Kwak Yeon-soo is a digital editor at The Korea Times creating, editing and curating digital content for the newspaper’s website, mobile app and social media. She previously covered a diverse array of cultural, political and business topics.
Korean celebrities stand in solidarity with Ukraine
Actress Lee Young-ae / Courtesy of JTBC
By Kwak Yeon-soo
By Kwak Yeon-soo
Following Russia's invasion of Ukraine, a number of Korean celebrities have come forward to voice their support for the stricken country.
Actress Lee Young-ae drew attention to the situation in Ukraine by donating 100 million won ($82,950) to support “victims of Russian aggression.”
Ukrainian Ambassador to Korea Dmytro Ponomarenko tweeted on Tuesday: “We are very excited and touched by the letter and the great financial contribution of the famous Korean actress Lee Young-ae in support of Ukraine and the demand to end the war as soon as possible.”
In the letter sent to the embassy, Lee wrote: “As a family member of a war veteran, I can certainly sympathize with the horrors of war more than anyone else."
“I hope the war in Ukraine will end soon, and I pray for the well-being and safety of all Ukrainian citizens. To all Ukrainian citizens who are calling for freedom and peace, I hope you don't lose courage and hope. As a peace-loving citizen of a free South Korea, I would like to convey my small but precious heart to the people of Ukraine. May God bless you all.”
Actor Song Seung-heon / Courtesy of KINGKONG by STARSHIP
Many other Korean celebrities have taken the opportunity to use their platforms to condemn Russia's attack on Ukraine.
Actor Song Seung-heon took to Instagram to write, “No one can take away the happiness of these children,” with photos of doctors and nurses trying to save a six-year-old girl who was mortally wounded in Russia's shelling of a residential area ― highlighting how children are often times the biggest victims of war.
Yeri of K-pop band Red Velvet / Courtesy of SM Entertainment
Yeri of K-pop girl band Red Velvet shared a “No War Please” photo on her Instagram Story on Feb. 27, becoming the first K-pop star to speak out about how Ukraine is being impacted by Russia's ongoing invasion. It was taken from Russian tennis player Andrey Rublev, who wrote the message on the camera lens after the semifinals match of the Dubai Tennis Championships.
Choi Si-won of K-pop band Super Junior / Courtesy of SM Entertainment
Choi Si-won, member of K-pop band Super Junior and UNICEF East Asia and Pacific regional ambassador, urged the Russian invading forces to “stop killing and injuring children.”
“Children have been killed. Children have been wounded. And children are being profoundly traumatized by the violence all around them. The children of Ukraine need peace now!” the singer-actor wrote on Instagram.
Former announcer Kim Min-ji, right, and her husband Park Ji-sung, a retired football player / Korea Times file
Kim Min-ji, a former announcer and wife of retired football player Park Ji-sung, shared links where people can donate to Ukraine relief efforts.
“I would like to share links to global charities operating in the U.K. that can provide humanitarian assistance to Ukrainians, to those who remember that our peace which we take for granted today was made possible by the involvement of many seemingly unrelated people,” she wrote on Instagram.