The Reason Jung Woo-sung's Son Is Not Stigmatized as an Illegitimate Child... Kim Hee-kyung Says "It Promotes Prejudice"

"Illegitimate child, a term that gives the perception of abnormality"

Former Vice Minister of Gender Equality and Family Kim Hee-kyung criticized referring to a child born out of wedlock between actor Jung Woo-sung and model Moon Ga-bi as a "child born out of wedlock," saying, "In the past, it was necessary to legally establish the father due to inheritance and parental rights issues, but nowadays, scientific proof is all possible through genetic testing," and added, "The term 'child born out of wedlock' is an unnecessary expression."

On the 3rd, on MBC Radio's 'Kim Jong-bae's Focus,' former Vice Minister Kim pointed out, "If an explanation of the context is needed, like in this (Jung's controversy), a simple explanation such as 'a son born to an unmarried state' would suffice, but we should not stigmatize the child as a 'child born out of wedlock' just to save a few characters."

Actor Jung Woo-sung (left) and model Moon Ga-bi. Instagram

She then proposed using expressions like "children" or "kids" instead of "child born out of wedlock."

Former Vice Minister Kim said, "All children should simply be called children," adding, "The term 'child born out of wedlock' gives the perception that the child was born outside of a normal family and is therefore abnormal. It is a term that fosters prejudice against the child and places a negative stigma, so it should not be used."

She expressed concern, saying, "According to current law, not only Jung's child but also children born to common-law relationships or unmarried cohabiting couples are all considered children born out of wedlock," and added, "As long as such laws remain, children born into various family forms can be heavily stigmatized with discriminatory labels."

She continued, "There can be various ways men and women form unions, but regardless of how a child is born, the standard is clear. We just need to think with the child at the center," emphasizing, "If we ensure that children can grow up without discrimination and receive equal support whether in a legal marriage or not, all these issues can be resolved."