Actor Lee Da-hae addresses 'Chinese-style look' controversy: 'I work with local stylists there'

Actor Lee Da-hae, 42, who has been gaining popularity in China, addressed her styling choices amid online reactions that her appearance has taken on a distinctly "Chinese look."

Lee wrote on her social media Saturday that when working in China, she collaborates with local stylists, hair and makeup artists. "The staff who photograph me are all local, and in many cases I receive the photos already retouched," she said. She added, "Because of that, I sometimes discover a new side of myself that even I find unfamiliar."

"In the past, I thought it would be a disaster if I didn't have my usual hair and makeup team," Lee wrote. "But now I find it fun to work with new people and see myself change little by little."

She went on to say, "Rather than asking which country's style it is, I hope people will see it as the many different sides of me being expressed anew each time. Change is its own kind of fun."

The discussion was sparked by photos from a Singles' Day live-commerce broadcast Lee participated in Sunday in Hangzhou, China. Some online users said her appearance looked different from before and described it as a "Chinese style." While many noted it was natural for her look to reflect local trends given her long-standing popularity and appearances on Chinese television, others found the change striking enough to raise allegations of plastic surgery.

Lee first gained a wide following in China after the SBS drama series "My Girl" became a mega-hit there in 2008. She went on to study Chinese and took on lead roles in local productions, and remains a top-tier star in the country today. Most recently, she drew attention — and topped real-time search rankings in China — after photos showing no visible baby bump despite being heavily pregnant went viral.

Lee married singer Seven in 2023 after an eight-year relationship. She announced her pregnancy last May, three years into their marriage, and is expecting to give birth in November.