Comedian Ahn Young-mi is stepping away from radio as she prepares to welcome her second child — and the "birth tourism" debate that erupted during her first delivery is flaring up again.
On the 21st, Ahn shared on her Instagram that she is going on maternity leave from MBC FM4U’s Two O’Clock Date with Ahn Young-mi. "I’ll deliver safely and come back healthy and strong," she wrote, expressing both the bittersweet feeling of a brief hiatus and excitement for what’s ahead.
The photo posted with her message shows Ahn heavily pregnant and beaming as she cradles her belly. Fans flooded the comments with support like "Wishing you a smooth delivery" and "Take good care and come back soon." Ahn is expecting to give birth to her second son in July.
However, the announcement also reignited curiosity over where she will give birth. In 2023, Ahn delivered her first son in the United States. At the time, she explained she chose the U.S. so she could experience the birth together with her husband, who was working there, but some still raised allegations of so-called birth tourism.
Back then, online speculation and criticism swirled around the circumstances of her first delivery. Her agency, Media Lab SISO, responded: "Ms. Ahn Young-mi temporarily halted her broadcasting activities to share the joy of childbirth with her husband, who resides and works in the United States," adding that they were considering legal action against false rumors and malicious comments.
This time, too, after Ahn announced her maternity leave, a portion of netizens questioned, "Is she going to deliver in the U.S. again?" Others countered with messages like "The mother and baby’s health should come first" and "It’s understandable to want the family together."
Meanwhile, Ahn married a non-celebrity who works at a foreign company in 2020. She welcomed her first son in 2023 and is now expecting her second.