"Why Criticize Jung Woo-sung... Korea's Social Standards Are Too High," BBC Criticizes Again

"Conservative on Extramarital Births... Strong Backlash"
"Perception Changing Mainly Among Younger Generations"
"Korean Entertainment Notorious for High-Pressure Business Practices"

Actor Jung Woo-sung (left). Model Moon Ga-bi (right). Jung Woo-sung, Moon Ga-bi Instagram

Amid the uproar following the revelation that actor Jung Woo-sung (51) and model Moon Ga-bi (35) have an extramarital child, the British public broadcaster BBC criticized the situation, stating that "excessively high social standards are being demanded of celebrities."

On the 27th (local time), the BBC reported on the scandal involving the extramarital child, saying, "A-list Korean film star Jung Woo-sung has acknowledged that he is the biological father of Moon Ga-bi's son." They added, "Although Jung promised to 'fulfill his responsibilities as a father,' he remained silent about marriage plans, drawing criticism," and noted that "this has sparked strong backlash in conservative Korean society, where extramarital births are taboo." However, they also pointed out that "some voices defending Jung Woo-sung have emerged, highlighting the increasingly diverse family structures."

The BBC then mentioned various opinions from netizens and comments from domestic politicians related to the controversy. First, they explained, "Online reactions to Jung Woo-sung have been mostly critical," and "many expressed disappointment regarding his role as a UN Refugee Agency goodwill ambassador for the past 10 years since 2014." They also introduced a comment stating, "Jung said he would fulfill all his duties, but a child does not grow up on money alone." Additionally, they reported a ruling party lawmaker's remark: "This is unthinkable in our society. No matter how much times change, Korea's traditions and public sentiment must be preserved."

Model Mungabi revealed that she gave birth to a son on the 22nd. Photo by Mungabi Instagram

On the other hand, the BBC also noted that Korean society is increasingly accepting diverse family forms and that public perception is shifting. Citing the results of the "2024 Social Survey" conducted by Statistics Korea, the BBC reported, "37% of respondents said they accept extramarital births, an increase of 15% since 2012." Furthermore, "the younger the respondents, the fewer believed that marriage is necessary," they added.

They also highlighted the opinion of Lee So-young, a member of the Democratic Party of Korea, who defended Jung Woo-sung's actions. Previously, Lee posted on her social media account, stating, "Deciding to live with someone is a personal and existential choice," and added, "Just because a child is born, it doesn't mean that regardless of the relationship, one must marry, bear cohabitation and support obligations, and live as a married couple. Somehow, it feels suffocating."

Finally, the BBC criticized, saying, "Korea holds celebrities to excessively high social standards. Entertainers are often subjected to extreme scrutiny," and "Korean entertainment is notorious for its high-pressure business environment. Jung Woo-sung's recent announcement reflects the reality of Korean society where personal choices clash with social expectations."