Lee Hye-young to announce shock retirement from acting?

Sad news for Lee fans. Speculation had been rife that the Korean actress best known for her role in The Novelist's Film, will announce her retirement from acting, at age 63, with immediate effect.

UPDATE 21/05/2026 : This story seems to be false. (read more)

Being an actress isn't fun anymore

“As we get older, there are phases of life that we enter into, and being an actress just isn't fun anymore,” she might have said, says a source who remained anonymous. Other reports hinted that she may branch out into other creative fields she is better at (and more interested in), though they didn't provide any details.

#ThankYouHye-young

For a little while on Wednesday evening, #ThankYouHye-young was a trending hashtag on Twitter. As many fans reminisce and look back on all the unforgettable memories, some may wonder what about now made her make the decision.

“You’ve accomplished everything I ever dreamed of #ThankYouHye-young.”
— @DesireePlum, 20 May 2026

“Lee wasn't retired?”
— @borisB0, 20 May 2026

© 2026 MediaMass All rights reserved. Do not reproduce (even with permission).

Celebrity Central