A national debate has erupted in South Korea over celebrity conduct and non-traditional family structures following the revelation that actor Jung Woo-sung fathered a child with a woman to whom he is not married. The country’s conservative values are being challenged as 37% of people now believe it is acceptable to have a child outside marriage, with younger respondents increasingly less likely to take the traditional view.
Quotes from Public Figures
- “Perhaps a better society is one that accepts and respects such differences without judgment,” said Lee So-young, a member of the Democratic Party of Korea.
- “It makes one hope that celebrities having babies outside of marriage, like Jung and Moon, will help change the public view which today is against [such] births,” wrote Kyunghyang, a progressive major newspaper.
Statistics
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37% of people in South Korea believe it is acceptable to have a child outside marriage.
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Of those who said marriage was necessary, more than 72% were above the age of 60 – with younger respondents increasingly less likely to take that view.
The revelation that South Korean actor Jung Woo-sung fathered a child with a woman to whom he is not married has triggered a national debate over celebrity conduct and non-traditional family structures.
Jung, a 51-year-old A-lister in South Korea’s film industry, confirmed via his agency on Sunday that he is the father of 35-year-old model Moon Ga-bi’s newborn son. While Jung pledged to “fulfil his responsibilities” as the father, his silence on whether he plans to marry Moon drew fierce backlash in the conservative country where births outside marriage are seen as taboo.
Public Reaction
The online response was largely critical towards Jung, with many commentators expressing disappointment that the former United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees ambassador “can’t accept his own child.” Some commenters took issue with Jung’s decision to have a child outside marriage, while others defended him, noting a shift in South Korea’s attitudes towards diverse family structures.
Shift in Public Attitudes
A recent social survey by South Korea’s statistics agency found that 37% of people believed it was acceptable to have a child outside marriage – an almost 15% increase since 2012. Of those who said marriage was necessary, more than 72% were above the age of 60 – with younger respondents increasingly less likely to take that view.
Lawmakers Weigh In
Other lawmakers have defended Jung, with Lee So-young, a member of the Democratic Party of Korea, saying that “deciding to live with someone is a deeply personal and existential choice.” She added that “perhaps a better society is one that accepts and respects such differences without judgment.”
Kyunghyang, a progressive major newspaper, put out an editorial piece noting that while some voices have pushed for traditional values, “also rising is the voice that our society must think of the diverse shapes families take.” The editorial expressed hope that celebrities having babies outside of marriage, like Jung and Moon, will help change the public view which today is against [such] births.
Background
A recent scandal involving Jung Woo-sung, a well-known actor in South Korea, has sparked a national debate over celebrity conduct and non-traditional family structures.
Details of the Scandal
Jung Woo-sung confirmed via his agency that he is the father of 35-year-old model Moon Ga-bi’s newborn son. While Jung pledged to “fulfil his responsibilities” as the father, his silence on whether he plans to marry Moon drew fierce backlash in the conservative country where births outside marriage are seen as taboo.
Public Reaction
The public reaction has been largely critical towards Jung, with many commentators expressing disappointment that the former United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees ambassador “can’t accept his own child.” Some have also pointed out that Jung had previously presented himself as an ethical person, which has led to accusations of hypocrisy.
Defenses of Jung’s Decision
However, some progressive voices have defended Jung’s decision, noting a shift in South Korea’s attitudes towards diverse family structures. A recent social survey by South Korea’s statistics agency found that 37% of people believed it was acceptable to have a child outside marriage – an almost 15% increase since 2012.
South Korea has a notoriously high-pressure entertainment industry, with celebrities often held to inordinately high social standards and placed under extreme scrutiny.
