Paternity laws

[eyego]

Isn't it a little strange that absolutely no one on the show was aware of the laws regarding adoption etc?
I certainly am not up on all the laws here in the US, but that seems like such a basic law that more people would be familiar with it.

[Soju]

Sang-min's lawyer said that a Paternal Recognition suit is rare. Maybe it's one of those laws that people think they know all about, but really don't. Often happens in the USA; I wouldn't expect Korea to be any different in that regard.

[c]

u r so right soju.i think the charcters on the show believe that b/c south korea is a modern,westernize country that their laws must be cuurent with the feelings of the younger generation.the same can be said for most us sate laws.u'd be surprised how many laws r still "on the books",never removed, that we technically break each & every day.

[petirrojo]

I'm wondering if the laws in Korea in this area are undergoing a change (or have recently changed), which would allow for a possible happy ending.

Anybody know anyone with legal contacts in Korea?

[Soju]

As they've said on the show, the law is being contested, but I think it's still in effect. Maybe they'll keep the show running in Korea until the law is changed, so they can have a happy ending.

I posted a few links a while back, in deiner.proboards18.com/index.cgi?board=handkerchief&action=display&thread=1062637423

[Knov1]

I'm a little behind on the subject but ...

Soju, you bring up something that I had been wondering about. This isn't the first drama to have a paternity law issue come up in the story recently so I was thinking that they must be doing this on purpose to raise awareness in an attempt to change the laws. I guess that's the case. It's not surprising to me because this isn't the first, and probably won't be the last, issue to come up in a TV drama in an effort to raise awareness about it.

[MJ]

This isn't the first drama to have a paternity law issue come up in the story recently so I was thinking that they must be doing this on purpose to raise awareness in an attempt to change the laws. I guess that's the case. It's not surprising to me because this isn't the first, and probably won't be the last, issue to come up in a TV drama in an effort to raise awareness about it.

Actually, there are currently 2 daily dramas in Korea, one of them being YH, that protray the story of single mothers and how they fight for custody of their kids. The other daily drama is by Korea's MBC. The funny thing is both shows have actor Jo Min Ki (Young Joon) in them, and his roles in them are quite similar as far as I know (falling in love with the single mothers). So the answer to your question is YES! I think the media and TV stations are trying to raise awareness about this law, and hopefully effect a change in this age old law.

Also, I don't know if they air the KBS drama WIFE in your area. WIFE just ended in Korea a few months ago. Though the storyline was different, the same paternity law was brought up several times as well.

From my reading last month, a bill to abolish the current Hoju system and to replace it with an individual registration system was drafted. The draft revision would be put to public notice before it was sent to the National Assembly sometime this month (not sure as of now if it has been sent yet). If the bill passes through the National Assembly, the Hoju system is expected to be replaced with the individual registration system by as early as 2006.

Children of divorced or remarried families will be allowed to change their original surnames to their stepfather or mother’s surname if the family court orders them to do so. In addition, children can take their mother’s surname if both the mother and father agree. But the bill states that children, in principle, will still use the surnames of their fathers.

However, this government plan is likely to face fierce protests from traditionalists, who still prefer sons over daughters and are accustomed to having their family lineage succeeded by male children.

[JadeEyes]

Yes, Wife is airing currently on kbc28 in Chicago. It debuted here not long ago.

I do think YH is trying to serve as a platform here and there for raising awareness on a number of social issues---taking a progressive position, which I give them credit for. The US dramas, both daytime and primetime do some of this too.

Jade

[jenny]

Does anyone know if this show is causing an uproar over in Korea? Since this seems to be a controversial subject, are there people boycotting the show, or trying to get it off the air (maybe these traditionalists)? I know it is very popular, but even I was surprised by how risque the subject matter was compared to all of the other dramas I've seen.