Pinay wins paternity suit vs. Korean trader in landmark ruling

A Filipina has won a paternity suit against her Korean partner after a court in South Korea ruled that their two sons are legitimate children, reports said.

The ruling of the Seoul Family Court is described by Korean media as a landmark ruling as it marked the first time a Korean court has acknowledged the existence of Korean-Filipinos or "Kopinos."

A Korea Times report described "Kopinos" as children born to a Korean father and Filipino mother, but are abandoned by the father.

The report said the court ruled that the two Philippine-based boys are the biological children of the Korean man based on genetic test results and birth certificates issued in the Philippines.

A separate report on the Filipino Times, citing court documents, described the father as "married with children in South Korea." It said the father went to the Philippines years ago to run a company and had two boys with a Filipina.

When the father returned to Korea 10 years ago, he reportedly severed ties with the Filipina.

The mother filed a lawsuit in South Korea in December 2012, the report said.

The Korea Times report said if the top court upholds the ruling, the mother could demand child support from the father, although according to her lawyer, she did not file the suit for financial reasons. —KBK, GMA News