IU, Lee Byung Hun & Song Kang Ho Each Donate S$110K To Aid Victims Of Korea Forest Fire

Korean stars are banding together to help victims displaced by the devastating forest fire which broke out last Friday (Mar 4) in the eastern coastal county of Uljin and continues to ravage parts of South Korea.

Parasite star Song Kang Ho, Mr Sunshine’s Lee Byung Hun, Hotel Del Luna actress IU, and Signal's Lee Je Hoon, each donated 100 million won (about S$110K) to disaster-stricken victims, while Goblin actress Kim Go Eun, who is known for her philanthropic efforts, donated 50 mln won (S$55K) through South Korea’s National Disaster Mitigation Association (Hope Bridge). According to Hope Bridge, the funds will be used to provide temporary shelter for the victims.

"I am very worried about the people who have lost their livelihoods due to the forest fire. I hope the fire can be quickly put out and it will not spread further, and I hope that this (donation) can bring warmth to the victims and firefighters,” said Go Eun.

Actress Song Hye Kyo reposted an article on Instagram highlighting the affected areas and urged residents to flee to safety.

She also appealed to her nearly 13 million IG followers to pray for the city of Donghae, where the fire had spread rapidly.

"Watching the news all day. It really tugged at my heartstrings,” she wrote.

The fire has destroyed nearly 6,000 hectares of woodland

Some 7,018 have been forced to flee their homes after the fire, which broke out on a mountain in Uljin, spread to the nearby city of Samcheok, 330km southeast of Seoul.

According to reports, the raging blaze destroyed 382 buildings and nearly 6,000 hectares of woodland, which is about the size of 20,000 football fields. No casualties were reported thus far.

Firefighters had difficulties extinguishing the fire due to strong winds and wildfires also broke out in two other areas of Gangwon Province — Gangneung and Yeongwol — on Saturday, disrupting traffic on a highway and a railway along the coast.

The fire once threatened a nuclear power plant, the country’s largest , but firefighters brought the blaze under control before it reached the facilities, said officials.

President Moon Jae In has urged all-out efforts to prevent any casualties and protect nuclear power plants from fires.

Photos: Lee Byung Hun/Instagram, IU/Instagram, SOng Hye Kyo/Instagram, CJ Entertainment, Yonhap