Actor Lee Si-young deleted a post after criticism followed her release of a "Born Art" photo of her 17-day-old second daughter, but she has drawn intense online attention by reposting a photo with the same concept 10 days later. Some praised her, saying "she stood by her convictions despite the controversy," while others reacted, "Was it necessary to reupload?", and a heated debate ensued.
#. On the 21st, she released a "Christmas Born Art" photo of her 17-day-old daughter…criticism sparked
On the 21st of last month, Lee Si-young posted on social media, "How about this year's Christmas ornament? Merry Christmas in advance," and released a Born Art video of her second daughter with a Christmas concept.
Born Art is a newborn photography method that shoots the baby in a pose close to the shape in the mother's womb between 7 and 21 days after birth. In the video, the child was dressed with a Santa hat and red swaddle and was sleeping soundly next to tree decorations and gift boxes.
But some netizens expressed discomfort, saying, "Calling a newborn an ornament is excessive," and "it feels like using the child as a decoration." On the other hand, there were many responses such as, "Born Art is a common newborn shoot," and "it's just a cute expression, people are being too sensitive."
As the controversy grew, Lee Si-young deleted the post after one day.
#. Ongoing debate…mixed reactions of "public figure responsibility vs. overinvestment"
Even after the photo was deleted, opinions online remained divided. Those saying a stance was necessary responded, "Since family and childcare issues keep coming up, a clear explanation is needed," and "since it was posted on a public social media account, she should have responsibility as a public figure." At the same time, there were responses that the demands were excessive: "It's a personal social account, demanding an official statement is going too far," "it's not a crime, yet there's a mood of attacking private life," and "Born Art itself is a trend, so why single out only Lee Si-young?"
Some analysts suggested that concentrated attention following post-divorce embryo transfer controversies had accumulated, and this Born Art controversy was also heavily consumed as a result.
#. And 10 days later…reposted Born Art photo: "direct confrontation?"
With the controversy unresolved, on the 30th Lee Si-young again uploaded a Christmas Born Art photo of her second daughter.
Lee Si-young posted, "Sikssik's Merry Christmas in advance. Christmas has come to our home too. A card and frame so pretty that I'll keep them forever. Thank you," and revealed the completed Born Art made into a Christmas card and frame. The image of her second daughter snugly wrapped among cards, frames and Christmas decorations displayed throughout the house drew attention again.
Responses remained mixed even after the reupload. Along with support such as, "You can feel the love for her daughter," "it's the parents' choice, why such excessive interference?", "reuploading after deletion shows conviction," and "it's admirable she isn't swayed by controversy," there were concerned reactions: "Was it necessary to repost?", "reuploading after the controversy could cause a bigger fallout," and "if you're a public figure you should be cautious about sensitive topics."
Some netizens reacted, saying, "Isn't this effectively a direct confrontation of the controversy?"
#. One Born Art photo raises the question…"what are the boundaries for public figures sharing private life?"
This controversy seems to have expanded beyond a single photo to a debate over the scope of celebrities' social media activity and the disclosure of private life. Responses included, "public figures should align their private lives with social standards," "social media is a personal space, the public's standards are more problematic," and "society is overly sensitive to parenting and childbirth issues." As opinions diverged widely, whether Lee Si-young will issue an official statement has also become a subject of interest.
The reupload after 10 days is being interpreted as more than simple daily sharing, resembling Lee Si-young's "stance without a stance" on the controversy. The dispute, arising from the mother's desire to record moments of her beloved daughter and the social standards demanded of public figures, seems likely to continue for the time being.
[Photo] OSEN DB, SNS
[OSEN]