Actor Jang Mi-in-ae. Provided by Yonhap News

Actor Jang Mi-in-ae, who previously declared retirement from the entertainment industry amid allegations of habitual propofol use and various controversies, has signaled a new path after becoming a mother.

On the 3rd, through her social networking service (SNS), Jang Mi-in-ae shared her thoughts, saying, “I was actually an actress. But after I became a mother, my baby came before me, and then at some point I realized I had been living forgetting the person called ‘me’.”

She continued, “I got my nails done for the first time in five years, and who knew that could make me feel so good. Saying, ‘Ah, right. I used to like things like this,’ I am gradually meeting the me I had forgotten again,” revealing a change in how she feels.

She went on, “In fact, for over the past year I prepared my own brand,” and disclosed the difficulties she faced: “I learned the work while traveling back and forth to distant places and even created a corporation, but right before bringing it out into the world I had to put it all down for various reasons, and the names I had come up with ultimately could not be registered.”

Even so, she said, “Now I plan to rethink and create the brand name again from the beginning. Rather than trying to start only when perfectly prepared and ending up never starting, it is much better to start again,” and asked, “Please watch me as I change going forward, slowly, by my side.”

News of this new start by Jang Mi-in-ae drew even more public attention because of the tumultuous history of controversies she has experienced.

Debuting in 2003 with the MBC sitcom ‘Nonstop 4’ and gaining recognition through appearances in ‘Soulmate’ and ‘Missing You,’ Jang Mi-in-ae was brought to trial in 2013 on charges of habitual propofol use. At the time, she strongly denied the habitual-use charges, saying it had been prescribed due to the pain of procedures, but the court did not accept this and sentenced her to eight months in prison, suspended for two years. Because of this case, she received a ban on appearances on terrestrial broadcasters, putting a major brake on her activities.

After a six-year hiatus, in 2019 she attempted a surprise return with the KBS 2TV drama ‘Neighborhood Lawyer Jo Deul-ho 2: Crime and Punishment,’ but it did not lead to follow-up projects. Rather, she was in the headlines day after day over things such as exposing sponsor proposals via social media and rumorslater found to be groundlessof working at an adult entertainment venue.

Eventually, in March 2020, she harshly criticized the government COVID-19 livelihood support policy and engaged in heated arguments with internet users, and in the end she suddenly announced her retirement, saying, “I see that what I want to say can be attacked like this. I am truly fed up once again. I will no longer work as an actor in Korea.”

Afterward, having stepped away from the public eye, in May 2022 Jang Mi-in-ae was once again at the center of attention when, via social media, she shared news of her pregnancy and revealed she was in a relationship with an older businessman with marriage in mind. With her declaration of a turn to business coming about four years after suspending activities, public interest is once again focusing on her.