Singer Lee Soo-young Steps Down from Radio Show After Son's Leukemia Diagnosis

Summary Beloved South Korean singer Lee Soo-young has announced a temporary departure from her long-running radio program to care for her teenage son, who has been diagnosed with leukemia. The veteran artist shared the deeply personal news directly with her listeners, asking for prayers and understanding as her family navigates an intense treatment schedule. On October 5, Lee posted a heartfelt message on the official bulletin board of her daily noon show, CBS Music FM's 'Meet at 12 with Lee Soo-young.' In the post, she explained that her son, currently in his third year of middle school (around 14 to 15 years old), suddenly fell ill just before the Chuseok holiday. Following hospital examinations, he was diagnosed with acute T-cell lymphoblastic leukemia and immediately admitted for specialized medical care. "Right now, he has begun treatment and is enduring it bravely," Lee wrote. She elaborated on her difficult choice to pause her career, noting that the expected treatment timeline is extensive and involves intensive chemotherapy in its initial phase, requiring constant bedside vigilance. "As a mother, I realized this is a time when I must protect and stand by my child so he can overcome this challenging treatment process. It was a difficult decision, but right now, my child needs me most." Lee Soo-young is one of South Korea's most iconic ballad vocalists, having dominated the domestic music charts throughout the early and mid-2000s with sweeping orchestral ballads and emotive storytelling. Beyond her recording legacy, she has enjoyed a beloved second chapter as a warm, comforting presence on the radio waves. In Korean broadcasting culture, radio DJs often develop unusually tight-knit, familial relationships with their audience, serving as daily companions during commutes and lunchtime routines. Having helmed 'Meet at 12' for roughly nine years since 2017, Lee's sudden hiatus has touched listeners nationwide. Lee married an office worker ten years her senior in October 2010 and welcomed her son the following year. Concluding her statement, she asked listeners to join her in praying for her son's recovery, expressing her hope to return to the broadcast booth in good health and high spirits once the crisis has passed.