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Shin Ae-ra supports KFAM foster family initiative

October 6, 2015

Shin Ae-ra attends a fundraising gala put on by Korean American Family Services Wednesday inside the LA Hotel Downtown. (Choi Kyung-geun/Korea Times)

By The Korea Times Los Angeles staff

South Korean actress Shin Ae-ra is famous for a lot of things: for her roles in beloved television dramas like “Love In Your Arms” and “Bad Housewife,” for being the wife of top actor Cha In-pyo, and for their combined philanthropy toward everything from social welfare to the rights of North Korean refugees.

But as of 2008, another title — “mother,” to two adopted girls, Cha Ye-eun and Cha Ye-jin — has commonly followed her name.

Shin attended an annual fundraising gala, “Heart of the Community,” put on by Korean American Family Services Wednesday inside the LA Hotel Downtown.

Shin and Cha, along with their children Ye-eun, Ye-jin and their oldest son, Jung-min, became new transplants to Orange County last July.

“I’m pursuing a master’s degree and taking care of the kids, driving them places. I’m spending my days as a normal ahjumma,” she told the Korea Times. “In Korea, a lot of people recognize us, but here the kids can go to parks and run around.”

The actress is in the midst of her studies in psychology and family ministry. She’s a frequent sight at Southern California Korean churches, where she promotes both adoption and fostering children.

She and Cha took in their two daughters when they were each one-month- and three-month-olds.

“I’m thankful every day that such beautiful children could join our family, and through them I’ve learned and feel many things about what family happiness is,” Shin said.

She’s been a regular donor to KFAM’s Korean Foster Family Initiative.

Shin said it saddened her to hear about the 60 or so Korean children taken in by county children services in Los Angeles and Orange County.

“I’m confident that, through providing a foster home, people will be able to learn important values, even if it’s difficult to raise a child that’s not theirs and takes courage,” she said.