Actor Son Tae-young and her husband Kwon Sang-woo adopted an abandoned dog rescued from the brink of euthanasia as a new family member.
On the 2nd, the YouTube channel Mrs. New Jersey Son Tae-young uploaded a video titled "Son Tae-young♥Kwon Sang-woo's reason for adopting an abandoned dog (Chopa's story)".
That day Son Tae-young went to the airport to meet a guest. The guest she welcomed was none other than the abandoned dog Chopa. Chopa was rescued through Korea's 'We Act Savers Project' (an organization that rescues animals threatened with euthanasia) and was rescued at the Nonsan city shelter on Jan. 2026. Chopa, who lost three puppies immediately after birth and was rescued just before euthanasia, had been looking for a family to spend her life with but it was not easy, and eventually Son Tae-young, who couldn't stop thinking about Chopa, decided to foster her temporarily.
After that, Son Tae-young, as well as daughter Ri-ho and son Ruk-hee, spent time with Kwon Sang-woo and grew closer. After three months had passed, Son Tae-young ultimately decided to adopt Chopa and conducted an adoption interview with the rescue organization via a video meeting. Sitting side by side, Kwon Sang-woo asked, "Why am I sitting here?" and Son Tae-young replied, "Because you're a parent." Kwon Sang-woo jokingly said, "I never gave permission," and Son Tae-young teasingly retorted, "What permission did you never give? Nonsense. You never gave permission yet you take the dog for walks and everything," which drew laughter.
She then explained the process leading up to fostering Chopa in the interview. She said, "Because I like animals, I kept seeing animals on social media and the algorithm kept showing animals and rescue dogs. While thinking I'd try fostering once Ruk-hee goes to college and I have more time, We Act had a somewhat sad story. I liked the post and became interested. They messaged me first and Chopa's story came up. Since it wasn't adoption, I thought we could help and care for her. So I asked my husband and he said if I wanted to, it would be fine, so I got his permission," she explained.
She expressed her affection, saying, "When Chopa came she immediately acted like our dog, came out to explore, and was so gentle and obedient. There were no difficult moments. If I only give Chopa a little of my time, it doesn't burden my daily life, and she gets along so well with Bella like our dog. It was hard to tell whether we were fostering or adopting and raising her as my dog because we raised her like our own."
As for what made them decide to adopt, she said, "At first, during fostering I had thought about adoption. Chopa liked us so much and followed me so well. I didn't have to do much. If I said let's go for a walk she went, if I said 'put your neck out' she offered her neck. She did everything promptly. She matched well with me." Kwon Sang-woo said, "Our children like her very much," and Son Tae-young said, "Ri-ho already thought she was being adopted, not just fostered. Ruk-hee had grown attached too and asked where she would go. I told Ri-ho, 'If you behave well we can adopt her,' and she cried and made a fuss. She said we mustn't send Chopa away. That was a big factor. If the kids didn't like her, it couldn't happen, but our family all loves Chopa so much," she said.
Kwon Sang-woo joked, "Chopa ranks above me in our house. And since Son Tae-young lacks exercise, taking Chopa has made her go for walks morning and night and it helps her exercise," and Son Tae-young laughed, "I'm actually grateful to Chopa." A representative said, "We want to say thank you for always supporting and sponsoring us, and please raise Chopa well," and Son Tae-young replied, "We will raise her well."
After the interview, Kwon Sang-woo said, "I didn't expect we'd have both a cat and a dog. But naturally we've become a very large family," and Son Tae-young said, "My husband spoke enthusiastically, which made it easier for me to decide." However, Kwon Sang-woo said with regret, "But Chopa still won't cuddle with me," and Son Tae-young recalled their first meeting, "Chopa looked at me first. She thought I was her first owner and then Ri-ho. But Ruk-hee had gone to play soccer that day and came back soaked from the rain wearing dark clothes and came in from the garage. Chopa was very surprised."
Kwon Sang-woo said, "Chopa barks at noises outside, so she also provides security," and marveled, "And she doesn't fight with Bella. It's so funny to see them sitting quietly together." Son Tae-young said, "Bella used to bark at other dogs, but before Chopa came we had set up Chopa's bed and she went into it and lay down. I wondered if she sensed something, that someone was coming. On the day Chopa arrived Bella went upstairs and wouldn't come down because she was scared. But the next day she came down and went about her business. When Chopa sees Bella she goes elsewhere. They consider each other's space so much. It was amazing. When Bella goes out to look around Chopa watches with her, and if Bella is uncomfortable Chopa leaves," she said, surprised.
Kwon Sang-woo also noted a positive effect, saying, "It's good because Ri-ho is in adolescence and doesn't come out of her room much, but she goes for walks with Chopa and that seems good."
Meanwhile, Kwon Sang-woo and Son Tae-young married in 2008 and have a son, Ruk-hee, and a daughter, Ri-ho. Currently Son Tae-young resides in New Jersey, U.S., for the children's education.
[Photo] Mrs. New Jersey Son Tae-young
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