On November 14, Chonnam National University (CNU) announced that actress Lee Young Ae donated ₩10 million (approx. $7,500 USD) to aid the medical treatment and repatriation of Sirinya, a Thai student who has been in a coma due to a brain hemorrhage.
Sirinya, who was studying Korean at CNU’s Language Education Institute, was found unconscious in her dormitory in July. She was diagnosed with subdural hemorrhage and has remained in a coma under intensive care for over three months.
After the news broke that Sirinya’s family was struggling to cover hospital and transportation costs, CNU’s volunteer student group Rhythm of Hope began a fundraising campaign. Although their original goal was ₩9 million, donations from fellow students, faculty, and even local citizens poured in eventually more than doubling the target.
Deeply moved by the situation, Lee Young Ae stepped in with a personal donation of ₩10 million. The actress also sent a heartfelt message to the student group: “I’m the one who should be thankful to the students for doing such a good deed.”
Sirinya remains unconscious and reliant on medical equipment. In preparation for her transport back to Thailand, Korean Air has arranged for five seats on a flight to accommodate necessary oxygen and medical devices. The airline has also pledged full support during the evacuation process.
Sirinya is scheduled to return to Thailand on a flight departing from Incheon International Airport at 7 PM on November 15.
CNU has continued to support Sirinya’s family by providing housing and interpretation services, while Rhythm of Hope members have been actively assisting with the entire repatriation process.
Lee Young Ae’s kind gesture has not only helped ease the family’s burden but also highlighted the impact of community-driven compassion in times of crisis.
Sources: Daum