Tang Wei, Han Da-gam, Choi Ji-woo spotlight pregnancy, childbirth in their 40s

From left, Tang Wei, Han Da-gam and Choi Ji-woo appear in stills from “Wonderland,” “Love at the End of the World” and “Sugar.” Courtesy of Acemkaer Movieworks, Storm Pictures Korea and The Message Film

A series of pregnancy announcements from celebrities in their 40s is offering welcome news in an aging society where marriage and childbirth are increasingly delayed, making pregnancy in one’s later years a more realistic option for many.

Chinese actress Tang Wei recently drew attention after announcing her second pregnancy at the age of 46. The news carried the nuance of an unexpected joy rather than a planned pregnancy, prompting discussion over the possibility of natural conception. For women in a similar age group, that has made the announcement read as a source of realistic hope.

Around the same time, other celebrities in their 40s, including Han Da-gam, born in 1980, and Kim Min-kyung, born in 1981, also shared news of their pregnancies. Han drew congratulations after revealing that she became pregnant after just one round of in vitro fertilization.

Though their paths may differ, from fertility treatment to possible natural conception, the announcements have struck a common chord: Pregnancy later in life is increasingly becoming part of the public conversation.

Actress Choi Ji-woo is another frequently cited case of late-age motherhood, having given birth to her first child at 46. She welcomed her daughter two years after marriage and later described herself as an “icon of late-age childbirth.”

In recent years, Choi has shared moments from her daily life with her now 5-year-old daughter, offering a natural portrait of raising a young child at 50.

In medical terms, women aged 35 and older are considered to be of advanced maternal age. After 40, pregnancy becomes more difficult not only due to higher risk of complications, but also because declining ovarian function lowers the chances of conception.

Yet advances in assisted reproductive technology, more accurate prenatal testing and better maternal care are changing the medical landscape, childbirth later in one's life has become more common, or at least more sustainable, than in the past.

Experts stress that the question is not simply whether a woman can become pregnant, but whether she can maintain the pregnancy safely and give birth without major complications. For older mothers, careful health management, regular checkups and lifestyle discipline are not optional extras, but essential conditions.

The recent wave of pregnancy announcements from celebrities feels especially welcome at a time when medical conditions and social expectations around later-life pregnancy are changing.

This article from the Hankookilbo, the sister publication of The Korea Times, is translated by a generative AI system and edited by The Korea Times.