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Pop singer Kim Jang-hoon plans to launch a support group aimed at providing mental-health treatment to survivors of the Sewol ferry disaster and victims' families.
In a news conference in Seoul on Friday, Kim said he has secured commitment from Cha Hospital and NGOs such as Good People and IsraAID to join his "WooRe" (wonderful of one, resilience) program.
"I picture this as a civilian trauma-healing organization,'' said the 46-year-old singer.
"We hope our activities provide hope when the tragedy is beginning to be forgotten."
WooRe will plans to provide counseling and treatment to the Sewol's survivors and families of the victims. Kim and other artists including K-pop groups EXO and Super Junior will stage cultural events to raise funds for the program.
The 6,825-ton Sewol ferry sank off Korea's southwest coast on April 16, leaving more than 300 people dead, including many high school students who were on a field trip.
Kim said that the tragedy felt personal to him.
"My young nephew was killed in an accident about 10 years ago. That was the most painful day of my life. I think that is part of the reason why I strongly sympathize with the people whose lives were affected by the Sewol tragedy," he said, before urging politicians to show stronger efforts to help the survivors and victims' families.
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