Actor and media personality Hong Seok Chun expressed his relief after hearing renowned actress Youn Yeo Jung openly discuss her son's same-sex marriage. In a recent interview with OhmyNews, Hong shared his thoughts on Youn Yuh Jung's impactful statements during her interviews with Variety and People regarding her personal connection to the movie "The Wedding Banquet."

The film portrays Youn as the grandmother of a Korean-American man concealing his homosexuality from his conservative family. Youn candidly shared that her own life resonated deeply with the movie, revealing that her eldest son is gay. She mentioned that her son came out in 2000 and eventually celebrated his wedding in New York after same-sex marriage was legalized there. She expressed her affection by stating, “Now I love my son-in-law even more than my son.”

Hong Suk Chun, who also came out in 2000 as Korea's first openly gay public figure, acknowledged the enormous courage it took to come out during that time. He mentioned a heartwarming encounter with Youn, where she demonstrated unwavering warmth and support towards him. Recalling her words of encouragement, “I’m proud of you for living well,” Hong emphasized Youn as a remarkable individual and caring mother.

Hong reflected on his own experience of coming out to his parents, highlighting the impact of supportive figures like Youn Yuh Jung. He expressed gratitude for her role in providing a sense of comfort after a long personal struggle. He shared his hope for a future where LGBTQ individuals in Korea can lead fulfilling and openly embraced lives, inspired by parents like Youn Yuh Jung.