South Korean actress Chae Rim embraces single motherhood and island life after divorce

The 45-year-old actress appeared on SBS’s show "Because I Am Single" on Nov. 5, revealing that she has been living on the island for the past two years. Her son, Min Woo, now attends school there, and they frequently spend time on the beach swimming, catching crabs, and cooking meals over a campfire.

Chae expressed satisfaction with their nature-centered lifestyle, saying the island life has been positive for both her and her son, allowing her to devote her full attention to Min Woo with no plans to return to city life.

South Korean actress Chae Rim. Photo courtesy of Chae's Instagram

During the program, Chae shared that she had initially cut ties with her ex-husband, Ziqi, preventing Min Woo from seeing him. However, in April, she reconnected with Ziqi for her son’s sake, saying, "For me, my relationship with Ziqi is over, but for our son, it can’t be." She added that Ziqi had once thanked her for raising their son well.

She admitted that single motherhood can be tough, especially when answering Min Woo’s questions about his father. Recently, she told him that Ziqi would show them around during a future visit to China. Overjoyed, Min Woo asked, "Why is dad Chinese, and did he live with us before?" Chae confessed that these questions often bring up strong emotions.

Chae married Ziqi in 2014 and initially moved to China with him. After signs of marital trouble, she returned to South Korea with her son, and the couple officially divorced in 2020. Since then, Chae has focused on her business selling beauty and baby products, stepping away from acting.

She rose to fame in the early 2000s with popular dramas like "All about Eve," co-starring Jang Dong Gun, as well as "Four Sisters," "Love at the Aegean Sea," and "Warriors of the Yang Clan." Before her marriage to Ziqi, Chae was married to South Korean singer Lee Seung Hwan for three years.