Shin Ae-ra

{{short description|South Korean actress}}

{{family name hatnote|Shin||lang=Korean}}

{{Infobox person

| name = Shin Ae-ra

| image = 신애라 2023.jpg

| caption = Shin in 2023

| birth_date = {{Birth date and age|1969|3|7}}

| birth_place = Seoul, South Korea{{cite web|url=https://cinefox.com/actor/view?isb=Y&movieman_seq=12897|title=신애라|website=Cinefox (씨네폭스)|access-date=2024-01-11|language=ko}}

| occupation = Actress, radio DJ

| years_active = 1989–present

| spouse = {{marriage|Cha In-pyo|1995}}

| children = 3

| education = Chung-Ang University - Theater and Film

| module = {{Infobox Korean name|child=yes|headercolor=transparent

| hangul = 신애라

| hanja = 辛愛羅

| rr = Sin Aera

| mr = Sin Aera

}}

}}

Shin Ae-ra ({{Korean|hangul=신애라}}; born March 7, 1969) is a South Korean actress who made her acting debut in 1989. She has since played leading roles in television dramas such as Love in Your Arms and Bad Housewife.{{cite web|title=There's More to Life Than Acting, Says Shin Ae-ra|url=http://english.chosun.com/site/data/html_dir/2006/08/28/2006082861004.html|website=The Chosun Ilbo|access-date=2014-10-05|date=28 August 2006}}{{cite web|last1=Yi|first1=Chang-ho|title="Tailor-Made" Role for SHIN Ae-ra|url=http://www.koreanfilm.or.kr/jsp/news/news.jsp?mode=VIEW&seq=445|website=Korean Film Biz Zone|access-date=2014-10-05|date=5 September 2006}}

In 1995, Shin married actor Cha In-pyo, and the couple gained widespread admiration and respect from the Korean public for being philanthropists.{{cite web|last1=Kim|first1=Hye-in|title=Healing Camp Shin Ae Ra shows tears after reading Cha In Pyo's letter|url=http://en.starnnews.com/news/index.html?no=316246|website=StarN News|access-date=2014-10-05|date=23 July 2014}}{{cite web|title=4th Awardee|url=http://www.ponychung.org/Eng/award/award_06.asp|website=Pony Chung Foundation|access-date=2014-10-05|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141006073051/http://www.ponychung.org/Eng/award/award_06.asp|archive-date=2014-10-06|url-status=dead}}{{cite web|last1=Chung|first1=Sung-hee|title=A truly celebrity of conscience|url=http://english.donga.com/srv/service.php3?biid=2012042577758|website=The Dong-a Ilbo|access-date=2014-10-05|date=25 April 2012}} They are active volunteers at orphanages and welfare centers, as well as generous donors to causes such as the fight against child abuse and school violence, rights for North Korean refugees, and humanitarian aid to underprivileged children (particularly in North Korea and Uganda). Shin and Cha often collaborate with organizations such as Compassion International and the Social Welfare Society.{{cite web|title=Cha In-pyo, Shin Ae-ra Support 10 Foreign Children|url=http://english.kbs.co.kr/hallyu/entertainment_news_view.html?No=143|website=KBS Global|access-date=2014-10-05|date=23 December 2005}}{{cite web|last1=Garcia|first1=Cathy Rose A.|title=Celebrities Support Compassion Korea|url=https://www.koreatimes.co.kr/www/news/art/2009/06/148_46199.html|website=The Korea Times|access-date=2014-10-05|date=3 June 2009}}{{cite web|last1=Han|first1=Sang-hee|title=Stars Warming Up Winter With Charities|url=https://www.koreatimes.co.kr/www/news/special/2009/12/178_56572.html|website=The Korea Times|access-date=2014-10-05|date=2 December 2009}}{{cite web|title=Cha In-Pyo, Shin Ae-ra Donate 100 Million Won to Haiti|url=http://english.kbs.co.kr/hallyu/entertainment_news_view.html?No=7265|website=KBS Global|access-date=2014-10-05|date=21 January 2010}}{{cite web|last1=Ahn|first1=Alexander Tehoon|title=Actress Shin Ae-ra starts podcast against school violence|url=https://www.koreatimes.co.kr/www/news/special/2012/04/139_109795.html|website=The Korea Times|access-date=2014-10-05|date=26 April 2012}}{{cite web|last1=Jin|first1=Eun-soo|title=Star couple mourns for Sewol victims|url=http://koreajoongangdaily.joins.com/news/article/article.aspx?aid=2988318|website=Korea JoongAng Daily|access-date=2014-10-05|date=24 April 2014}}

Shin Ae-ra and her husband Cha In-pyo, have three children. Shin gave birth to their 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.{{cite web|title=Celebrity Couple Adopts 'God-Sent' Addition to Family|url=http://english.chosun.com/site/data/html_dir/2005/12/14/2005121461025.html|website=The Chosun Ilbo|access-date=2014-10-05|date=14 December 2005}}{{cite web|last1=Kwon|first1=Mee-yoo|title=Celebrity Couple Adopts Another Girl|url=https://www.koreatimes.co.kr/www/news/special/2008/01/178_18169.html|website=The Korea Times|access-date=2014-10-05|date=29 January 2008}}{{cite web|title=Cha In-pyo, Shin Ae-ra Adopt Another Child|url=http://english.kbs.co.kr/hallyu/entertainment_news_view.html?No=603|website=KBS Global|access-date=2014-10-05|date=29 January 2008}} Their case highlighted the issue of adoption in Korea, where despite the prevalence of overseas adoption, domestic adoption remains rare and is often stigmatized due to culturally held beliefs stressing "pure" bloodlines.

Shin and Cha's case was even more notable as it is uncommon for Korean couples with biological children of their own to adopt, and they were lauded for serving as positive role models.{{cite web|title=Celebrity Couple Sets Example to Follow|url=http://english.chosun.com/site/data/html_dir/2005/12/15/2005121561026.html|website=The Chosun Ilbo|access-date=2014-10-05|date=15 December 2005}}