Public Outcry Over Jung Woo-sung's Extramarital Child Sparks Debate on Hypocrisy

The news of actor Jung Woo-sung (정우성), 51, having an extramarital child has reignited discussions about his past humanitarian efforts, particularly his advocacy for refugees. Critics are questioning the sincerity of his commitment to social issues, suggesting that his decision to leave his biological child to grow up outside of his care contradicts his previous statements about supporting refugees.

On November 25, various online communities began sharing posts that revisited Jung's past comments and activities related to refugee support. The sentiment expressed in these posts is that while Jung has been vocal about the need to accept refugees, his choice to not take responsibility for his own child is seen as hypocritical.

Netizens reacted strongly, with comments such as, "A person who doesn't take responsibility for his own child has only been using refugees to build his image," and "It’s hypocritical to embrace refugees while neglecting his own child." Notably, Jeong Yu-ra (정유라), the daughter of Choi Seo-won (최서원, formerly known as Choi Soon-sil), also criticized Jung, stating, "He talks about accepting refugees but won’t even bring his own child into his home."

Jung Woo-sung has been a prominent advocate for refugee rights, serving as a goodwill ambassador for the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) since 2015. He has consistently called for humanitarian solutions to refugee issues. In a 2016 appearance on JTBC's Non-Summit (비정상회담), he expressed his surprise when asked why refugees should be helped, stating, "There are many people in need around us, and refugees are among them."

During discussions, when a panelist from a country that had accepted refugees argued against unconditional support, Jung passionately recounted the story of a mother of five he met in Lebanon, whose husband had died in a bombing. He emphasized the need for refugees to have dignity and the desire to work and support their families, countering the notion that they become complacent due to aid.

Jung has maintained that South Korea has the capacity and willingness to accept refugees who risk their lives to flee their countries. However, he unexpectedly resigned from his position as a UNHCR goodwill ambassador in July, citing ongoing political attacks that distorted his intentions. He stated, "The refugee issue is something we must address for the future of humanity."

Regarding his future plans, Jung mentioned his intention to return to acting and to continue advocating for marginalized issues in society. Following reports that model Moon Ga-bi (문가비) recently gave birth to his son, Jung's representatives confirmed that he is indeed the child's father and that they are discussing the best approach for raising the child, assuring that he will take full responsibility as a father.

According to Dispatch, which first reported the news, Moon informed Jung of her pregnancy in June of last year, and she gave birth to their son in March. The two reportedly became close after meeting at an event in 2022, but they were not in a formal relationship and have no plans to marry.