Rapper Sean raises over $1.6 mil. for descendants of independence fighters

Sean participates in the 2025 815 Run to commemorate Liberation Day in Seoul, Saturday. Courtesy of YG Entertainment

Rapper Noh Seung-hwan, also known as Sean, successfully completed an 81.5-kilometer marathon in celebration of the 80th anniversary of Korea’s Liberation Day and donated over 2.3 billion won ($1.6 million) to build homes for descendants of independence activists, his agency YG Entertainment said Saturday.

The 2025 815 Run, hosted by Sean and Habitat for Humanity Korea, is an annual charity marathon held to reflect on the significance of Liberation Day and express gratitude to independence activists.

Despite heat exceeding 30 degrees Celsius, Sean completed the run in 7 hours, 50 minutes and 22 seconds.

While Sean and 44 others completed the entire distance, a total of 19,450 runners participated in shorter courses, with approximately 4,000 taking part in an 8.15 kilometer run at World Cup Park in Seoul's Mapo District and others doing courses of 3.1 km or 4.5 km.

Proceeds from the event, along with donations from 10 sponsoring companies, amounted to 2.38 billion won. The funds were donated to Habitat for Humanity to construct new homes and support housing improvement projects for descendants of independence activists.

"It is my way of expressing gratitude to the independence activists and their descendants. I also thank all the runners who shared this sentiment," Sean said.

Sean launched the marathon event in 2020 and also organizes a similar run on March 1 to commemorate Independence Movement Day.

So far, 19 new homes have been built with the funds raised, and Sean said the goal was to build 100.

Sean debuted with the hip-hop group Jinusean in 1997 and rose to stardom with the single "Tell Me." He is married to actor Jung Hye-young.

These days, Sean is better known for his charity activities than his work as a musician. In addition to his charity marathons, he has raised funds to build a pediatric rehabilitation facility and the first dedicated ALS hospital in Korea.