Numerous K-pop idols have stepped out to support wildfire relief efforts through donations for communities in the southeastern regions of South Korea.
Yonhap News Agency reported on March 26 that numerous South Korean aid associations – such as the Korean Red Cross and Korea Disaster Relief Association, among others – had received donations from multiple South Korean public figures. The donations come after a series of wildfires swept through the nation’s southeastern regions, which have so far led to a death toll of 18.
K-pop groups IVE and LE SSERAFIM made donations of ₩200million (about US$136,000) and ₩50million (about US$34,000), respectively, to relief efforts. “We wanted to express our gratitude to the firefighters who are working hard to put out the fires, and to be of some help to those who are having a hard time,” IVE wrote in their statement. “We hope this will help many people get back to their daily lives.”
Numerous other K-pop idols such as BTS members J-hope and Suga, Girls’ Generation’s Taeyeon, Red Velvet’s Seulgi, TWICE’s Jihyo, NCT’s Mark and Haechan and ZEROBASEONE’s Jiwoong, have also made donations to various associations assisting displaced civilians and first responders. The amounts range from ₩10million (about US$6,800) to ₩100million (about US$68,000).
Other entertainment figures who have made donations to relief efforts also include Bae Suzy, comedian Yoo Jae-suk, actress Go Min-si and singer Lee Chan-won, among others.
Numerous organisations are using monetary donations to operate in affected areas through recovery buses and temporary on-site shelters, among others. The donations will also go to funding food and other daily necessities for the wildfire survivors being housed in shelters.