On the recent episode of TV Chosun's 'Joseon's Love', Hong Seok-cheon shared the heartfelt reason behind adopting his niece and announced her upcoming wedding.
As Hong Seok-cheon appeared on the show, the cast was surprised, asking, "Is Seok-cheon getting married?" However, he clarified that it was his adopted daughter's wedding news he was sharing.
Hong revealed, "I have a daughter and a son. After my younger sister's divorce, I adopted her children. Now, my first daughter is getting married," adding, "It's a moment to share what kind of life she has led and her dreams for the future."
Hong mentioned that his daughter's in-laws are from Busan and expressed his nervousness about meeting them, saying, "They've only seen me on TV, so the first meeting is nerve-wracking." He reflected on how he never thought marriage would be part of his life, but now his children are at the age to marry.
His daughter, Hong Joo-eun, 29, introduced herself as "Uncle's daughter" and shared that she is set to marry her boyfriend of two years. When asked by the production team why she calls him uncle despite him being her legal father, Joo-eun explained, "I've acknowledged him as my father for a long time. I'm not sure if he wants to be called 'Dad'. If he does, I can call him either uncle or dad."
Hong Seok-cheon explained the reason for adopting his niece, saying, "After my younger sister's divorce, she found a new love, but it was with someone she shouldn't have been with. She had to escape a bad situation with her kids."
He continued, "Once I learned about my sister's situation, I told her, 'Come up here, I'll take responsibility.' So she came with the kids at night," adding, "Family is special to me," as he teared up.
Hong admitted he hadn't initially considered adoption, but his sister's failed marriage and societal pressures influenced his decision. "There was a stigma against divorce in our family. My sister is a woman before she's a mother, and I worried the kids might become a burden in her new start for happiness," he confessed.
With changes in the law allowing uncles to adopt nieces, Hong told his sister, "If you find new love, go for it. I'll take care of the kids," leading to the adoption.
His daughter Joo-eun expressed, "From that day, my life changed completely. I gained psychological stability," and proudly stated she has no regrets about being adopted. Hong Seok-cheon, with a fatherly smile, said, "Without you, what would be the point of working and earning money?" Yet, he admitted feeling nervous about meeting the in-laws, saying, "I don't even get nervous meeting the president, but meeting the in-laws is nerve-wracking," drawing attention to his pre-wedding jitters.
By Eun Jung Kim, TenAsia Reporter eun@tenasia.co.kr