Charity and Support from Celebrities Following the Tragic Aviation Incident
With the nation in mourning for the fifth day following the tragic passenger plane accident, celebrities are stepping up with their heartfelt actions, not just their words. Some have bravely visited the memorial site despite suffering from high fevers, while others are sharing home-cooked meals, such as kimbap (김밥), as a means of showing their support.
On January 1, broadcaster Jang Sung-kyu revealed that he had donated 10 million won to the Korean Red Cross after visiting the joint memorial site for the Jeju Air accident. According to Jang, he visited the site despite suffering from a high fever of 39 degrees Celsius right after finishing the recording for the KBS Acting Awards on December 31. He shared, “I struggled a lot with how I should greet the new year. As the year-end approached, I began to feel that even my usual New Year’s wishes were a luxury.” He continued, “The morning of the new year was bright, but it felt dark. I wanted to begin the year alongside those who had lost their lives, even though I had never met them. I dragged my weary body and heart to the memorial.”
Following the accident, Park Na-rae was the first celebrity to announce her donation. On December 31, she contributed financial support to the Community Chest of Korea for the victims of the Jeju Air flight tragedy. As she hails from Muan, it was reported that she contacted local authorities to seek assistance for supporting the victims of the incident. The specific amount of her donation was kept private at her request.
Actor Im Si-wan also shared his condolences, stating, “I extend my deep sorrow and comfort to the families who lost their loved ones unexpectedly in this tragic accident.” His message conveyed his heartfelt sympathies to the victims’ families. Additionally, the broadcasting couple Hong Hyun-hee and Jay Soon chose to start 2025 with a donation rather than New Year’s greetings, giving 20 million won to support the bereaved families, expressing their desire that this would provide even a little help.
Actress Lee Il-hwa was also reported to have visited the joint memorial site. Through her social media, she stated, “I deeply mourn for the victims of the plane crash” and prayed for comfort to be delivered from the heavens to the grieving families.
Beyond merely visiting memorials and donating, some celebrities took action by directly providing aid at the incident site. Chef Ahn Yoo-sung, well-known for his role in the hit Netflix series 'Black and White Chef', prepared 200 servings of kimbap alongside his staff and visited the airport on December 30. On January 1, he returned to the airport with fellow chefs Im Hee-won, Lee Young-sook, Choi Ji-hyung, and Bang Gi-soo to provide 1,000 servings of abalone porridge, 200 servings of kimbap, and 200 sandwiches to the bereaved families. He commented, “I felt overwhelmed and anxious; it was hard to focus on work. I thought that anything we could give would be good, so I quickly made kimbap and came.”
Even in the coldness of year-end and the beginning of the new year, the warm attention and support from celebrities continue. Meanwhile, the government has designated a national mourning period from the day of the accident until February 4, to honor the victims.