Han Ga-in on children's YouTube appearances: 'They may want it now, but resent me later'

Actress Han Ga-in has candidly shared her concerns regarding her children's appearances on YouTube. While her children actively desire to be on camera, Han Ga-in is drawing a firm line regarding the disclosure of their faces, noting the need to be cautious about treating the choices of minors as permanent intentions. Given that once a video is released, it is nearly impossible to undo, she is navigating the delicate balance between her role as a protective parent and her children's right to self-determination.

On the 20th, the YouTube channel 'Han Ga-in' released a video in which Han Ga-in and her daughter prepared a ramen recipe that recently became a hot topic on SNS.

During the video, Han Ga-in explained why she mosaics or hides her children's faces while filming content with them. "When I film with the kids, I cover their faces. I am not disclosing them," she said.

The production team shared some viewer reactions, including comments to the effect of, "If you're going to film like that, what's the point?" This criticism suggests that if their faces aren't being shown, there may be no need to have the children appear in the videos at all.

However, the children hold a completely different perspective from their mother. Han Ga-in shared, "The children want to appear that much. They periodically ask, 'Mom, when can I appear?' or 'I want to film this kind of content.'"

Even though the children are expressing their own desire to participate, Han Ga-in's refusal to allow their faces to be revealed is a judgment that goes beyond simple privacy protection. Once photos and videos are released on the internet, they are virtually impossible to retract completely.

"The children might ask later, 'Why did you reveal my face?'" Han Ga-in said. She added, "Even if it is their own will now, we shouldn't face the misfortune of them blaming me later and forcing me to delete all the videos."

In particular, she revealed the realistic dilemma parents face when intervening in the decision-making of minor children. She explained, "Since they are still young, I think it might be a bit difficult to call their current choices their own true will."

However, she has not blocked their appearances entirely. She noted that she is creating content with them within a scope that excludes their faces, stating, "Since they want to appear so much right now, I am doing it with them."

This touches upon an issue that is increasingly relevant as the exposure of celebrities' families on YouTube and SNS becomes commonplace. Children who are naturally exposed to the public through their parents' fame may leave online records regardless of their own wishes. Because the digital footprints of children and adolescents can remain for a long time, the boundary between 'a parent's right to disclose' and 'a child's future right to self-determination' has become a significant issue.

Han Ga-in's choice can be seen as a relatively conservative approach to this issue. While she respects the experience of her children standing in front of a camera, she intends to act as a final shield for their faces and personal information, which are difficult to retract once disclosed.

As an actress who understands the public eye better than anyone, Han Ga-in's judgment feels particularly pragmatic. She is mindful of the possibility that a fun appearance today could become an uncomfortable memory or an unwanted digital footprint for her children in the future.

Ultimately, Han Ga-in is not 'preventing the children from appearing,' but rather making cautious decisions on their behalf for choices they cannot yet undo themselves. Between her children's desire to participate now and her concern that their feelings may change, Han Ga-in is choosing to prioritize her children's future over immediate view counts.