|
Korean star couple Cha In-pyo and Shin Ae-ra have adopted a baby girl. Married since 1995, the couple also have a seven-year-old son of their own. While celebrity couples not infrequently adopt, it is rare for couples with children of their own to do so.
¡°My pretty baby daughter keeps us busy. It¡¯s not a big deal that merits a compliment,¡± said Shin (36).
She says she gave birth to one child, but God has given her another in a different way. ¡°I thought it would be good to adopt a child who would otherwise have to make her way through the big wide world all by herself.¡± They named the baby Ye-eun, meaning ¡°the blessing of Jesus.¡±
The couple mulled adoption for a long time. The idea has its roots in Shin¡¯s unusual fondness of infants during her girlhood, when she used to bathe the babies next door. Shortly after getting married to Cha (38), she was busy as a volunteer taking care of children at orphanages and welfare centers, and soon made up her mind to adopt one of them. Cha agreed but doubted it would really happen.
¡°It was extremely hard for us to pick one out of so many children,¡± Cha says. ¡°The adoption made us ask the fundamental question by what right we choose a child¡¯s path of life.¡±
Shin also balked at the thought that by picking one, they were abandoning a host of others to an uncertain fate. But she came across Ye-eun three weeks ago while babysitting some 50 babies at the Social Welfare Society, a non-profit organization in Seoul. The round-faced baby in the cradle often came to her mind and even appeared in her dreams, so she finally sent a text message to her husband in the studio. ¡°The time came to adopt her.¡± Shin says, ¡°Since I was often told I and Ye-eun look alike, maybe I felt more attracted to her.¡±
Their son Jeong-min is excited to have a little sister. He went to school in the afternoon, vowing to boast it to his friends. ¡°Boy, he doesn¡¯t have any idea of the storms that lie ahead,¡± Shin laughs, saying Jeong-min may feel jealous if all his parents¡¯ love goes to the new baby.
When she grows up a little bit, the couple will tell Ye-eun that she was adopted, they say. ¡°She would find out on her own sooner or later, and it would be a bigger shock that we¡¯ve been trying to hide things from her,¡± Shin says. ¡°When she starts to understand speech, I¡¯ll tell her, ¡®You are a god-sent gift I received for my prayers.¡¯¡±
Since adoption is relatively rare in Korean society, didn¡¯t their parents object? Cha says it took no time for his parents and father-in-law to agree with them. Shin¡¯s mother, who died of stomach cancer last year, said, ¡°If you two insist, I agree.¡±
¡°Adoption is not an easy choice, but once I decided to share my love without asking anything from her in return, it became easy,¡± Shin says. And her husband adds, ¡°Preparing a nursery for Ye-eun was delightful and made me very happy. I¡¯m sorry I didn¡¯t think of such a pleasant thing earlier.¡± Shin plans to put her acting job on hold for some time to devote herself entirely to the baby.
(englishnews@chosun.com )
|
