"Tears of the Mother Who Adopted 3-Year-Old Kim Jaejoong, Who Clung to Me Calling 'Mom, Mom'"

KBS 1TV ‘Achimmadang’ Tuesday Guest Appearance, Revealing the Reason for Adoption

The mother who adopted singer Kim Jaejoong recalled the first time she met her son and revealed the reason for the adoption.

Kim Jaejoong and his mother Yoo Mansoon appeared on the KBS1 program ‘Morning Yard’ Tuesday Invitation on the 24th, where they shared stories related to adoption. Kim Jaejoong was adopted into Yoo’s family, which had eight daughters, when he was three years old.

Singer and actor Kim Jaejoong (left) and his mother Yoo Mansoon. Screenshot from KBS 1TV 'Morning Yard'

Kim Jaejoong said, "I have eight older sisters and eight brothers-in-law. I have 13 nephews and nieces. Some of them have started getting married. If my nephews and nieces have children, I will become a grandfather."

Kim Jaejoong’s mother, Ms. Yoo, responded to the question, "I heard Kim Jaejoong is a child you embraced as your own. Do you remember your first meeting?" by saying, "I can never forget. A relative said, ‘She has her own circumstances, so try raising him,’ and brought him to me. At first, I said, ‘I have many children, so I’m not confident I can raise another,’” she said.

She continued, “When I saw the child, he was so pretty with bright, sparkling eyes and cute. I held him once, and he hugged me and called out ‘Mom, Mom.’ Those words touched my heart,” adding, “The moment I held him for the first time, I thought, ‘From now on, I will raise you as my son. How could I give you to someone else?’”

She added, “The child hugged my neck tightly and rubbed his face against me. I thought, ‘Well, even if I can’t raise you perfectly, let’s live together as best as we can.’”

Singer and actor Kim Jaejoong's mother, Yoo Mansoon. Photo by KBS 1TV 'Morning Yard' capture

Ms. Yoo shed tears, saying, “The child grew up so well and became a wonderful son who is very filial. There is no son more devoted than this.”

In response, Kim Jaejoong said, “I am grateful. Regardless of the reason, I think the most important thing is that she raised me healthily,” adding, “After appearing on ‘Pyeonstorang,’ many people asked questions. It’s such a natural thing, but they call me a filial son. I just appeared on the show naturally; there’s nothing special about it.”

Previously, Kim Jaejoong revealed on a broadcast that he was adopted into a family with eight daughters. Recently, he also appeared on KBS’s ‘Pyeonstorang’ and showed the happy life of a large family.

Meanwhile, according to the 2023 adoption statistics from the Ministry of Health and Welfare, the rate of international adoption is gradually declining, but last year, 79 children who could not find adoptive families domestically were adopted overseas.