable nature embody the finest traditional virtues of empathy and mutual support. Like a brilliant jewel shining in the dark or a warm hearth during a harsh winter, her actions demonstrate the transformative power of human kindness. We owe a debt of gratitude to Lee Young-ae — not only for rescuing a vulnerable infant in her hour of need, but also for reminding humanity of the timeless beauty of selflessly helping others across cultural borders.
Translated by Eva and reviewed by Maria
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