Baek Byung-yeul is a journalist at The Korea Times focused on cultural content, including films and cultural events in South Korea. You can contact him at baekby@koreatimes.co.kr to share your insights.
Jung Woo-sung addresses out-of-wedlock child, vows to fulfill fatherly duties
Actor Jung Woo-sung poses during a red carpet ceremony event of the 60th Baeksang Arts Awards at the COEX convention center in Seoul, May 7. Newsis
By Baek Byung-yeul
Actor Jung Woo-sung publicly addressed, for the first time, his out-of-wedlock child with model Moon Ga-bi, pledging to take full responsibility as a father and remain committed to his parental duties.
"I sincerely apologize for causing concerns and disappointment to all those who have shown me love and expectations," the 51-year-old actor said during the 45th Blue Dragon Film Awards at KBS Hall in Seoul, Friday.
"I will bear all criticism. As a father, I will fulfill my responsibilities to my son until the end," he said, his voice breaking with emotion.
The actor has been at the center of controversy since it was revealed on Nov. 24 that he is the father of Moon's recently born son. Later, unconfirmed information and photos related to his private life were leaked, sparking speculation that he might skip one of Korea's most prestigious film festivals.
One of the most prominent actors in Korea, Jung has seen his squeaky-clean and philanthropic image tarnished by the scandal. While some have expressed understanding, others have criticized his decision not to marry Moon, sparking a public debate about societal norms and expectations for celebrities.
Jung took the stage to accept the Audience Choice Award for Most Popular Film for "12.12: The Day," a movie released last year in which he starred as the lead.
The film, a fictionalized account of the military coup led by dictator Chun Doo-hwan in 1979, attracted over 13 million viewers. In the movie, Jung portrayed a general of the Capital Security Command who opposes the coup.
Actor Hwang Jung-min won the Best Actor award for his portrayal of Chun Doo-gwang, commander of the Defense Security Command, a character inspired by Chun Doo-hwan, who led the military coup and later ascended to the presidency. The movie also won the Best Film award.
Standing on stage with a somber expression, Jung expressed his gratitude for the award, acknowledging the support of many movie fans that made it possible. He explained that he attended the event to avoid placing any burden on the colleagues who worked with him on the project.
"I sincerely thank all the audiences who watched '12.12: The Day,'" Jung said. "I stand here today hoping that my personal matters will not leave a stain on the film, for the sake of all those involved in '12.12: The Day.'"