[Articles] Celebrities offer condolences, aid to Japan.

[Articles] Celebrities offer condolences, aid to Japan.
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Bae Yong-joon donates 1 billion won to victims of Japanese quake and tsunami.

Korean pop stars are rolling up their sleeves to help the victims of the 9.0-magnitude earthquake and tsunami that hit Japan last Friday.

Actor Bae Yong-joon, one of the first Hallyu (Korean Wave) stars, donated 1 billion won ($882,000) to a Japanese government fund, Bae’s agency, Keyeast, said Monday.

Bae gained fame in Japan, where he is known as Yonsama, through the hit 2002 television drama “Winter Sonata.”

He offered his condolences to quake victims on his Japanese Web site on Monday and said he would continue relief efforts.

“I’m so worried about the safety of my fans that I can’t stop watching television,” Bae wrote. “I hope Japan can find peace as soon as possible. I will try to do my best to help the situation.”

This isn’t the first time Bae has stepped forward to fund relief efforts following a global disaster. He donated 300 million won to the victims of the 2004 Niigata Chuetsu earthquake and 300 million won to the victims of the 2004 Indian Ocean tsunami.

Actress Choi Ji-woo, who also became popular in Japan through “Winter Sonata,” donated 200 million won to the victims of the disastrous earthquake and tsunami through the Korean Red Cross yesterday.

“I was so shocked that I didn’t dare ask about the safety of my fans,” she wrote on her Web site. “I just want to provide some small support.”



Actor and singer Ryu Si-won also said he would donate 200 million won and volunteer to participate in relief efforts.

“I can remember the faces of my fans in Sendai who cheered for me when I was singing there. The scenes shown on television broke my heart,” Ryu told Yonhap News Agency by phone.

His agency said he is now discussing with his Korean and Japanese agents about ways to directly participate in relief efforts. Ryu has been actively involved in the search for a Japanese fan, Eriko Tanahashi, who came to Korea in early 2010 and has been missing ever since.

Meanwhile, Kim Hyun-joong, an actor and member of the popular boy band SS501, donated 100 million won to relief efforts through his Japanese agency DA. Kim gained fame through his role in the Korean drama “Boys Over Flowers,” which was based on a Japanese comic of the same name.

He was scheduled to meet with fans in Tokyo last Sunday to mark the Japanese premiere of his Korean television drama “Playful Kiss,” also based on another comic, but canceled the event after the earthquake.

Actor Song Seung-heon donated 200 million won to the Salvation Army and actor Jang Geun-seok donated 10 million yen ($122,000) to the Japanese Red Cross.

Kara, a girl group that has emerged as the leader of the so-called New Korean Wave, pledged to donate all proceeds of its new single to the quake victims, according to its agency.



Actor Lee Seo-jin said in a telephone interview with the JoongAng Ilbo on Monday that he was shocked by the news of the quake because it followed a recent visit to Japan in which he met with former first lady Miyuki Hatoyama and shot a promotional film for Aomori Prefecture. Now he is hoping to help with relief efforts.

“I would like to participate in the recovery efforts,” Lee said. “I’m looking at ways to help.”

Other celebrities, such as actors Lee Byung-hun and Park Shin-yang and singer Younha, sent condolences to their Japanese fans via Twitter.

Actor Park Joong-hoon, who appeared in the 2009 Korean disaster movie “Haeundae” about a fictional tsunami that swept over the Korean port city of Busan, expressed his shock about the Sendai tsunami and left messages for quake victims on his Twitter page.

The members of musical group TVXQ sent their condolences via the Web site of their Japanese agency, Avex.

“We were both shocked to hear about the earthquake and tsunami,” the message said. “We are concerned about all our fans in Japan and truly hope everyone is safe. The damage is beyond imagination and we’re praying for a fast recovery.”

Singer BoA, who is shooting a movie in the United States, also sent her condolences on her Twitter page.

“I heard Tokyo is also suffering from the earthquake,” the message said. “Hope everyone is safe.”

Idol group Big Bang also offered words of comfort on a Sunday music ranking TV program, saying they hope their fans in Japan and Korean residents in the country are safe.