People Lighting Up World in 2008

Bae Ji-sook
Staff Reporter

Actress Moon Geun-young, actor Kim Myung-min and ice skater Kim Yu-na were selected among 100 people that ``lit up the world’’ in 2008 in a survey conducted by the Korea Green Foundation.

Twenty-one-year-old Moon, who has been working on the silver screen for the past 10 years, took the leading role for the SBS hit drama `` The Painter of Wind’’ and showed off her talent as a grown-up actress.

However, what got her on the list was the fact that she had been the No.1 private donator for the charity group Community Chest of Korea for the past 10 years. The group stated that Moon declined to have her name revealed, but she has been involved in numerous charity projects and undertaking volunteer work on the advice of her mother.

Kim grabbed the attention of the critics with his astounding performance in MBC smash hit drama ``Beethoven Virus’’ this fall. Taking the role of fastidious musical conductor Kang Mae, he brought viewers joy and happiness, the Foundation said.

Ice skating starlet Kim Yu-na gave a breath of fresh air to those suffering under the strain of the global economic meltdown. As she waltzed across the ice, the whole nation cheered and watched her moves. When she won, people from all walks of life felt as if they also had won, and she brought a sense of hope to the rat race that dominates the lives of the populace.

Kim hosted some charity shows, hinting that her next move could see her become a philanthropist.

Among others on the list were musical director and once pro-democratic activist Kim Min-ki; professors who are opposed to the construction of a cross-country canal designed by President Lee Myung-bak; movie director Lim Soon-rye; and Olympic baseball team coach Kim Kyung-moon.

The award ceremony took place at the Korea Press Center in downtown Seoul Monday.

bjs@koreatimes.co.kr

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