Actress Yoon Yeo-jeong's public acknowledgment of her eldest son's sexual orientation has garnered support and admiration from Nah Jong-ho, a psychiatry professor at Yale University in the United States.
On the 20th, Professor Nah shared on his Facebook, "If asked to name the bravest celebrity in Korea, I would not hesitate to mention Hong Seok-cheon," referring to the actor's groundbreaking coming out in 2000. "The fact that not a single famous celebrity has followed in his footsteps since then speaks volumes," he wrote.
He then mentioned Yoon Yeo-jeong's recent interview with foreign media, where she disclosed her son's homosexuality, expressing his respect for her courage.
Professor Nah noted, "As Ms. Yoon pointed out, Korean society is incredibly conservative. While living in the US might make one wonder what the big deal is, I fully understand that it requires immense bravery to confront these issues in a society that is not as accepting."
In a recent interview ahead of the Hollywood movie 'The Wedding Banquet' release, Yoon Yeo-jeong revealed, "My eldest son is gay."
She shared, "My son came out in 2000, and when New York legalized same-sex marriage, we held his wedding there. It remained a secret in Korea, so the whole family traveled to New York," adding, "I now love my son's partner even more."
Yoon Yeo-jeong mentioned that her personal life influenced her decision to participate in 'The Wedding Banquet,' stating, "Korea is a very conservative country where people do not openly disclose their homosexuality, even in front of their parents. However, having a gay son, I shared our experiences through this film."
She added, "I'm not sure what the reaction will be when I return to Korea. I hope Korea will be more open-minded."
Yoon Yeo-jeong married singer Cho Young-nam in the United States in 1975 and raised two sons after their divorce in 1987.
The son mentioned in the interview graduated from the prestigious Columbia University and worked for the ABC News team in the United States.
'The Wedding Banquet,' featuring Yoon Yeo-jeong, is a film about two immigrant gay couples planning a sham marriage, leading to a series of comedic events. It is a remake of the original film by Taiwanese director Ang Lee, reimagined by Korean-American director Andrew Ahn. Yoon Yeo-jeong plays the role of Min's grandmother. The film also stars Han Ki-chan, Lily Gladstone, Kelly Marie Tran, and Joan Chen, among others, raising questions about cultural identity and the meaning of family for immigrants.
(SBS Entertainment News | Kim Ji-hye)