Despite announcing that he would pay monthly child support and actively discuss parenting with the biological mother, model Moon Gabi, not all voices are supportive, and there is still criticism.
The source of the controversy stems from the issue of marriage that always follows such scandals. The news of Jung Woo-sung fathering a child outside of marriage was revealed through Moon Gabi’s SNS on November 25th.
Moon Gabi, who had been inactive for four years, shared her status after experiencing a major life milestone—giving birth—but she did not explain the process. However, there seemed to be many unspoken stories behind her brief post. She didn’t mention the identity of the biological father, which raised further curiosity.
The uproar began when the identity of the biological father was revealed: it was none other than actor Jung Woo-sung. The news that Jung Woo-sung and Moon Gabi had a child together was a shocking and unexpected development. It was a combination that the public could not have imagined, and the media was unsure whether to refer to them as “former lovers” or “a couple”.
Jung Woo-sung confirmed the news through his agency Artist Company, stating that he had become the father of a child. He promised to pay monthly child support and to take responsibility for the child for life. He also vowed to discuss parenting with Moon Gabi.
However, the part of Jung Woo-sung’s statement that caught the media and public’s attention was the sentence, “I am the father, but I have no plans to marry.” The public was shocked not only by the fact that Jung Woo-sung had a child outside of marriage, but also by his stance on not planning to marry.
The news of “a top star’s child born out of wedlock” flooded online. The name of the actress who had previously dated Jung Woo-sung was mentioned again, and even an actress who was involved in a false dating rumor with him was linked to the “illegitimate child scandal” just because of her association with him.
This was just the beginning. Netizens began searching for information about Jung Woo-sung’s past relationships. Their investigative skills were remarkable. Evidence of Jung Woo-sung sending direct messages on his official SNS to beautiful women he had never met, as well as photos of him engaging in physical contact with ordinary women, quickly surfaced.
For decades, Jung Woo-sung had been synonymous with the handsome, charming leading man of the Korean film industry, but overnight, he was branded as a “playboy”. His child, whom he should have been congratulated for, became consumed in the scandal of his “womanizing” past.
Had Jung Woo-sung stated that he would marry Moon Gabi, the situation might have been very different. They would have been called “the entertainment industry’s ultimate plot twist couple”, and some might have even asked for an appearance on “The Return of Superman”.
The public, however, has focused solely on his refusal to marry Moon Gabi, forgetting the fact that he promised to take responsibility for raising his child. This reveals that Korean society is still trapped in the belief that children must be raised in a two-parent household.
Family structures are becoming more diverse. From multicultural families to single-parent families, the meaning of family in modern society is no longer confined to the large family units of the past. Families are evolving with the times, and this is a global phenomenon that has greatly expanded the definition of family.
The excessive criticism of Jung Woo-sung stems from the conservative view that childbirth, pregnancy and parenting must only happen within the framework of marriage. It reflects the prejudice against single-parent households, unmarried mothers and unmarried fathers.
No one, not even Moon Gabi, can force Jung Woo-sung to marry her. Marriage is an agreement between two people to formally commit to one another and bind their relationship legally. If one person does not want to marry, it is not possible. The opinions of third parties are even less relevant.
According to the first reports about Jung Woo-sung and Moon Gabi, they did not appear to be in a formal relationship when they had the child. It is an unconventional relationship, but their beginning was a private matter between a man and a woman, and their personal story should not be judged through societal norms.
What matters is that a child was born between them, and Jung Woo-sung has clearly promised to take responsibility for this child. The public should be more concerned about whether Jung Woo-sung can fulfill his duties as a father, rather than his past relationships. Supporting Moon Gabi, who had the courage to give birth to her child, and showing respect for the innocent, vulnerable child caught in the crossfire of this scandal would be a more appropriate approach.
Source: Daum