Family Forum / Parenting / Adoption / April 2004

http://times.hankooki.com/lpage/culture/200404/kt2004042519070311680.htm

Celebrity Foster Mom
SBS-TV Program Intended to Encourage Domestic Adoption


By Han Eun-jung
Staff Reporter
For the past four weeks, audiences across the nation watched big screen leading
lady Chon Do-yun cradle baby boy Son-kyu in her arms. As Chon fed, diapered,
and bathed him, he so preciously cooed back at her. Anybody could have easily
mistaken Chon for the baby's mother.

But wait a minute _ Chon, the star of ``Untold Scandal,'' is single and never
did media headlines flash news of pregnancy or birth. What is going on here?

Chon was taking part in ``Sarangui Witakmo (Celebrity Foster Mom),'' a new
addition to SBS's ``I Like Sunday's'' that was brought to audiences for the
first time five weeks ago.

Just as the title implies, an orphan is placed in the care of a high-profile
celebrity. The two spend approximately two weeks together and the taping is
aired over a total of four episodes.

In the first episode, Chon met little orphan Son-kyu and those tuning in at
home watched as the two bonded.

Chon took the boy in her arms and looked after him just as any mother would. In
no time the two were inseparable as they embarked upon a special two-week
journey. Then, shown in the fourth and final episode, Chon takes Son-kyu to the
airport where he is to leave for his new permanent home.

Those tuning in at home see a side of movie star Chon they have never seen
before. With eyes red from all the crying, Chon hands a journal to the
caretaker who is to accompany Son-kyu on the plane. The caretaker opens the
journal to find entries handwritten by Chon explaining Son-kyu's eating and
sleeping habits. The caretaker gives Chon her word that the journal will be
given to Son-kyu's parents upon arrival and with that, their 14-day
relationship ends.

``The corner is intended to encourage domestic adoption,'' producer Yu Yun-jae
explains. ``The number of children adopted within the country comes nowhere
close to the number sent overseas.''

Known to the rest of the world as the ``leading orphan export nation,'' South
Korea ranked number one when it came to sending children overseas. It was only
a few years ago that South Korea dropped to third place. In 2003, 2,287
children were sent abroad whereas the number of domestic adoptions stood at a
mere 1,244, according to the Ministry of Health and Welfare.

``Even when children are put into the homes of Korean families, the fact that
the child was adopted is in more cases kept a secret from the child. The
importance of `open adoption' is something that the corner also emphasizes.''
Yu added.

Open adoption and secretive adoption are just two of the many adoption-related
issues that viewers are informed of through the show. Social workers provide
statistics about adoption and parents who have adopted in real life give words
of advice.

Kang Young-nim, domestic adoption field director at the Social Welfare Society,
feels that `Celebrity Mom' can be of great help in changing the whole attitude
our community has on adoption.

``The Korean society greatly emphasizes blood relationships which is what
causes the hesitation and fear to adopt,'' Kang said. ``With their own eyes,
viewers will realize that our precious children are being sent to North
American or European countries when they could always be provided homes here.''

Another main issue Kang addresses in the program is the best interest of the
children. ``There is always the fear the children will be exploited. The first
show of its kind, as long as `Celebrity Foster Mom' is well aware that the
interest of the child should be the top priority at all times, it can be a
helpful way to promote adoption.''

Part two of the show began Sunday, following singer Um Jung-ah as she becomes a
foster parent for sweet Su-jin.

``I Like Sundays'' airs on SBS weekly on Sundays at 6 p.m.


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A good friend will come and bail you out of jail . . . but, a true friend will
be sitting next to you saying, "Damn . . . that was fun!"
-----Unknown