“Jeong Woo-sung Extramarital Child Controversy Sparks National Debate”… UK BBC Reports on Strict Korean Society Toward Celebrities [What IS]

The UK BBC reported on the heated aspects of actor Jung Woo-sung’s private life.

On the 27th (local time), the BBC covered the “non-marital childbirth” issue of Jung Woo-sung and model Moon Ga-bi, reporting that “The extramarital child scandal of a Korean star has sparked national controversy.” The BBC conveyed the divided public opinion, saying that “In a conservative country that considers extramarital childbirth a taboo, it has faced strong backlash, but there are also views defending Jung Woo-sung in light of the various changes in Korea’s family structure.”

The BBC stated that “The response to Jung Woo-sung, widely known in Korea for his rich film career, was generally critical” and listed criticisms against him.

On the other hand, there are opinions that “Korean society should break free from existing traditional views and accept various forms of families,” citing recent statistics.

The BBC highlighted a recent social survey by the Korea Statistics Office, which revealed that 37% of respondents think it’s okay to have children without getting married, an increase of nearly 15 percentage points since 2012, and over 72% of those who said marriage is necessary were over 60 years old. The BBC also mentioned the position of Democratic Party member Lee So-young, who expressed her views on social media.

Earlier, Representative Lee So-young stated, “The idea that you must marry and become a couple with obligations after having a child, regardless of the relationship with the partner, is suffocating,” adding, “I cannot agree with making the decision to marry or not subject to criticism and judgment.”

It continues, “Is it okay if I divorce after having children and getting married?

I grew up without knowing the face of my father, let alone taking care of the upbringing, as my parents divorced when I was very young.

If my parents who did not love each other stayed together, would I have been happier?

That’s an area where outsiders cannot speak freely,” she said.

Furthermore, the BBC noted, “Korea is infamous for its severe pressure on the entertainment industry,” adding, “Celebrities often face extreme scrutiny under excessively high social standards,” pointing out the characteristics of Korean society’s high moral standards for entertainers. Meanwhile, it became a hot topic recently when it was revealed that Jung Woo-sung is the biological father of Moon Ga-bi’s child.

Park Se-yeon 기자 psyon@edaily.co.kr