Lee Bo Young sparks heated debate with assisted dying confession
Actress Lee Bo Young shocked fans with her candid remarks on assisted dying during her July 31 appearance on MBC FM4U’s Today’s Morning with Yoon Sang. The revelation came as she and co-star Lee Min Ki promoted their new K-Drama Mary Kills People.
The drama tackles euthanasia and assisted dying, topics rarely addressed in Korean TV. Lee said it might be the first Korean drama to confront this controversial issue.
Lee opened up about how a true story of an elderly couple who chose assisted dying deeply moved her and her husband, actor Ji Sung. The story made them consider the option for themselves in old age.
“I received the script in July of last year. At that time, I saw an article about an elderly couple overseas who chose assisted dying together, and my husband and I talked about it for a long time. I thought, ‘It’s not that bad.’ We felt that we could make this choice when we grow old, so that we don’t become a burden to our children.”
— Lee Bo Young
Lee stressed that she is not pushing for a right or wrong stance but wants to spark conversation. This mindset influenced her decision to take on the role.
Mary Kills People centers on Dr. Woo So Jeong (Lee Bo Young), who helps terminally ill patients with euthanasia despite its illegality in South Korea. Lee Min Ki plays detective Choi Hyeon Woo, a terminally ill man hunting her down.
The K-Drama premieres August 1, KST, on MBC.
