Diva becomes honor society member

Pop diva Insooni, right, poses with Huh Dong-soo, president of the Community Chest of Korea, after donating 100 million won ($88,200) to the charity organization at its headquarters in Jung-gu, central Seoul, Monday. / Yonhap

By Jhoo Dong-chan

Pop diva Insooni, chairwoman of the multiracial alternative school Hae Mill, has become the 773rd member of the Honor Society by donating 100 million won ($88,200) to a charity organization, the Community Chest of Korea.

Anyone donating more than 100 million won in accumulative sums to a charity is entitled to be named a society member.

Huh Dong-soo, president of the Community Chest of Korea, named Insooni, 57, as its honorary ambassador Monday at the organization’s headquarters in Jung-gu, central Seoul.

She is the fourth celebrity to become a member and serve as the organization’s honorary ambassador at the same time. Entertainer Hyun Young, actor Kim Bo-sung and singer Hyun Suk served in both capacities before Insooni.

“I have always thought about what I can do for others,” said Insooni.

“I, as an honorary ambassador of the Community Chest, would like to give courage and hope to students from low-income or multicultural families.”

Insooni has become associated with Community Chest when she participated its online fundraising for the disadvantaged and poor students, HUG Campaign, in 2013. She gave a charity concert with the organization to raise 8 million won ($7,057) to support school meals for multiracial students with no parents or a single parent.

Huh said that Insooni is an inspiration to society in Korea.

“We hope that more sharing culture will be spread in the country,” said Huh.

After debuting in 1978, the veteran diva is among the most respected Korean female singers of her generation. She has released 18 albums and staged numerous tours here and abroad.

A daughter of an African-American father and a Korean mother, Insooni founded the Hae Mill School, an alternative school for multiracial students, in Gangwon Province in 2013.