Actress Lee Sung-kyung has donated 50 million won, about $35,700, to support people affected by South Korea’s recent heavy rains and flooding, the Hope Bridge National Disaster Relief Association announced on August 18.
The money will be used to help repair flood-damaged areas and support residents who have been forced from their homes. The donation comes after record-breaking rainfall caused serious damage in parts of Busan and South Gyeongsang Province during the Liberation Day holiday.
Lee said she was saddened after hearing about people affected by the sudden rain.
“I hope this can be of help to those going through hardships such as living in shelters, and that they can return to their daily lives safely as soon as possible,” she said.
The actress has supported disaster relief efforts before. She donated 50 million won after the Gangwon wildfires in 2019. In 2022, she gave 100 million won to Hope Bridge to help people affected by heavy rains and flooding, SportalKorea reported.
This latest donation comes as several areas in South Korea deal with unusually large amounts of rainfall.
According to figures from Gyeongsangnam-do Province, Geoje recorded 944 millimeters of rain from August 15 through 6:30 a.m. on August 18. Tongyeong recorded 765.7 millimeters during the same period.
Lee Sung-kyung Helps Flood Victims
Other areas also saw major rainfall. Hakrim in Goseong recorded 496 millimeters, Seongudong in Sacheon received 474.5 millimeters, and Sangjuk in Namhae recorded 411.5 millimeters.
According to AllKPop, the rainfall was especially intense on August 17. Geoje received 124.5 millimeters in just one hour, while Tongyeong recorded 97.4 millimeters. Both figures were the highest hourly rainfall recorded in those areas since observations began.
The donation from Lee is meant to provide practical help during the recovery. Some residents are still dealing with the effects of the flooding, while others are staying in shelters as they wait to return home.
Lee has built a reputation for helping during times of disaster. Her repeated donations show that this is not a one-time effort, with her support reaching people affected by both wildfires and floods over the years.
The actress is also continuing her entertainment career. After starting as a model, she made her acting debut in 2014 and later became known for dramas including “Weightlifting Fairy Kim Bok Joo “and the “Dr. Romantic” series.