Shin Ae-ra (born March 7, 1969) is a South Korean actress. She made her acting debut in 1989, and has since played leading roles in television dramas such as ''Love in Your Arms'' and ''

Bad Housewife ''Bad Housewife'' (불량주부, ''Bullyang jubu'') is a 2005 Korean drama series, produced by Yoo In-shik and Jang Tae-yoo and directed by Yoo In-sik and Jang Tae-yu. The series has Son Chang-min, Shin Ae-ra and Yuko Fueki in leading roles. Th ...

''. She married actor

Cha In-pyo Cha In-pyo (; born October 14, 1967) is a South Korean actor and director. Early life Cha graduated from Rutgers University in the U.S. with a degree in economics. His father ran a shipping company and had intended for Cha to take over the f ...

in 1995, and the couple gained widespread approval and respect from the Korean public for being philanthropists. They are active

volunteer Volunteering is a voluntary act of an individual or group freely giving time and labor for community service. Many volunteers are specifically trained in the areas they work, such as medicine, education, or emergency rescue. Others serve ...

s at orphanages and welfare centers, as well as generous donors to causes such as the fight against child abuse and

school violence School violence includes violence between school students as well as attacks by students on school staff. It encompasses physical violence, including Fistfighting, student-on-student fighting, corporal punishment; Psychological abuse, psychologica ...

, rights for

North Korean refugees Since the division of Korea after the end of World War II, North Koreans have fled from the country in spite of legal punishment for political, ideological, religious, economic, moral, personal, or nutritional reasons. Such North Koreans are re ...

, and humanitarian aid to underprivileged children (particularly in North Korea and Uganda), often working with the organizations

Compassion International Compassion International is an American child sponsorship and Christian humanitarian aid organization headquartered in Colorado Springs, Colorado, that aims to positively influence the long-term development of children globally who live in pov ...

and the Social Welfare Society. Shin gave birth to a son, Cha Jeong-min in 1998, but she and her husband made headlines when they adopted baby girls, Cha Ye-eun in 2005, and Cha Ye-jin in 2008. Their case highlighted the issue of adoption in Korea, where despite the prevalence of overseas adoption, domestic adoption is rare and

stigmatized Social stigma is the disapproval of, or discrimination against, an individual or group based on perceived characteristics that serve to distinguish them from other members of a society. Social stigmas are commonly related to culture, gender, rac ...

due to culturally held beliefs stressing "pure" blood lines. Shin and Cha's case was even more notable since Korean couples with biological children of their own rarely adopt, and they were lauded for serving as positive role models.

Filmography

Television series

Film

Variety show

Theater

Radio program

Awards and nominations

References

External links

* * * * {{DEFAULTSORT:Shin, Ae-ra 1969 births Living people South Korean radio presenters South Korean television actresses South Korean film actresses South Korean stage actresses South Korean musical theatre actresses Yeongsan Shin clan South Korean women radio presenters