South Korean Celebrity Couple Shin Ae Ra And Cha In Pyo Pursue Philanthropy In California
Korean actress Shin Ae Ra made her acting debut in 1898. Since she started, Shin has played several roles for a number of television drama series such as "Love in Your Arms" and "Bad Housewife."
Tagged as one of the top Korean actors, Cha In Pyo on other hand, starred in Korean series including "Endless Love," "Hong Kong Express," "Big Thing," and a lot more.
Shin and Cha tied the knot in 1995. Aside from having a son of their own, the South Korean couple also adopted two girls. They named their first adopted Ye Eun, which means "the blessing of Jesus," as reported by Soompi on January 18, 2007.
"My pretty baby daughter keeps us busy. It's not a big deal that merits a compliment," said Shin.
She went on, "I thought it would be good to adopt a child who would otherwise have to make her way through the big wide world all by herself."
On the other hand, Cha revealed that it was not easy for them to choose on whom to adopt out of many children.
"It was extremely hard for us to pick one out of so many children," he said. "The adoption made us ask the fundamental question by what right we choose a child's path of life."
In 2008, the couple decided to adopt another child and welcomed Ye Jin in the family.
The couple, along with their three children, are now in California as Shin and Cha pursue philantrophy "toward everything from social welfare to the rights of North Korean refugees," Korea Times reported on Tuesday.
"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 [married woman]," Shin tells Korea Times. "In Korea, a lot of people recognize us, but here the kids can go to parks and run around."
The South Korean actress frequently visits Southern California Korean churches advocating adoption and fostering children. Aside from that, she is also regular benefactor to KFAM's Korean Foster Family Initiative.
