[Side B] "Non-marital childbirth is also proud, so why must Korean women hide?" CEO Jeon Young-soon

Bearing Childcare Responsibility and Economic Burden
Endured Hard Times but Child Support Is a Great Help

In Japan, Parents Care Without Single Mother Facilities
Even Korean Parents Turn Away... To Childcare Centers

"People Raising Children Alone Should Be Respected"
Normal Family Frame... Need to Amend the Framework Act on Healthy Families First

CEO Jeon Young-soon (Provided by Korea Single Parents Association)

[Asia Economy Reporter Hyunju Lee] "At a time when some women are declaring that they will have children without getting married, I keep wondering why Korean women still have to hide the fact that they have children, why they have to hide like criminals when looking at recent incidents. I think the issues of perception and social views are still very significant."

Jeon Young-soon, the head of the Korea Single Parents Association, began her activism after becoming a single parent following her divorce in 2000. Although 20 years have passed since her divorce, she has not forgotten the overwhelming feelings she experienced at that time.

"I felt like I was the only one who had failed. But as I gathered and talked with others, I gradually realized that I was not the problem. I also came to understand that there were structural social issues involved. I realized that divorcing was not a bad thing if it meant living a happier life. My mindset changed a lot with the thought of respecting my own choice, and I think I was able to live more comfortably even while raising my child alone."

When Jeon divorced, her two children were both elementary school students. Although they did not have a difficult adolescence, she had to take on the parental role alone. Even though she had decided to raise the children by herself, she often wondered why she had to bear everything alone.

The most difficult part was having to solve economic problems alone along with child-rearing. Jeon sometimes worked with her children putting up flyers in their apartment. She even cried together with the security guard after being scolded. "I endured by working as a home tutor, sometimes working late into the night. It must have been very hard for the children to be left alone."

Jeon said she was fortunate to have fought a long legal battle to receive child support. She said, "Even a small amount of child support made the children feel that their father was still doing something for us," adding, "It plays a big role emotionally and makes it easier for the non-custodial parent to maintain a relationship with the child."

On October 10th, members of the Korea Single Parents Association watched the movie "Precious" together. Group photo after the screening (Provided by Korea Single Parents Association)

Jeon has been active in the Korea Single Parents Association since its establishment in 2004, serving as co-representative in 2012 and re-elected as representative in 2016. She pointed out that our society is particularly prejudiced.

"In Japan, there are no facilities for single mothers because the atmosphere is that single parents are all taken care of at home. They don’t have to hide outside to have children. In Korea, even if the parents are financially stable, many children go to childcare facilities. Parents don’t accept them because they feel ashamed. If someone got pregnant while dating a boyfriend but decided to have and raise the child without marrying, shouldn’t they be truly respected and supported?"

Jeon expressed concern that the recently announced government 'Protected Birth System' might actually promote negative perceptions. The Protected Birth System is a policy that keeps the biological mother’s identity confidential when registering a birth. She explained, "Even now, if a mother does not want her information disclosed when a child is adopted, it is not disclosed," adding, "Trying to help women keep hiding only acknowledges the prejudice." She emphasized, "It seems like they think people fear revealing their identity because of birth registration, but the real issue is perception and social views."

The scene of a campaign for Single-Parent Family Day. (Provided by Korea Single-Parent Family Association)

Where should the change in perception begin? Jeon says the definition of family embedded in the Framework Act on Healthy Families must be revised. The Framework Act defines family as "the basic unit of society formed through marriage, blood relations, or adoption." Under current law, if a family breaks down or is formed through other means, it is considered deviant, problematic, and unhealthy according to the norm. This leads directly to discrimination.

Jeon said, "No matter who you live with or what form your family takes, society should respect that as it is," adding, "Instead of responding with 'You gave birth to a child, so you should raise it,' I hope society and the state will take an interest in people raising children and look at them without biased views."