Cannes-winning actor Song Kang-ho donates $152K to charity

By Kwak Yeon-soo

Song Kang-ho, who recently won the Best Actor award at the 75th Cannes Film Festival for his performance in director Hirokazu Kore-eda's “Broker,” has donated 200 million won ($152,000) to disadvantaged communities.

According to the Hope Bridge Association of the National Disaster Relief, the actor donated 100 million won in March to the victims of massive wildfires that hit the country's eastern coastal region. He also donated 100 million won in March 2020 to help people in the fight against COVID-19.

The 55-year-old actor is now a member of the Honor Society, a club for those who donate more than 100 million won to the organization.

“Song has been thinking about how to return some of the love he has received from the public,” his management agency, Sublime, said in a statement, Friday. “He realized one way to do it was to donate money to neighbors in need. He will be engaged in the sharing culture.”

Song made his screen debut in Hong Sang-soo's 1996 directorial debut, “The Day a Pig Fell into the Well.” He has built an extensive filmography since then, starring in nearly 40 films.

He has starred in various films of director Bong Joon-ho, including the 2006 sci-fi action film “The Host,” the 2013 sci-fi film “Snowpiercer” and the 2019 Oscar-winning dark comedy “Parasite,” as well as director Lee Chang-dong's 2007 drama film “Secret Sunshine,” and director Park Chan-wook's 2009 film “Thirst.”