Celebs, sports stars mourn for ferry victims

Park Chu-young

By Kwon Ji-youn

As the death toll in the Sewol ferry accident reached 170, celebrity entertainers and sports stars continued to express their sympathy and offer aid for the bereaved families of the victims.

Actor Kim Soo-hyun donated 300 million won to Danwon High School in Ansan, where classes have resumed. A total of 325 students from Danwon were on a field trip to Jeju Island when the 6,825-ton ferry capsized and sank in waters off the southwestern island of Jindo on April 16.

Korea national football team forward Park Chu-young also donated 100 million won to the Korean Red Cross, and Park’s fan club is currently collecting funds to aid the effort.

Actress Park Shin-hye donated 50 million won through the Korea Disaster Relief Association, and joined the “Yellow Ribbon” campaign, through which many are showing their support for the victims by replacing their SNS profile picture with a yellow ribbon.

Cyclist Lee Myung-hyun expressed his wishes to help by donating 10 million won, as did comedian Park Kyung-rim and actress Oh Yeon-seo.

Lee Yong-gyu of the pro baseball team Hanhwa Eagles and his wife, Yoo Ha-na, donated 50 million won, while rapper San E donated 10 million won through the Korea Nanoom Welfare Society.

Actor couple Cha In-pyo and Shin Ae-ra paid their respects at a joint memorial altar set up at the Ansan Olympic Museum Gymnasium for the students who were killed in the accident.

Shin said on scene, “We visited to express our sympathy to the victims’ families. We hope that our stay helped, if just a little.”

Actresses Lee Hwa-sun, Shim Eun-jin and Han Ji-woo, expressed their regrets by painting pictures of the yellow ribbon that represents the country’s mourning for the dead and missing.

Big Bang’s G-Dragon, actress Kim So-hyun and members of boy band B.A.P are also participating in the Yellow Ribbon campaign, as are many others.

Over the past week, many celebrities, including Cha Seung-won, Ha Ji-won, Song Seung-hun, Jung Il-woo; and sports stars, including figure skater Kim Yu-na, the Los Angeles Dodgers’ Ryu Hyun-jin and golfer Choi Kyung-joo, have donated funds to charities in an effort to lend a hand to those still suffering.